Women's Volleyball NEws
CCAC All-Conference Team NamedSchmitz and Ahmad honored November 14, 2009
Milwaukee, Wis. – The Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference announced the All-Conference selections for the 2009 season on Friday and two players from Cardinal Stritch University were named to the Honorable Mention team. Jackie Schmitz (Menomonee Falls, Wis.) and Alyssa Ahmad (St. Francis, Wis.), the Wolves biggest defensive threats all season, were recognized for their contributions.
Ahmad, a sophomore, earns All-Conference honors for the first time in her career at Cardinal Stritch after leading the conference in blocking the majority of the season. The middle blocker recorded 121 total blocks in 2009 and was the lone CCAC player to average over a block per set (1.09). Ahmad was also an offensive threat for Stritch, putting down 167 kills. Her .152 hitting percentage was second highest on the team.
Schmitz is now a four-time All-Conference honoree. She has been a mainstay in the libero position since beginning her career in 2006. The senior led the Wolves with 501 digs this season, crossing the 2,000 career dig mark in the post season. She was fifth in the conference in digs, averaging 4.39 a set. Schmitz also led the team in serve receive, posting a team-high .920 reception percentage. Serving was also a strength for the defensive standout this season, as she posted an .897 serving percentage, good for second among all Stritch players.
With an offense that struggled with consistency, a strong defense, anchored by Schmitz and Ahmad, kept the Wolves competitive throughout the season. Congratulations to both for their success.
Stritch Falls in Final MatchTIU holds off Wolves November 7, 2009
Joliet, Ill. – Strong efforts by freshman, Ashley Wipperfurth (Sauk City, Wis.), and senior, Jackie Schmitz (Menomonee Falls, Wis.), weren’t enough as the Cardinal Stritch University women’s volleyball team dropped their final match of the season to Trinity International University. Stritch picked up their game for day two of the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament, improving on both offense and defense. However, although the Wolves were closely matched with the Trojans, they fell 20 digs short of matching them on defense. Stritch closed their 2009 season with a 2-3 loss (25-19, 18-25, 25-23, 16-25, 9-15).
The Wolves fell behind early in the first set, going down 6-10 on an attack error by Anna Flock (Norwalk, Wis.). Stritch fought their way back, bringing the game to 15-15 before taking a three point advantage after a Schmitz service ace and a kill by Wipperfurth. The Trojans were never able to come back, and the Wolves took the set 25-19, ending on three more kills by Wipperfurth.
TIU once again jumped ahead early in set two, using kills from Taylor Arseneau (Kankakee, Ill.) and Carly Yattaw (Highlands Ranch, Col.) and a few Stritch errors to take a 15-9 lead. The Wolves tried to find their way back into the game, but were never able to pull within any less than three points short of the Trojans. TIU shut the door on the Wolves, 25-18 with a kill by Arseneau.
Game three was highly contested. The two teams traded points until an 18-18 tie. The Trojans then used three consecutive Stritch errors to pull ahead 21-18. But the Wolves weren’t done, as a kill by Flock began a five point run to give them a 23-21 advantage. TIU came back to tie the game at 23-23, but two attack errors by Arseneau gave Stritch the set, 25-23.
The fourth set looked as though it would be as close as the previous one, as the Wolves tied TIU at 11-11 on a kill by Wipperfurth. The Trojans flipped the switch at this point, using Stritch errors and four kills by Yattaw to take an 18-12 lead. There was no coming back for the Wolves with the dominance of the Trojan attack, and they fell 16-25.
The fifth and final set was close in the beginning, as Wipperfurth, Katlyn Britton (Westby, Wis.), and Alyssa Ahmad (St. Francis, Wis.) matched TIU’s kills, bringing the score to 6-6. However, as the set went on Yattaw took charge for the Trojans and Stritch hitters struggled to keep the ball in play. The Wolves fell 9-15 in their final set of the year.
Yattaw recorded a match-high 27 kills in the match, while teammates Arseneau and Kelley Gimms (West Chester, Ohio) each added 11. Arseneau also led all athletes with 38 digs. Cheri Stoddard (Muscoda, Wis.) handed out a match-high 52 assists.
Wipperfurth earned her second double-double of the tournament, contributing 23 digs and a career-high 23 kills. Kaitlin Fischer (Mokena, Ill.) led the team with 35 assists. The senior also recorded 19 digs. Schmitz picked up a team-high 25 digs in her last game for Stritch.
The Wolves close the season 10-22 overall and 4-6 in the CCAC.
Wolves Drop Two in CCAC TourneyStritch offense struggles November 6, 2009
Joliet, Ill. – The Cardinal Stritch University women’s volleyball team opened pool play in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament on Friday, facing Illinois Tech and the University of St. Francis. The Wolves struggled on both sides of the ball, but the most notable was their struggles to put the ball down on the attack. Stritch was outhit in both matches, as both IIT and St. Francis recorded over 20 kills more than the Wolves.
Stritch faced the IIT Trojans in their first match of the game. Though the Wolves came out a bit slow, dropping the first set 17-25, they quickly found their way back into competitive form. After falling behind 8-12 in set two, the Wolves used four Trojan errors and a kill by Ashley Wipperfurth (Sauk City, Wis.) to go ahead 13-12. From there Stritch extended the lead to four, as Shannon Petrack (Winneconne, Wis.) served two consecutive aces and Kaitlin Fisher (Mokena, Ill.) put down a kill. IIT however, fought back, using a strong offense to tie the set at 17-17. The two teams traded points until the end, when the Trojans finally closed the set, winning 26-24 on an Anna Flock (Norwalk, Wis.) hitting error.
Set three was more successful for the Wolves, as they quickly pulled away 6-1 on another service ace by Petrack. The Trojans couldn’t find a way to come back from the deficit, and the Wolves led by at least three points the entire set. This game was the high point of the Wolves’ offense all day, as they recorded a .312 hitting percentage, helped largely by eight Wipperfurth kills. Stritch finished set three with a six point advantage, 25-19.
The momentum swung back to IIT though, in the fourth and final set. Melissa Cheviron (Fort Wayne, Ind.) found her stride for the Trojans and put down seven kills, while the Wolves earned only four as a team. The lack of an offense made a win virtually impossible for Stritch, who fell 15-25.
Wipperfurth earned a double-double, carrying the Wolves with 14 kills and 16 digs. Jackie Schmitz (Menomonee Falls, Wis.) picked up four digs in the match. Petrack continues her hot streak at the net with four solo blocks and three block assists. The sophomore also shined behind the service line, recording five aces.
The second match of the day, against St. Francis, proved to be even more difficult for Stritch. The Wolves used a more spread out offense, but were still outdone 28-50. Defense also proved an issue in the match, as the Fighting Saints picked up 20 more digs than the Wolves.
