By: Illinois College hung with the Pioneers in the final two sets, but Carroll got the points it needed at the right time to earn the three-set victory.
Box Score WAUKESHA, Wis. – The Illinois College volleyball team ran into a buzzsaw on Saturday morning against Carroll University. The Pioneers played a nearly perfect first set, then held on to claim tight second and third sets, sending the Lady Blues to a 3-0 defeat (7-25, 21-25, 26-28). IC falls to 5-12 (2-3 MWC) with the loss.
After opening the match by scoring the first five points, Carroll's hot start was finally ended by a
Holly Crocher kill. From there, the Pioneers reeled off another six straight for an 11-1 lead. When the dust had settled, Carroll had 10 kills without an attack error and was helped by nine Illinois College attack errors as the Pioneers cruised to a 25-7 win for a 1-0 lead.
Illinois College regained its focus in the second set and scored the opening three points, capped by a block from Crocher and
Lisa Lowry. IC continued to hold a lead much of the way and were still ahead, 19-17, after a kill from
Erin Washington. Out of nowhere, Carroll was able to string together six straight points to take a 23-19 lead and hold on down the stretch for a 2-0 lead in the match.
In the third set the Lady Blues kept it much closer, scoring almost point for point with Carroll. At 15-11 it looked like Carroll would pull away from Illinois College, but a bad set from the Pioneers provided Illinois College with the momentum it needed to tie up the set at 18-18. The teams stayed neck-and-neck up to 26-26, until consecutive attack errors by IC gave Carroll the match.
Washington led IC in the match with nine kills.
Courtney Louveau had an impressive 20 assists, while
Maurissa Moulton had a team-high 16 digs.
The Lady Blues will be back in action on Oct. 15 in a home match against the Monmouth Scots beginning at 7 p.m.
