CHICAGO, Ill. – The Concordia Wisconsin women's volleyball team opened the 2026 season with a comeback victory on Friday afternoon, rallying past Trine, 3-1, at the Chicago Resch Invitational. The Falcons dropped the opening set, 25-22, before responding with three consecutive set victories, 25-21, 25-21, 28-26.
Concordia Wisconsin (1-0) found itself in an early hole after Trine jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the opening set. The Falcons battled back throughout the frame and eventually pulled even at 20-20. Trine, however, scored five of the final seven points to take the opening set, 25-22.
The Falcons answered immediately in the second set. After the teams battled through a 9-9 tie, CUW used a pair of key plays from freshman Emy Miller (West Bend, Wis.) to take control. Miller recorded a service ace to put the Falcons ahead 10-9, and freshman Makenna Thompson (McCordsville, Ind.) followed with another ace as CUW extended its advantage to 13-11. Concordia Wisconsin continued to build its lead and eventually reached set point at 24-19 before sophomore Lauren Kellner (Sobieski, Wis.) finished the set with a kill, evening the match at one set apiece.
CUW carried that momentum into the third set, opening with six consecutive points. Sophomore Kirsten Krause (Pocatello, Idaho) was instrumental in the early run, recording three kills during the stretch. Trine never recovered from the early deficit, although the Thunder made a late push after trailing 21-13. The Falcons held their composure and closed out the set, 25-21, taking a 2-1 lead.
The fourth set featured the biggest swings of the match.
Concordia Wisconsin built an early 6-5 lead, but Trine answered and eventually opened up a 16-13 advantage. The Falcons slowly chipped away at the deficit, getting within one at 18-17 on a Krause kill before eventually pulling even at 19-19. Trine again created separation, taking a 21-18 lead, but CUW continued to battle.
A Thompson service ace pulled the Falcons within 21-20, and after Trine regained a two-point advantage, freshman Natalie Nickolai (Sheboygan Falls, Wis.) delivered a kill to make it 22-21. Freshman Brianna Stewart (De Pere, Wis.) then came through with a kill to cut the deficit to 24-22.
With the Falcons facing set point, freshman Kaylee Hlinak (Mishicot, Wis.) delivered back-to-back points. Her kill pulled CUW within 24-23 before a Trine attack error tied the set at 24-24.
Trine answered with a kill to take a 25-24 lead, but senior Emily Dickmann (Grafton, Wis.) came through with a kill to force another tie at 25-25. After Trine moved ahead again, Krause answered with a kill to make it 26-26.
That set the stage for one of the biggest moments of the afternoon.
Miller stepped to the service line and delivered her second ace of the set, putting the Falcons ahead 27-26. On the ensuing rally, Trine committed an attack error, giving Concordia Wisconsin the 28-26 victory and completing the comeback.
Krause led the Falcons with 15 kills, while Stewart added 13 kills and hit an impressive .526 for the match. Nickolai finished with eight kills and 11 digs, while Kellner contributed five kills.
Dickmann directed the Concordia Wisconsin offense with 41 assists while adding six kills, seven digs and three service aces. Miller anchored the defensive effort with a team-high 20 digs and added two service aces, while Thompson finished with three digs and two aces.
The Falcons finished the match with 55 kills while hitting .214 as a team. CUW also recorded 10 service aces and 55 digs.
Concordia Wisconsin returns to action on Saturday as the Falcons continue play in Chicago.