St. Francis used an early run to jump ahead in the first set, 7-0. The large advantage was too much for the Wolves to come back from, especially with the offense of the Fighting Saints putting up an almost .400 hitting percentage. Stritch clawed their way back to within four on a kill by Katlyn Britton (Westby, Wis.), but that was as close as they came before dropping the set 15-25.
Stritch kept game two much closer, staying within a few points throughout. The Wolves evened the score ten times during the set, with the last time being at the 17-17 mark on a kill by Flock. Three Stritch errors, however, allowed St. Francis to pull ahead 20-17, a lead that they would never relinquish, as they took the set 25-22.
As the Wolves’ offense began to emerge in the third set, the defense practically disappeared. The Fighting Saints recorded a .483 hitting percentage while Stritch picked up a measly four digs total, two by front row player, Britton. Though Flock recorded four kills and Wipperfurth three, it was nothing compared to six kills apiece by Jazzmyne Robbins (LaSalle Peru, Ill.) and Sarah Ahline (Lemont, Ill.) of St. Francis. The Wolves fell in the final set by a score of 16-25.
Ahline recorded a match-high 18 kills for St. Francis. Lauren Hoffman (Plainfield, Ill.) earned 10 kills and hit .529 against the Wolves. Courtney Ambroush (Joliet, Ill.) led all athletes with 18 digs and Ashley Richards (Wilmington, Ill.) dished out a match-high 43 assists.
Flock led the Wolves with nine kills. Megan Galonski (Milwaukee, Wis.) picked up a team-high eight digs.
The Wolves fall to 10-21 with the two losses. They continue tournament play in Joliet, Ill. tomorrow. Stritch will face Trinity International at 12:00 p.m.
Stritch Falls Short Against St. Xavier Cougars attack too much for Wolves November 3, 2009
Chicago, Ill. – The Cardinal Stritch University women’s volleyball team came up just short against the St. Xavier University Cougars on Tuesday, falling 1-3 in their final regular season match of the year. The Cougars attack made the difference in the match, finishing with 17 more kills than the Wolves in the victory.
Stritch pulled out to an 8-7 lead in the first game, using a four point run after falling behind 4-7. However the Wolves couldn’t hold on to their advantage and St. Xavier ran away with the first set, 25-18. The Wolves offense struggled, only earning eight of their points on kills, five by Ashley Wipperfurth (Sauk City, Wis.).
The Wolves offense picked up in the second set. That, along with strong defense made game two very exciting. Wipperfurth led the Wolves once again, contributing six kills in the set. The two teams exchanged points throughout the game, as the set came to the 19th tie at 27-27. Kills by Kayla Mullaney (Elmhurst, Ill.), who recorded eight kills in the set and Kelly Knudson (Oak Lawn, Ill.) gave St. Xavier the 29-27 win.
Set three was much of the same, as the Wolves and Cougars traded points until the very end. In the win or go home game, Anna Flock (Norwalk, Wis.) made her presence known after a quiet start, earning five kills in the set. With a 24-24 tie, Flock put down her fifth kill to give the ball to Megan Galonski (Milwaukee, Wis.) at the serving line. The Wolves took the set 26-24, closing on a Cougar error.
Game three could have been a momentum shift for Stritch, but neither team came out strong in the fourth set. Both struggled with errors until the Cougars tied the set 7-7 on a kill by Mullaney. The Wolves, however, continued to have troubles keeping the ball in play, hitting -0.061 in the set. St. Xavier’s defense saved their attackers, as the Cougars recorded 32 digs and 5 total blocks. The Wolves’ offense only managed to produce five kills as they fell in the final set, 18-25.
Mullaney led St. Xavier with a double double, recording a team-high 16 kills along with 14 digs. Knudson also recorded a double double, earning 19 digs and 12 kills, along with six service aces. Erin Sebo (Downers Grove, Ill.) also picked up 19 digs. Jaclyn Major (Lockport, Ill.) led the Cougars with a match-high 44 assists.
Wipperfurth continues to be a force for the Wolves. The freshman led in kills with 16 and contributed a match-high 22 digs. Jackie Schmitz (Menomonee Falls, Wis.) picked up 19 digs and Kaitlin Fischer (Mokena, Ill.) put up 26 assists in the losing effort. Shannon Petrack (Winneconne, Wis.) put on a show at the net, earning four solo blocks and three block assists to lead all athletes.
The Wolves fall to 4-6 in the CCAC with the loss and 10-19 overall. The CCAC Tournament is slated to begin on November 6, 2009.
Stritch Outplays TIU Wolves make few errors to overcome Trojans October 29, 2009
Deerfield, Ill. – The Cardinal Stritch University women’s volleyball team extended their win streak to three in a win over Trinity International University on Thursday. The Wolves used very strong net play and made very few errors to overcome being outdone in kills and digs.
The Wolves took set one 25-22 using a spread out offense. Anna Flock (Norwalk, Wis.), Ashley Wipperfurth (Sauk City, Wis.), Shannon Petrack (Winneconne, Wis.), and Kaitlin Fischer (Mokena, Ill.) all contributed multiple kills, as Fischer put down three of five team blocks to begin the clinic that would continue throughout the game. Carly Yattaw (Highlands Ranch, Col.) put down four kills in the set for the Trojans.
Game two came down to the wire, as Yattaw found her groove, recording six kills in the set. The Wolves continued to use all their hitters to overcome TIU. Wipperfurth earned four kills in the set, while Flock and Fischer each put down three. Stritch once again put back five blocks in a 26-24 win.
Trinity International came out strong in the third set, as Yattaw continued to dominate, contributing seven kills. The Wolves couldn’t come through this time, even after Alyssa Ahmad (St. Francis, Wis.) put down four kills. The rest of the offense wasn’t quite so successful and the Wolves’ blocking fell off from the previous sets as Stritch fell 16-25.
In the fourth and final set Flock took charge for the Wolves, contributing six kills, and the team combined for four total blocks. Cari Corozza (Milwaukee, Wis.) earned eight digs in the set, while Jackie Schmitz (Menomonee Falls, Wis.) recorded seven in the 25-23 win.
Yattaw led the Trojans with a match-high 23 kills. Taylor Arseneau (Kankakee, Ill.) led all athletes with 26 digs, while Cheri Stoddard (Muscoda, Wis.) contributed 45 assists.
Flock led the Wolves with 12 kills and Wipperfurth added 10. Fischer contributed a team-high 31 assists in the match. Schmitz led with 22 digs, while Corozza earned 15. Stritch recorded a total of 16 blocks. Fischer led the way with four.
The Wolves improve to 10-18 overall and 4-5 in the CCAC. They are slated to play their final match on Nov. 3, at conference foe Saint Xavier University at 7:00 p.m.
