TACOMA, Wash. -- The Carthage College women's volleyball team (3-1) entered the final day of the Puget Sound Premiere following a loss to Southwester (Tex.) and a win against Pacific Lutheran on Friday.

"It was a good opening weekend for us," said head coach Leanne Ulmer.  "We have things to work on but all in all the girls played well.  Our libero Luci Krenzke had a very strong tournament and Rachel Mickey came up big for us in the last match hitting and blocking.  It was a team effort!"
 
The Lady Reds opened the first set of their match against the University of Puget Sound with a 4-0 run with Abigail McGowan serving. After a kill by Puget Sound, the make a 5-0 run thanks to a kill by Stephanie Korbakes, a service ace by Mallory Parsons, and three attack errors by Puget Sound. Carthage would maintain their lead throughout the first set and win 25-18.
 
The Loggers showed their tenacity in the second set, however the Lady Reds were still able to win the set 25-22.
 
The third set of the match stayed tight until halfway through the match. Up 12-11, the Lady Reds made a six-point unanswered run with McGowan serving to take the lead 18-11. Carthage would win the third set 25-16, securing their 3-0 win over Puget Sound.
 
Collectively, the Lady Reds made 36 kills, 10 service aces, four blocks, 36 assists, 51 digs, and hit .191. Stephanie Korbakes led Carthage in kills with 18 in three sets. Mallory Parsons recorded three service aces, accompanied by Anna Kinell and Abigalil McGowan with two apiece. Both Rachel Mickey and Korbakes connected on three blocks. McGowan recorded 33 assists and Luci Krenzke made 16 digs.
 
In their second and final match of the day, Carthage faced off against the Brewers of Vassar College. In the first set, the Lady Reds made eight combinations of back to back points to slowly but surely win the first set 25-17. Carthage never scored more than two points in a row during the first set.

"We played well in the first two sets then we lost focus and our passing was not sharp," stated Ulmer on the Lady Reds performance against.  "Vassar got some momentum with tough serves and it took us out of our game.  We put together a strong team effort in the fifth set to come away with the win."  
 
The score stayed tight in the second set as well until the Lady Reds were able to pull away at the end to win 25-19.
 
The third set of the match started slow for Carthage as the brewers made a 6-1 run to take the lead. Vassar sustained their lead and won the third set 25-22. The fourth set was more of the same as the Brewers won 25-18.
 
The final set of the match started with an attack error by the Brewers, followed by a 4-0 run in favor of Vassar College. Carthage would quickly respond with a three-point run of their own to tie the set 4-4. After a kill by Vassar's Colette Cambey put the Brewers up 5-4, Carthage made 6-1 run to take the lead 10-6. Carthage held onto the lead to win the fifth and final set 15-10, earning a 3-2 win over the Brewers.
 
As a team, the Lady Reds made 61 kills, nine service aces, 10 blocks, 59 assists, 63 digs, and hit .236. Korbakes led the team with 15 kills and Parsons completed four service aces. Rachel Mickey had a commanding performance with six total blocks. McGowan connected on 36 assists and Luci Krenzke made 25 digs.

Following the competition, Stephanie Korbakes, Luci Krenzki and Rachel Mickey were each named to the Puget Sound All-Tournament team.
 
The Lady Reds return to play September 9-10 at the Loras College Invitational when they will take on Gustavus Adolphus, Loras, Cornell College, and St. Olaf.