#7 concordia university (27-2, 15-0 nsic) used a dominant game five to edge #24 wayne state (23-6, 12-3 nsic) 30-27, 25-30, 30-23, 27-30, 15-12 on friday evening in a critical northern sun match between two of the top three teams in the league.
freshman setter maggie mcnamara continued her outstanding first collegiate season by equaling her own school record with 75 assists in the match. The nation's assist leader also pitched in 13 digs, giving her a double-double for the match as she led cu to a .243 hitting pct. Including a .360 effort in the fifth game as cu had 11 kills with just two errors in 25 attacks.
senior jessica lucia took over the match as she piled up 30 kills, hitting .368 in 57 attacks with just nine errors. Lucia also posted a double-double with 15 digs while adding four assists, four blocks and two aces.
senior kelsey kyro also turned in a brilliant individual effort as she hit .419 against a stingy wildcat defense. Kyro had 22 kills and four digs in 43 attacks while also posting three blocks - all solo.
the cu defense, which stifled many wildcat attacks, was led by senior libero megan graham's (right) 29 digs which tied a season high. Also stellar on defense was sophomore maria steinhagen who for the third time this season equaled her career-best with eight total blocks, two solo. Steinhagen also posted 13 kills for the bears.
the cu offense was rounded out by junior monica mcnamara and seniorashley olson who each drilled nine kills. Mo.mcnamara added five digs, three blocks and three aces while olson contributed nine digs as she narrowly missed a double-double.
the wildcats also had some outstanding performances as junior emily schroeder recorded a triple-double with 16 kills, 12 digs and 10 blocks - three solo. Junior libero laura dolezal racked up 25 digs but was also torched for six reception errors against cu's serve which totaled 10 aces. Their senior setter contributed a double-double with 63 assists and 14 digs along with five kills. The wsc offense was led by sophomore brittany van beek's 21 kills.
in an evenly played match, the bears and wildcats were even at the net with 12 blocks apiece while cu edged out wsc in digs at 78-75 while the wildcats returned the favor by outhitting cu .247 to .243.
when the wildcats took the second game of the match, 30-25, that snapped a 38 game home winning streak over 14 matches that dated back to last season when the bears dropped the third game of a match to minnesota duluth in a four game win.
cu is currently on a 22 match home winning streak dating back to 2004 when minnesota duluth defeated the bears in four games in the regional championship match.
under head coach brady starkey, concordia holds a 46-4 overall home record at the gangelhoff center, a .920 winning pct.
the bears put their 11 match winning streak and perfect nsic record on the line tomorrow evening when they host #21 sw minnesota state in a match that could clinch the regular season northern sun title and secure the right to host the conference tournament for the bears. Cu has a two match lead over the mustangs with three remaining.