Stritch Wins Big on Senior Night Ahmad Shows Offensive Power October 27, 2009
Milwaukee, Wis. – The Cardinal Stritch University women’s volleyball team showed poise and strength in Tuesday’s win over Purdue University-North Central. In a night to honor seniors, all three made big contributions in their personal area of expertise. After a strong start, the Wolves dropped the second set, but kept their confidence and came back strong to finish off PNC 3-1 (25-11, 23-25, 25-19, and 25-21).
Stritch jumped ahead early in the set as Shannon Petrack (Winneconne, Wis.) served a six point run, giving the Wolves a 7-2 advantage. Errors by the Panthers along with strong hitting by Alyssa Ahmad (St. Francis, Wis.) and Katlyn Britton (Westby, Wis.) allowed Stritch to continually increase their lead, eventually closing the set 25-11.
The Panthers made things interesting by coming back strong in the second set. They took an early 5-2 lead on a kill by Kelsey Russell (Valparaiso, Ind.) and held on to their advantage until Stritch fought back to tie the set at 15-15. The two teams traded points until PNC managed a four point run to take the lead 24-21. Kills by Ashley Wipperfurth (Sauk City, Wis.) and Kaitlin Fischer (Mokena, Ill.) gave the Wolves a fighting chance, as they pulled within a point at 23-24, but it wasn’t enough for the comeback. The Panthers took the set 25-23 on a kill by Brittany Piaseczny (Whiting, Ind.).
The Wolves took the opportunity to turn the match back in their favor as they took the floor in the third set. Panther errors and three kills by Ahmad gave Stritch a 12-7 lead. The Wolves spread out the offense for the remainder of the set, getting contributions from Ahmad, Britton, Fischer, and Wipperfurth to maintain their advantage. A kills by Britton gave the Wolves the 25-19 win.
In the fourth set Wipperfurth served seven consecutive points to put the Wolves up 12-6. However, errors on the Wolves side gave the Panthers an opportunity to regain some ground, as they pulled to within two, 12-10. Stritch pulled away once again, using kills from Petrack, Flock, and Fischer, as well as service aces by Jackie Schmitz (Menomonee Falls, Wis.) and Cari Corozza (Milwaukee, Wis.) to take a 20-13 lead. Still, PNC wouldn’t give up and fought back hard, coming within one as a Tara Irwin (Walkertown, Ind.) kill brought the score to 22-21. Two Panther errors brought Stritch to match point. Anna Flock (Norwalk, Wis.) and Britton finished the last home match of the season with a block on Irwin, to take the set 25-21.
Russell led the Panthers with nine kills in the losing effort, while Irwin, Piaseczny, and Latesha Mitchell each added eight. Alyssa Davis (North Liberty, Ind.) dished out 32 assists. Defensively Irwin and Kirah Fifield (DeMotte, Ind.) each earned 16 digs.
Ahmad continued her hot streak for the Wolves, leading with a season-high 12 kills, as well as six block assists. Wipperfurth put down eight kills, while Fischer, Petrack, and Britton each added seven. Fischer also led with 34 assists in the match. Schmitz took control in the back row, earning a match-high 21 digs. Megan Galonski (Milwaukee, Wis.) recorded two service aces, along with nine digs.
The Wolves improve to 9-18 overall and 3-5 in the CCAC with the win. On Thursday, October 29, they travel to Deerfield, Ill. to take on conference foe Trinity International University.
Stritch Splits in Indiana Offense improves on day two of tourney October 24, 2009
Whiting, Ind. – After two losses at the Calumet College of St. Joseph Invite on Friday, the Cardinal Stritch University women’s volleyball team came back hard for a split. The Wolves lost a hard fought match in five sets against Mount Mercy College before coming back for a win against Calumet St. Joseph in three sets. The win was bittersweet, as Stritch ended a four-game losing streak, but easily took the Crimson Wave, who they fell to in conference play earlier this week.
The Wolves came out strong in their morning match against Mount Mercy, whom they had lost to earlier this season. After dropping the first set 23-25, Stritch dominated set two, 25-15, tying the match 1-1. The two teams traded sets again to cause a fifth, deciding set. Though the Wolves stayed in it, they couldn’t break through for the win, and fell 13-15.
Ashley Wipperfurth (Sauk City, Wis.) led Stritch with 12 kills in the match. Alyssa Ahmad (St. Francis, Wis.) continued her dominance at the net, earning 10 kills, a solo block, and nine block assists. Jackie Schmitz (Menomonee Falls, Wis.) put up a season-high 35 digs in the match.
Stritch took the opportunity to pay back Calumet St. Joseph in their second match of the day. They gave a more impressive showing against the Crimson Wave this time around, taking them in three quick sets (25-23, 25-29, 25-22).
Everyone got involved in the offense, as setters did a great job spreading out the ball. Anna Flock (Norwalk, Wis.) led with eight kills, while Ahmad added seven, and both Wipperfurth and Kaitlin Fischer (Mokena, Ill.) put down six. Shannon Petrack (Winneconne, Wis.) had a standout game, contributing a solo block and seven block assists. Stritch earned 12 total blocks as a team.
With the win, Stritch moves to 8-18 overall and remains 2-5 in the CCAC. They return home on Tuesday to face Purdue North Central at 7:00 p.m. for Senior and Parents Night.
Stritch Drops Two At CCSJ Invite Flock Continues Hot Streak October 23, 2009
Whiting, Ind. – The Cardinal Stritch University women’s volleyball team continued to struggle on Friday night, as they dropped two matches to Goshen College and Bethel College. The Wolves kept it close as they faced Goshen, but were unable to stay competitive in the final set. Stritch came out strong in the first set against Bethel for the win, but couldn’t keep their momentum after the set and dropped the next three.
Though the Wolves held their ground against Goshen College, they weren’t enough, and fell in four sets (20-25, 26-28, 25-18, 15-25). Anna Flock (Norwalk, Wis.) led Stritch with 13 kills and 16 digs. Senior, Jackie Schmitz (Menomonee Falls, Wis.) earned 19 digs, while Kaitlin Fischer (Mokena, Ill.) led with 33 assists.
In their second match of the day, Stritch came out strong, taking game one 25-20. They couldn’t hold on for the win, however, and lost three straight sets to Bethel (14-25, 19-25, 21-25). Freshman, Ashley Wipperfurth (Sauk City, Wis.) led the Wolves with 14 kills. Schmitz put up a match-high 25 digs and Fischer again led the Wolves with 26 assists. Alyssa Ahmad (St. Francis, Wis.) earned two solo blocks and three block assists in the effort.
Stritch falls to 7-17 with the losses. They continue play at the tournament tomorrow at 9:00 a.m.
Stritch Gives CCSJ First Win Wolves lead in most statistics October 20, 2009
Whiting, Ind. – The victory went to the underdog on Tuesday night, as Cardinal Stritch University’s women’s volleyball team fell to Calumet College of St. Joseph, 2-3. Though the Wolves led in every statistical category but digs and service aces, they could not come away on top, giving the Crimson Wave their first win of the season.
