KENOSHA, Wis. – The Carthage College Lady Reds dropped their regular season finale Tuesday night at Tarble Arena, as the Wheaton College Thunder took a five-set thriller on Senior Night, downing the Lady Reds, 3-2.
 
The loss drops Carthage to 18-12 overall on the season and will be the number-four seed in next weekend's College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Women's Volleyball Tournament after going 5-3 in the league.  Wheaton, who will be the third seed, finishes the regular season at 13-15 and 6-2 in the CCIW.

Prior to the match, seniors Anna Kinell, Stephanie Korbakes, Rachel Mickey and Stefanie Romanowski were recognized for their hard work, contributions and dedication given to the Lady Reds program.
 
"Today was a tough one," said head coach Leanne Ulmer following the match.  "I thought we did a lot of good things tonight but they are a very good team.  They are big and had a lot of blocks against us that made things difficult.  We probably lost the serve-pass game a little bit, but it was a very up and down roller coaster outing that anyone could have won with a lot of close sets.  We have some things to work on over the next few days.  I don't usually say this but we were hoping to be going to Elmhurst for the tournament but off to Millikin we go.  We were there last year and won so hopefully it can be déjà vu all over again.  A little different situation going in but we get a tough opponent in Millikin and we will need to play our best there.  But in the tournament you never know what can happen so we will give it our best shot."
 
Carthage got out to an early 8-4 lead in set number one, but a 8-2 run quickly flipped things in favor of the Thunder at 14-10 as attack errors coupled with defensive blunders hurt the Lady Reds.  With the Lady Reds continuing to struggle to get the offense going the Thunder managed to build a 21-16 lead late in the first.  Down five Carthage went on a 7-0 run to take a late lead behind the serving of Luci Krenzke, whom served six-straight points.  Unfortunately a 4-0 run by the Thunder capped-off by their third block of the set gave Wheaton a 1-0 lead in the match.
 
Carthage grabbed control of the second set early as a 13-3 run for the Lady Reds built a 17-7 lead.  The Lady Reds always answered short runs by Wheaton, as Carthage hit .393 in the set and took the second set 25-15. Rachel Mickey and Rachael Kisten combined for a block against a Thunder attack to finish off the set and even the match at 1-1. 
 
Wheaton opened the third with a 7-1 lead before the Lady Reds knew what happened and found themselves climbing out of a hole most of the game.  Trailing 18-8, the Lady Reds started a 6-0 run led by Stephanie Korbakes, whom registered two blocks and a kill during the run that cut the deficit to 18-13.  Carthage continued to chip away at the Wheaton lead with a solo block by Megan Behrendt and a double block by Rachael Kisten and Stefanie Romanowski along with an ace by Ellie LeCount turned the momentum in Carthage's favor, now trailing just 20-17.   Carthage later drew closer to Wheaton, eventually cutting the lead to one at 20-19, but Wheaton was able to hold on for a 25-22 win to go up 2-1 in the match.
 
Carthage once again found themselves battling from behind most of the must-win fourth set after Wheaton got out to a an early lead.  Down 11-7, Carthage fought to get back in the set and eventually tied the match at 15-15 forcing a Wheaton timeout.  Out of the timeout, Rachel Mickey registered her second ace of the match to give Carthage their first lead of the set at 16-15.  Points went back and forth from there with the lead exchanging hands multiple times.  Tied at 24-24, Romanowksi gave the Lady Reds a lead that Behrendt finished as the Wheaton block fell out of bounds to tie the match at 2-2.  Behrendt finished with a team-high six kills in the set.
 
Rachel Mickey set the tone early in the fifth set as her three kills and a block jumped Carthage out to an 8-5 lead in the set to 15.  Wheaton would fight back though and tied the fifth at 11-11.   Once again going back and forth Wheaton, grabbed the advantage and with one-point leads down the stretch and leading 14-13, the Thunder got the final kill to take the match 15-13 and spoil the Lady Reds Senior Night festivities.
 
Korbakes led the Lady Red with 14 kills, while Rachel Mickey, Megan Behrendt and Rachael Kisten each tallied ten apiece.  Additionally, Mickey led Carthage with seven blocks and Behrendt was second on the team behind Luci Krenzke's 26 digs with 14.
 
Shelby Knowles recorded a match-high 20 kills for the Thunder who were outhit by Carthage .179 to .126 in the five sets.
 
Next up for the Lady Reds, Carthage will travel to Millikin University for the 2016 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Tournament Friday and Saturday.  Carthage will open as the four seed and will face regular season champion Millikin in Friday's second semifinal set for 7:00 p.m.