Top-seeded Concordia University (30-4) swept second-seeded Minnesota Duluth (27-5), 30-19, 30-24, 30-23 on Saturday evening in the NCAA North Central Regional championship match played at the Gangelhoff Center in St. Paul, Minn.

The win for Concordia, ranked second nationally, advances them to the NCAA Elite Eight Tournament at a site to be announced by Monday evening and extends their winning streak to 17 matches and improves them to 24-1 in their past 25.

Junior right-side hitter Jessica Lucia led Concordia's attack with a match-high 14 kills. She recorded her 24th double-double of the season with a team-high 12 digs. She also recorded five assists and two blocks.

Junior middle hitter Kelsey Kyro hit a team-high .450 with nine kills in 20 attacks with just one error. Senior setter Cailin Terhaar notched a double-double as well as she set the Golden Bear attack that hit .274 as a team. She had 37 assists and 10 digs in the match.

The Bulldogs were led by Vicky Braegelmann's 12 kills, as she was the only player from UMD in double-figures for kills. Senior libero Allison Boddy's 15 digs were a match-high, but they were not enough to hold off a fierce and consistent Concordia offensive effort. Setter Katie Gangelhoff had 34 assists and eight digs as UMD hit .138 as a team.

The Bears outkilled the Bulldogs 46-39 and held a 54-45 edge in digs.
 

NCAA Division II Women's North Central Regional All-Tournament Team:

Erin Contons, OH, Southwest Minnesota St.

Christie Johnson, S, Nebraska Omaha

Tina Lensing, MH, MSU Moorhead

Ashley Freeman, OH, Nebraska Omaha

Abby McDonald, OH, Augustana

Kari Wolford, OH, Minnesota Duluth

Cailin Terhaar, S, Concordia-St. Paul

Allison Boddy, DS, Minnesota Duluth

Val Olson, OH, Concordia-St. Paul

Kelsey Kyro, MH, Concordia-St. Paul

Vicky Braegelmann, OH, Minnesota Duluth

Jessica Lucia, RS, Concordia-St. Paul

Quotes from the championship:

UM Duluth coach Jim Boos:

"First off, I would like to congratulate Concordia. They are a great representative from the region."

"They came out and didn't make any mistakes. Unfortunately we didn't play well tonight. I am disappointed for our seniors. We hoped to play our best and we didn't."

"We worked hard all year to put ourselves here. We didn't play our best."

UMD senior Vicky Braegelmannn

"We got off to a rough start and we just couldn't get it back. Once Concordia started rolling, it was hard to get over the hump."

UMD senior Allison Boddy

"They definitely have a lot of weapons."

Concordia coach Brady Starkey
(on the difference from last year's team) "Our team chemistry was good this year. We meshed well together. I have never had a team that has been as mentally tough."

Concordia senior Danielle Neihls
(on what she wants to do next) "I would like to play in a national championship with my best friends and teammates that I have had in my four years."

Concordia senior Cailin Terhaar

"This is a big rivalry; it always will be. Last year's loss in the region championships was in the back of our minds."

Concordia senior Val Olson

"It was so great to be out there. It was a lot of fun."