After two lopsided matches, one each way, the two teams kept the sets close. Stritch took at 2-1 lead after winning set three, 25-22. Calumet wasn’t giving up, and they took the Wolves to the wire before taking the fourth set 26-24. Game five once again came to the final points, and Stritch didn’t have enough to hold off the hungry Crimson Wave, who won the set and the match, 16-14.
Kelsey McFarlene (Johnsburg, Ill.) led Calumet with a match-high 14 kills, while Katie Kaiser (Griffith, Ind.) added nine. Mary Hunter (Gary, Ind.) led all athletes with 29 digs in the set. Shelby Boilek (Griffith, Ind.) and Kate Delaney (Lynwood, Ill.) contributed 19 and 17 digs, respectively. Delaney also led the Crimson Wave with 35 assists.
Anna Flock (Norwalk, Wis.) stayed hot for the Wolves, as she and freshman, Jessica Shaver (West Allis, Wis.), led with 10 kills apiece. Jackie Schmitz (Menomonee Falls, Wis.) led with 19
digs and Kaitlin Fisher (Mokena, Ill.) earned a match-high 40 assists. Alyssa Ahmad (St. Francis, Wis.) contributed just short of half of the Wolves 10 total kills.
Stritch falls to 2-5 in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic conference, and 7-15 overall. They will close out their home schedule next Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. The Wolves will face Purdue North Central while celebrating parents’ night, along with honoring three seniors (Schmitz, Fischer, and Megan Galonski) in their final home match.
Stritch Takes Judson in Five Flock and Wipperfurth lead the charge October 13, 2009
Milwaukee, Wis. – It was a close match on Tuesday night, as the Cardinal Stritch University women’s volleyball team took on Judson University and came away with their second Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference win. Dominant hitters emerged early for both sides, but strong defense led to long rallies for these closely matched teams. In the end, Stritch came out on top using two young hitters and a more experienced defense to earn the 3-2 victory (21-25, 29-27, 23-25, 25-23, 17-15).
The two teams traded points to start off the first set, giving a preview of what was to come later. However, after a 14-14 tie, the Eagles went on a 9-2 run. After falling behind by five points, Stritch took advantage of three Judson errors to come within two, 21-23. It wasn’t enough for the Wolves though, as kills by Danielle Dull (Waupun, Wis.) and Courtney Martin (Eureka, Ill.) closed the door for the Eagles, who took the set 25-21.
Judson used the momentum from game one to pull ahead early in the second set, taking a quick 8-3 lead. Stritch pulled to within two points on a Katlyn Britton (Westby, Wis.) kill, but struggled to slow down freshman, Carissa Oelke (Oregon, Ill.), as the Eagles earned a dominating 17-10 advantage. The Wolves found a spark, however, and used three kills by Alyssa Ahmad (St. Francis, Wis.) and two service aces by Kaitlin Fisher (Mokena, Ill.) to go on a 10-4 run, eventually tying the set at 22-22 on a kill by Anna Flock. It looked as if Stritch had pulled off the comeback as they pulled ahead 24-22, using kills by Ashley Wipperfurth (Sauk City, Wis.) and Shannon Petrack (Winneconne, Wis.), but a service error put a halt on the celebrations.
The Eagles came back to tie the game yet again at 24-24. Stritch used three kills by Wipperfurth and another by Ahmad to finally take the set 29-27.
Set three was a toss-up, as Stritch and Judson traded points until the very end. Only two servers in the entire set tossed up more than two serves in a row, each of which served three times before the other side took over. The Wolves tied the set at 23-23 on a kill by Britton, but once again Oelke got the best of Stritch, and the Eagles took the 25-23 win.
Game four was much of the same, as the two teams played with an even score 13 times throughout the match. Wipperfurth dominated the set for the Wolves, putting down six kills, while the Stritch defense finally found a way to slow down Oelke, who only recorded three. With the game tied at 21-21, Stritch used kills by Wipperfurth and Petrack, along with two Judson errors, to end the set at 25-23.
The fifth and final game was full of excitement, as the Eagles made an extraordinary comeback after falling behind by four points early in the set. Judson played error-free after giving Stritch a 12-8 advantage, fighting for every point until the very end. The Eagles tied the set at 14-14, using two Wipperfurth hitting errors and two kills apiece from Alesha Wyman (Delavan, Wis.) and Dull. Flock and Wipperfurth came through at the end for the Wolves though, who took the set and the match 17-15.
Oelke led the Eagles with 20 kills, while Wyman also contributed 15. Deb Leganski (Manldin, SC) put up a match-high 31 digs for Judson, and Carly Campioni (Crystal Lake, Ill.) led with 51 assists in the losing effort. Campioni also added 24 digs for Judson.
Flock and Wipperfurth carried the Wolves’ offense, recording 20 and 19 kills, respectively. Flock’s 20 kills are a season-high for the Wolves, while both hitters exceeded their individual career highs for kills in a single match. Jackie Schmitz (Menomonee Falls, Wis.) also recorded a season-high, contributing 30 digs for Stritch. The senior received a lot of help on defense as Fischer put up 24 digs, Cari Corroza (Milwaukee, Wis.), 23, Wipperfurth, 22, and Flock, 21. Fischer also led the Wolves with 48 assists. Ahmad once again led the Wolves at the net, earning a solo block and five block assists.
Stritch improves to 7-14 overall and 2-4 in the CCAC. They have some time off before traveling to Whiting, Ind. next Tuesday, Oct. 20, to face Calumet St. Joseph at 7:00 p.m.
Wolves Struggle at Clarke College InvitationalVolleyball goes 1-3 over the weekend Oct. 11, 2009
Dubuque, Iowa – The Cardinal Stritch University Wolves women’s volleyball team had a tough weekend going 1-3 at the Clarke College Invitational on Friday and Saturday. The Wolves fell in straight sets to Cornerstone University, Viterbo University, and Clarke College. Stritch was able to capture a win on the second day of the tournament, defeating Ashford University 3-1 during the morning session.
Friday was a rough start to the tournament as the Wolves opened up with a loss to the V-Hawks of Viterbo University, 3-0. Stritch fell to Viterbo by scores of 18-25, 20-25, 19-25. Despite the loss, the Wolves got nine kills out of Anna Flock (Norwalk, Wis.) and eight digs from Kaitlin Fischer (Mokena, Ill.).
In the second match of the night, Stritch took on Cornerstone University, falling by scores of 14-25, 20-25, and 12-25. Fischer and Ashley Wipperfurth (Sauk City, Wis.) combined for 11 kills in the match while senior Jackie Schmitz (Menomonee Falls, Wis.) contributed with 12 digs in the loss.
