The Carthage women’s volleyball team closed the regular season on a high note, traveling to Mequon to defeat Concordia Wisconsin 3-1 on Saturday. The win, earned at the R. John Buuck Field House, brings Carthage’s record to 16-12 overall and an even 4-4 mark in College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) competition.
Match Summary
Carthage captured the opening set 25-19 after a decisive nine‑point run erased a 15-11 deficit. Kristina Manojlovic and Ava Dettwiler led the surge, giving the Falcons a 20-15 edge before closing the set.
The second set saw Carthage build an 8-4 lead, extend to 12-5 following three Concordia attack errors, and ultimately prevail 25-20. Taylor Baratta contributed a crucial block and kill, while Macy Wente delivered an ace to seal the set.
Concordia rallied in the third, jumping to a 21-14 advantage and taking the set 25-19. Carthage fought back, narrowing the gap to 23-19 with kills from Manojlovic, Dettwiler and Wente, but fell short of the comeback.
The fourth set belonged to the Falcons. After a 6-6 tie, Carthage rattled off six straight points, highlighted by an ace from Dettwiler and a kill from Sydney Horacek. The team stretched the lead to 23-13 and closed the set 25-15, with Dettwiler delivering the winning kill off an assist from Della Walsh.
Individual Performances
Manojlovic led Carthage with 18 kills and eight digs. Dettwiler added 12 kills on a .265 hitting percentage, 19 assists and 15 digs. Walsh contributed 18 assists and six digs. Mina Reichert topped the team with 16 digs, while Wente posted seven kills on a .316 hitting percentage. Additional contributions came from Wierzgac (five kills, two blocks), Baratta (four blocks) and Horacek (three kills, two blocks).
Coach’s Perspective
“It’s nice to end the regular season with a win on the road,” said head coach Leanne Ulmer. “Our outside hitters Kristina and Macy led the offense, and Ava and Della did a good job distributing the ball. Getting back in the win column gives us positive vibes heading into the CCIW tournament.”
Looking Ahead
The Firebirds enter the 2026 CCIW Women’s Volleyball Tournament as the No. 5 seed. Their first matchup will be against No. 4 seed Millikin in Decatur, Illinois, on Tuesday. A start time will be announced in the coming days. Fans can follow updates at athletics.carthage.edu.
Original reporting: Kenosha.com — read the source article.
