OSHKOSH, Wis. – The Carthage College Lady Red returned to weekend tournament play Friday with their opening match of the 2016 University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Titan Tussle, falling to #12 Whitewater, 3-1.
 
The loss drops Carthage to .500 on the season at 7-7, while the Warhawks improve to 14-4 on the year following a pair of wins Friday.
 
A balanced offense by the Warhawks coupled with a powerful front three at the net that totaled 14 blocks against the Lady Reds was a recipe that doomed Carthage following the slow start.
 
Carthage struggled out of the gate in the first two sets and quickly found themselves down 2-0 after combining for 14 kills in a pair of 25-16 losses. 
 
The Lady Reds attempted to comeback from the 0-2 hole with a third set win to tighten the deficit and force the Warhawks to a fourth set after a 25-23 win.  Despite hitting .167 in the third set, the Lady Reds were able to limit their attack errors to just five, which had plagued them in the first two sets.
 
However it wasn't meant to be for the Lady Reds Friday evening as the #12 team in the country bounced back in the fourth set, despite Carthage's best hitting set of the match, to down the Lady Reds, 26-24, to take the match.
 
Offensively for the Lady Reds Stefanie Romanowski was the lone Lady Red in double figures attacking with 11 kills followed by Stephanie Korbakes and Anna Kinell with eight each.  Abigail McGowan finished with 28 assists.
 
Defensively, Rachel Mickey and Romanowski were each in on three blocks and Kinell tallied 11 digs to lead the Lady Reds.
 
Carthage continues action at the Titan Tussle tomorrow morning with a pair of matches Saturday beginning with Alma College at 10:00 a.m. followed by #19 UW-La Crosse at noon.