Looking to erase the memories of Friday evening, the Wolves took to the court on Saturday opening up play against Ashford University. Playing with an intensity that eluded them in the opening round, Stritch came away with a 3-1 victory over Ashford by scores of 25-19, 29-31, 25-21, and 25-16. In the win, the Wolves registered 60 kills during the match with Flock leading the way with 16 of them while Shannon Petrack (Winneconne, Wis.) added 11. As a team, Stritch also managed to rack up 82 digs with Schmitz scoring a match-high total of 31 digs.
After a big win, the Wolves looked to keep things going against host Clarke College in the day’s final match. Despite the efforts by Stritch, it would be Clarke coming out on top in three games by scores of 19-25, 19-25, and 21-25. Flock would again lead the Wolves in kills with eight while Wipperfurth, Fischer, and Alyssa Ahmad (St. Francis, Wis.) would each add six apiece. Flock and Fischer would also end up leading the Wolves in digs, combining for 29 in the loss.
On an individual level, Flock had a strong weekend earning a place on the All-Tournament team. Over the weekend, the sophomore outside hitter racked up 35 kills and 42 digs in the four matches.
For the Wolves, the team’s record now moves to 6-14 overall. Up next, Stritch will return home to host Judson University at 7 p.m. in a Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) volleyball matchup. The Eagles come to town at 2-2 in the conference while the Wolves sit at 1-4.
Stritch Comes Back for 3-2 Win Over EaglesWolves show heart in tight match October 8, 2009
Chicago, Ill. – The Cardinal Stritch University women’s volleyball team earned their first conference win on Thursday by coming back from a 2-0 deficit against Robert Morris University. The Wolves put on a defensive show in the match, racking up 88 digs and eight total blocks to earn the victory 3-2 (20-25, 16-25, 26-24, 25-19, 15-12).
Stritch lost the first set although they kept it close until late in the game. The Wolves took advantage of errors by the Eagles to tie the set at 15-15, but weren’t able to gain the lead. Robert Morris closed the match 25-20, using six Stritch errors after the tie to propel them in the win. The struggles continued for the Wolves and the Eagles took advantage in the second set, pulling away early. They never gave up control of the set and beat Stritch quickly, 25-16.
Head Coach, Natalie Wildes thought this was a turning point for her team, who “made up their minds that they weren’t giving up.” The Wolves came back swinging in game three, though they fell behind by 3 points, 10-13 on a setting error by Kate Osowiec (Chicago, Ill.). Stritch fought hard to close the gap, and took their first lead of the set, 18-17, on a service ace by Jackie Schmitz (Menomonee Falls, Wis.). The two teams traded points until the Wolves were finally able to put the Eagles away, 26-24, on a kill by Anna Flock (Norwalk, Wis.).
Stritch used their momentum to jump out to an early lead in the fourth set, quickly gaining a 14-9 advantage. This time it was the Eagles that refused to give up, as they fought back for a 15-15 tie, earned on a block by Katherine Gosewisch (Woodridge, Ill.). However, a six point run by Cari Corroza (Milwaukee, Wis.) and a trio of kills by Ashley Wipperfurth (Sauk City, Wis.) halted the Eagles’ attack, as Stritch took the set 25-19.
The Wolves earned the early lead in the fifth and final game and never fell behind in the set. Stritch captains, Kaitlin Fisher (Mokena, Ill.) and Katlyn Britton (Westby, Wis.), along with Wipperfurth, led the offensive charge for the Wolves, contributing two kills apiece. A spread out offense and seven Eagle errors gave Stritch the 15-12 win; their first conference win of the season.
Robert Morris had three players with double digit kills, as Gosewish put down 14 while Ivy Morrison (Topeka, Kas.) and Melanie Schultz (Shepard, Mich.) added ten each. Hilary Kluczynski (Riverside, Ill.) led the Eagles with 42 assists and Dee Dee Khoury (Toledo, Ohio) earned a match-high 24 digs.
It was Flock that led the Wolves with 11 kills. Fischer and Britton each contributed nine, while Britton put up a .364 hitting percentage. Wipperfurth earned eight kills, 13 digs, two solo blocks, and three block assists. Schmitz and Corroza put on a show in the back row, recording 23 and 19 digs, respectively.
The win improves the Wolves to 5-11 overall and 1-4 in the CCAC. “It’s our first conference win,” said Coach Wildes after the match. “I’m very proud of how hard the team worked tonight.”
Stritch will spend the weekend at the Clarke College Invite, where they are slated to face Viterbo University, Cornerstone University, Ashford University, and Clarke College. The tournament will give Stritch the opportunity to show how much they have improved so far this season, as the Wolves previously lost to three of the four teams they are scheduled against.
Wolves Not Enough for V-Hawks Service errors hurt Stritch
October 2, 2009
Milwaukee, Wis. – For the second match in a row the Cardinal Stritch University women’s volleyball team came out with tons of intensity, but they couldn’t hold on against a strong Viterbo University team for the win. In front of a record crowd, the Wolves kept Viterbo in their sights the entire match, but the opportunity for the win slipped by as untimely errors took the Wolves out of contention, and gave the V-Hawks the 3-0 win (25-22, 26-24, 25-16).
Stritch jumped ahead 12-6 in the first set, using all of their hitters and taking advantage of Viterbo’s mistakes. The V-Hawks clawed their way back into the game, shrinking the Wolves’ lead to two points, as a kill by Kassie McGettigan (La Crosse, Wis.) brought the score to 18-16. But Stritch wasn’t finished. The Wolves extended their advantage to four points on kills by Anna Flock (Norwalk, Wis.) and Shannon Petrack (Winneconne, Wis.). Two consecutive service errors by the Wolves let Viterbo back in, and the V-Hawks made use of the chance. They tied the game at 22-22 on a kill by Megan Frank (Minnetonka, Minn.), and closed the match 25-22 on two Stritch attack errors and an ace.
Set two was a battle that gave Stritch fans even more to cheer about. The two teams traded points back and forth throughout the entire set, which touted 16 tie scores. The Wolves fell behind 17-20 while Viterbo’s Abby Breitung (Tomah, Wis.) provided the V-Hawks with a three point run (the longest of the set). However, after a timeout, Stritch once again fought back, taking control of the ball with a kill by Jessica Shaver. Ashley Wipperfurth (Sauk City, Wis.) then tied the score 22-22 with a kill of her own. The Wolves took a 23-22 lead on a block by Alyssa Ahmad (St. Francis, Wis.) and Katlyn Britton (Westby, Wis.). Service errors once again proved costly for the Wolves, as they gave up control and the lead as Kaitlin Fisher (Mokena, Ill.) missed her serve. Still, with a 23-23 tie, Britton put down one of the four kills she contributed to the set, and gave the Wolves match-point. It wasn’t enough though, as Wipperfurth, who leads Stritch in aces, put her serve in the net and tied the game again. The V-Hawks used an error and an ace to earn their 26-24 victory.
