The Carthage College women's volleyball team (3-1), ranked 10th in the Sept. 7 American Volleyball Coaches Association NCAA Division III poll, opened its season by going 3-1 at the Friday-Saturday, Sept. 3-4 Wisconsin-Eau Claire “Labor Day Classic” at the McPhee Physical Education Center in Eau Claire, Wis. 

On Friday, Sept. 3, Carthage swept No. 28 College of St. Benedict (0-1), 3-0, before defeating the No. 13 and host-Blugolds (1-1) by a 3-1 margin. The Lady Reds' winning set scores over St. Benedict were 25-15, 25-15 and 25-15, and their winning scores over UW-Eau Claire were 26-24, 25-23, 19-25 and 25-23. On Saturday, Sept. 4, fell to Concordia College (Moorhead, 3-1), 3-0, before defeating Northwestern College (1-4), also 3-0. Concordia's winning set scores over Carthage were 25-22, 25-21 and 25-21, while Carthage's winning scores over Northwestern College were 25-18, 25-13 and 25-17. 

Lady Reds outside hitter Michelle Madeja (Jr., Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley) was named to the all-tournament team with 45 kills and 10 blocks in four matches. Lauren Dembkowski had 13 kills and hit .391 in the win over St. Benedict, and she had 13 kills with a .250 attack percentage in the win over Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Rachel Swoboda had nine kills and hit .320 in the loss to Concordia (Moorhead), while Madeja collected 14 kills and hit .400 in the win over Northwestern College.

Carthage travels to St. Louis, Mo., on Friday-Saturday, Sept. 10-11 to play in the Washington University (Mo.) National Invitational at the Washington Fieldhouse. On Friday, Sept. 10, the Lady Reds play No. 9 Ohio Northern University at 3 p.m. and the No. 1 and host-Bears at 8 p.m. On Saturday, Sept. 11, Carthage takes on No. 18 St. Olaf College at 10 a.m. and No. 7 Wittenberg University at 12:30 p.m.