The Wolves lacked the spark that had charged up the first two games as they began the third set. Viterbo pulled away 12-6, using six Stritch errors to get there. There was no turning back, as the V-Hawks extended their lead, having at least a four point advantage throughout the set. Two rare reception errors and an attack error ended the night for the Wolves, as they fell, 16-25.
After the match, Coach Wildes was trying to see the upside of the match. "We've made changes, yes. We've made improvements since last season, yes. But it's not enough. It's not enough," she said.
Breitung, McGettigan, and Jenna Lau (Eau Claire, Wis.) contributed eight, seven, and six kills, respectively. Amanda Bernett (Sparta, Wis.) earned a team-high 19 assists and Breitung led with 10 digs.
Leading the Wolves in the losing effort was Wipperfurth, who put down 12 kills. Britton added eight. Jackie Schmitz (Menomonee Falls, Wis.) recorded 10 digs to lead Stritch. Fischer put up a match-high 27 assists and added nine digs.
The Wolves fall to 4-11 overall with the loss. They remain 0-4 in the CCAC.
Stritch travels to Chicago, Ill on Tuesday, October 8, to face conference foe, Robert Morris at 6:00 p.m. Any fans that plan to attend should wear pink, as Robert Morris is hosting Stritch for their “DIG PINK” event.
Wolves Give Tigers a RunStritch Can’t Stop Schmidt
September 29, 2009
Milwaukee, Wis. – Even with a strong start and a standout effort by Ashley Wipperfurth (Sauk City, Wis.), the Cardinal Stritch University women’s volleyball team fell short against Olivet Nazarene University. The Tigers were carried by junior, Tara Schmidt (Olathe, Kan.), who earned a match-high 15 kills. The Wolves held their ground against the CCAC powerhouse through most of the night, but their energy came in bursts that were not consistent enough to stop the Tigers, who took the match 3-0 (25-21, 25-16, 25-22).
Stritch came out with fire in the first set, putting down three consecutive kills – two by Wipperfurth and one by Shannon Petrack (Winneconne, Wis.) – to take a 3-0 lead. However, Olivet fought back, taking their first lead, 8-7, on a kill by Schmidt. The Tigers extended their lead to three before Stritch found their way back into the set. The teams exchanged points for the remainder of the game, as Stritch came within two at the 21-23 mark on a Wipperfurth kill. Olivet kept the ball from this point though, and took the set 25-21.
The Wolves lacked the spark they began with as they took the court for the second set. The Tigers quickly jumped out to a 10-4 lead, aided by three kills by Schmidt. Stritch was unable to comeback from the deficit, trailing by no less than five points through the rest of the set. Olivet was aided by 10 Stritch errors, besides four kills by Schmidt and three kills apiece by Stephanie Smith (Bourbonnais, Ill.) and Sara Byrne (Downers Grove, Ill.) in the 25-16 win.
The third and most exciting set of the night touted strong blocking on both sides of the net, as Stritch earned five and Olivet four in the game. Although the Tigers once again pulled ahead, gaining a 20-13 advantage, the Wolves would not give up without a fight. Stritch used kills by Wipperfurth and Alyssa Ahmad (St. Francis, Wis.) and strong net play by Ahmad, Wipperfurth, and Jessica Shaver (West Allis, Wis.) to force errors from the Tigers and pull to within one, 19-20. However, the run was cut short by a Stritch service error, which forced the Wolves to continue playing from behind. Three more errors led Olivet to match point, but Shaver gave her team another opportunity with a timely kill. Kate Osowiec (Chicago, Ill.), one of the Wolves top servers, entered the game to serve with Stritch down 21-24. Shaver came through once again, bringing the wolves within two, but Schmidt closed it out with a kill, giving the Tigers a 25-22 victory.
Schmidt led Olivet with 15 kills in the set. Erin Sikora (Elgin, Ill.) dished out a match-high 28 assists and Smith led the Tigers with 12 digs. Bryne put down a solo block and four block assists in the match, while Molly Goldbach (Redondo Beach, Cal.) and Schmidt also added four block assists a piece.
Wipperfurth earned a team-high 13 kills in the match. Ahmad contributed five kills and continued to dominate at the net with a solo block and three block assists. Kaitlin Fischer (Mokena, Ill.) led the Wolves with 22 assists, while Jackie Schmitz (Menomonee Falls, Wis.) earned a match-high 13 digs in the losing effort.
The Wolves fall to 4-10 overall with the loss, and 0-4 in the CCAC. Their next match is Friday, October 2, at 5:00 p.m. against Viterbo University at home. This is the Wolves’ Homecoming game.
Wolves Use Team Effort to Soar Over Blue Angels Setters spread out the ball
September 25, 2009
Milwaukee, Wis. – Everyone contributed as the Cardinal Stritch University women’s volleyball team sailed by the Mount Mary College Blue Angels, 3-0 on Friday. The Wolves didn’t have any single players dominate in the match, but limited errors helped carry Stritch, who won their fourth match of the season (25-15, 25-8, 25-23).
There was little the Blue Angels could do to stop the Wolves in the first two sets of the night, but they came out strong in the third game and came very close to forcing a fourth. The Blue Angels held the game close, and managed to take a 23-21 lead on a kill by Samantha Heaton (Milwaukee, Wis.). Stritch wasn’t letting go though, and fought back to tie the set at 23-23 with a kill by Katlyn Britton (Westby, Wis.). The Wolves pulled ahead on a Mount Mary error before closing the match with an ace by Kaitlin Fischer (Mokena, Ill.).
Michelle Wille (Menomonee Falls, Wis.) led the Blue Angels with 12 kills in the losing effort. Chelsie Beeler (Jackson, Wis.) and Shanae Payne (Milwaukee, Wis.) each earned 10 digs. Beeler also led Mount Mary in assists, with 13.
While Jackie Schmitz (Menomonee Falls, Wis.) led the Wolves defense, earning 10 digs, the offense was well spread out by both Fischer and Kate Osowiec (Chicago, Ill.), who contributed 16 and 10 assists, respectively. Ashley Wipperfurth (Sauk City, Wis.) led with seven kills for Stritch, while Fischer, Alyssa Ahmad (St. Francis, Wis.), and Britton each added six. Both Ahmad and Britton recorded hitting percentages over .300. Wipperfurth and Fisher were both just below the mark with .294 and .286.
The Wolves improve to 4-9 with the win. They continue their home stand next Tuesday, September 29, against Olivet Nazarene at 7:00 p.m.
Wolves Can’t Hold on Against St. Francis Stritch falls after earning early leads
September 22, 2009
Milwaukee, Wis. – The Cardinal Stritch University women’s volleyball team came out strong against the heavily favored University of St. Francis Fighting Saints on Tuesday, but couldn’t hold on to large advantages, and ended up falling to St. Francis 3-1 (23-25, 16-25, 26-24, 19,25). Though they came up short, the Wolves put on a show in the Allen-Bradley Gymnasium, keeping the match close until the very end.
In the first set of the night, Stritch took a dominating 19-11 lead behind the power of Ashley Wipperfurth (Suak City, Wis.), Katlyn Britton (Westby, Wis.), and Anna Flock (Norwalk, Wis.). Wipperfurth and Britton contributed four kills each in the set, while Flock added three. However, the Fighting Saints went on a 12-3 run, eventually evening the score 21 -21 and pulling ahead 24-23 on a kill by Ashley Richards (Wilmington, Ill.). The set ended 25-23 on a Stritch attack error.
The Wolves didn’t let the loss get them down and came out strong once again in the second game of the match. Jackie Schmitz (Menomonee Falls, wis.) served six points to give Stritch a 11-8 lead, and although the Saints seemed to have found a spark, kills by Britton, Kaitlin Fischer (Mokena, Ill.), and Flock extended the Wolves advantage to 15-11. However, this seemed to be the turning point of the set, as St. Francis used Stritch errors and the attack of Kristee Conrad (Hickory Hills, Ill.) to go on a 14-1 run, closing the set with a nine point lead, 25-16.
With a win or go home attitude, the Wolves took the floor in game three and fought hard for the win. After falling behind 6-11 early in the set, Stritch came back to tie the game at 11-11 and took the lead, carried by junior, Cari Corroza’s (Milwaukee, Wis.) serving and Shannon Petrack (Winneconne, Wis.) and Fischer at the net. The Wolves went up 16-12 before dealing with six of nine ties in the set. St. Francis surrendered the ball and gave Stritch the lead on a kill by Flock before Megan Galonski (Milwaukee, Wis.) served the game winning ace, giving the Wolves the 26-24 win.
Though managing to hold the score close through most of the fourth and final set, it seemed as if the Wolves lost their momentum. St. Francis began to pull away after the Wolves hit 14 points, and ended the set and match 25-19, taking advantage of 12 Stritch errors.
Conrad and Jazzmyne Robbins (Lasalle Peru, Ill.) led the way for St. Francis, earning 13 kills apiece. Richards led in both assists and sets, dishing out 38 and digging up 13. Krysten Becker (Arlington Heights, Ill.) and Courtney Ambrosh (Joliet, Ill.) each added 11 digs for the Saints.
Wipperfurth and Britton carried the offense for Strich, earning 11 and 10 kills, respectively. Fischer led the Wolves with 35 assists and also contributed nine digs and four kills. Schmitz and Corozza anchored the defense, picking up 16 and 13 digs for Stritch.
The Wolves return to action on Friday, September 25. They are slated to face Mount Mary College at home at 7:00 p.m. in the Allen-Bradley Gymnasium.
Stritch Takes Two of Three in HuntingtonWolves drop thriller to hosts
September 19, 2009
Huntington, Ind. – Led by freshman, Ashley Wipperfurth (Sauk City, Wis.), the Cardinal Stritch University women’s volleyball team won two of three matches at the Huntington Quad this weekend, falling only to their hosts, Huntington University, in a match that came down to the wire. Stritch saw big improvements in their offense, limiting both service and attack errors.
The Wolves opened the Quad with a win over Purdue North Central, in a preview to conference play. After falling behind with a loss in the first set, Stritch regained control quickly to take the match 3-1 (22-25, 25-20, 25-15, 25-19). Offensively, Wipperfurth led the charge with 11 kills in the match. Anna Flock (Norwalk, Wis.), Katlyn Britton (Westby, Wis.), and Shannon Petrack (Winneconne, Wis.) each added seven kills. The Wolves defense also seemed to have found a spark, as Stritch recorded 48 team digs, four solo blocks, and 15 block assists. Jackie Schmitz (Menomonee Falls, Wis.) led with 17 digs while Alyssa Ahmad (St. Francis, Wis.) recorded a solo block and five block assists. Kaitlin Fischer (Mokena, Ill.) dished out 36 assists.
Stritch opened the second day of the tournament against Huntington University on their home court. The match was tightly contested, but after a hard battle, the Wolves couldn’t hold on for the win, and fell 3-2 (21-25, 25-22, 25-23, 21-25, 13-15), dropping the fifth set by only two points. Wipperfurth had a career-high 14 kills in the match and Petrack added eight. The Wolves blocking looked strong for the second consecutive set, as the team combined for a solo block and 20 block assists, led by Ahmad, who contributed eight. Schmitz led the Wolves with 17 digs and Fischer earned 35 assists.
Though they were coming off a tough loss, Stritch used the momentum of the contest to propel them past the University of Saint Francis (Ind.) in their second match of the day. The Wolves faltered in the second set, but were quickly able to return to winning form, and took the match 3-1 (25-23, 17-25, 25-20, 25-14). Wipperfurth stayed hot in the final match up, leading with 13 kills, while Flock contributed 10. Defensively, Schmitz led with 15 digs. Fischer recorded 11 digs and also led the Wolves with 30 assists. Ahmad continued to get the job done at the net, recording one solo block and five block assists.
Stritch improves to 3-8 with the wins. They return home on Tuesday, Sep. 22 to face conference foe, St. Francis (Ill.), at 7:00 p.m. in the Allen-Bradley Gymnasium.
Scarlet Hawks Roll Over WolvesStritch continues to struggle with errors
September 15, 2009 Milwaukee, Wis. – Service and attack errors killed the Cardinal Stritch University Wolves in a match against the Illinois Institute of Technology on Tuesday. The Wolves were forced to work from behind after ten service errors and 21 attack errors. IIT also struggled behind the line, missing 11 times, but held their hitting errors to a minimum. The Scarlet Hawks took down Stritch in three quick sets, 25-19, 25-15, and 25-12.
Stritch was able to keep pace with IIT for the first portion of game one, trailing only by two points a third of the way into the game. The Wolves seemed to lose focus after this point, and because of too many mistakes were not able to take advantage of five Scarlet Hawks miscues. IIT closed the game, up by six, on one of four service errors for the Wolves.
Game two was much of the same as IIT jumped out with a large lead right from the get go. It seemed Stritch couldn’t put anything together to get them started. Freshman, Ashley Wipperfurth (Sauk City, Wis.), who has been the go-to hitter for the Wolves so far this season, struggled to put the ball in play, accumulating five errors in the set. Without the ability to put the ball down, the Wolves fell 15-25.
The struggles continued into the third set, as three of the first four servers were unable to put the ball in the court, and serve receive became an issue, giving the Scarlet Hawks a quick 12-4 lead. The Wolves were never able to find any momentum, and the match was closed on a kill by Mariska Vandenbergh (Pleasant Prairie, Wis.) at 25-12.
Noelle Bennet (Belvidere, Ill.) and Melissa Cheviron (Fort Wayne, Ind.) led IIT’s offensive charge, with nine and seven kills, respectively. Rebecca Bograd (Lemont, Ill.) dished out 30 assists, while libero, Aubrey Vanderhayden (Rockford, Ill.) earned 15 digs.
The Wolves earned 19 team kills. Defensively they were led by Jackie Schmitz (Menomonee Falls, Wis.), who contributed 10 digs.
Stritch falls to 1-7 overall and 0-2 in CCAC play with the loss. They return to play this weekend as they travel to Huntington, Ind. for a tournament.
Stritch Earns First Win of Season
Wolves go 1-1 in Triangular at home
September 11, 2009
Milwaukee, Wis. – The Cardinal Stritch University Wolves took home their first win of the season at home on Friday night. The Wolves won a hard fought battle against Maranatha Baptist Bible College in the opening match of the triangular, earning their first win, 25-15, 25-21, and 25-20. Maranatha then fell to Trinity International, 25-13, 28-26, and 25-14, while Stritch players took some time to take in the win. The Trojans took their momentum into the third and final match of the night, and were able to take down the home team in 3 sets, 25-14, 25-23, and 27-25.
Leading the way for the Wolves offense in the first match were junior, Katlyn Britton (Westby, Wis.), with 11 kills, and freshman, Ashley Wipperfurth (Sauk City, Wis.), with ten. Libero, Jackie Schmitz (Menomonee Falls, Wis.) earned a game-high 18 digs. Wipperfurth also contributed 12 digs. Kaitlin Fisher (Mokena, Ill.) dished out 37 assists in the match.
In the losing effort, Torey DeLozier (Watertown, Wis.) had a game-high 15 kills for Maranatha. Jenny Fredricks (Anoka, Minn.) and Samantha Pagel (Coleman, Wis.) each had nine digs against Stritch.
In the second match of the night, Tayler Arseneau (Kankakee, Ill.) led the Trojans with 13 kills. The sophomore also contributed 10 digs in the match. Leading the way defensively, however, was libero, Allison Kingsbury (Aurora, Ill.), with 18 digs. Cheri Staddard (Muscoda, Wis.) quarterbacked the Trojans, earning 34 assists.
Maranatha was once again led by DeLozier, with eight kills, and Pagel, with nine digs.
Match three was a preview of Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference play, as Stritch fans saw their Wolves take on the Trinity International Trojans. Coming off the win against Maranatha, the Trojans proved too much for the young Stritch team. Errors continue to make a large impact on the Wolves’ chances to compete, and though the team fought hard until the end, they fell in three straight sets.
Anna Flock (Norwalk, Wis.) led the Wolves with ten kills, while Britton and Wipperfurth each added eight. Schmitz and Wipperfurth took control in the back row, contributing 12 and ten digs, respectively. Fischer led the way with 25 assists.
Arseneau and Kingsbury remained in control for Trinity International. Arseneau put down 12 kills and added nine digs, while Kingsbury dug up 16 attacks. Staddard dished out 27 assists.
After the triangular, the Wolves move to 1-6 on the season, and remain at 0-1 in the CCAC. They play at home again next Tuesday, September 15. The Wolves take on the Illinois Institute of Technology at 7:00 p.m. in the Allen-Bradley Gymnasium.
Wolves Fall in First Conference Match
Stritch struggles with hitting errors
September 8, 2009
Palos Heights, Ill. – The Cardinal Stritch University women’s volleyball team opened up Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference play against Trinity Christian College on Tuesday. The Wolves fell in three straight sets, 23-25, 23-25, and 16-25.
Stritch started a bit slow, as the Trolls went on an 8-2 run, trailing by as much as five points early in the first game. The Wolves made a strong push after falling behind 14-20, started by a Katlyn Britton (Westby, Wis.) kill. Aided by Trinity Christian errors and kills by Shannon Petrack (Winneconne, Wis.) and Ashley Wipperfurth (Sauk City, Wis.), Stritch was able to tie the set at 22-22. Two last minute service errors proved costly as the Trolls pulled ahead, taking the set, 25-23.
The second match was once again closely contested. After six ties, Stritch took the lead, 21-20. However, errors once again cost the Wolves late in the game. Trinity Christian closed the game on a kill by Hannah Petroelje (West Olive, Mich.), 25-23.
The Wolves came out strong in the third set, jumping out to a quick 6-2 lead. However, halfway through the game Stritch lost their momentum, and were once again plagued by mistakes. Trinity Christian went on a 10-2 run to end the match, 25-16.
Freshman, Wipperfurth, led the team with eight kills, while Britton contributed seven. Kaitlin Fischer (Mokena, Ill.) dished out 22 assists. Jackie Schmitz (Menomonee Falls, Wis.) earned ten digs on the night, followed by Megan Golonski (Milwaukee, Wis.), who added eight.
Coach Wildes was happy with the way the team played, although the outcome was not what she would have hoped for. “The team worked hard, and fought all the way through, but just came up short,” she said after the match.
The Wolves fall to 0-5 with the loss. They return home this weekend to face Maranatha Baptist Bible College and Trinity International University on Friday, Sept. 11. They are scheduled to play at 4:00 and 8:00 p.m.
Wolves Drop Four in Zio Johno's Mustang Invitational
Fischer named to All-Tournament Team
Sept. 1, 2009
Milwaukee, Wis. – The Cardinal Stritch University women’s volleyball team opened up their season at the Zio Johno’s Mustang Invitational in Cedar Rapids, Iowa this past weekend. The Wolves faced four opponents from the Midwest Collegiate Conference (MCC), all of which proved to be dominant over Stritch.
Under the direction of new head coach Natalie Wildes, the Wolves put up a fight in both of their Friday matches. Stritch fell 3-1 against Clarke College in their first match of the season (17-25, 25-14, 17-25, and 25-27). Later, playing Ashford, the Wolves again took the second set, but fell short in the 3-1 loss (11-25, 25-21, 19-25, 19-25).
On Saturday the Wolves faced Mount Mercy College and William Penn University. Stritch dropped three straight to their host, Mount Mercy (22-25, 14-25, 24-26) before facing William Penn, the second ranked team in the MCC. The Wolves still couldn’t find a spark, and lost in three to the Statesmen (20-25, 22-25, 18-25).
Senior, Kaitlin Fischer (Mokena, Ill.) was named to the All-Tournament for her efforts. The 5-9 outside made a transition to setter during the invitational, making an impact both with her net play and dishing the ball.
The losses put the Wolves at 0-4 for the season. They will travel to Palos Heights, Ill. on Sept. 8 for their first conference match against Trinity Christian College. The match is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m.