BOX SCORE

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The #1 Golden Bears (32-4) have repeated as national champions for the fourth straight year on Saturday evening as they defeated #2 Tampa (31-4) 3-1, (25-23, 23-25, 26-24, 25-10). CU seniors Emily Palkert and Krista Erickson finish their career with four national titles and an amazing 24-0 record in the NCAA Tournament. The two finish their career an amazing 142-9 overall. CU finishes the season winning 22-straight matches and landed five players on the NCAA All-Tournament Team.



Concordia was led by middle hitters Palkert and Cassie Haag on Saturday. Haag had 22 kills and Palkert had 20. The two helped CU fight-off a very talented and feisty Tampa team who had leads late in every set but the fourth. Freshman Kayla Koenecke added 12 kills on the night as the three combined for a majority of the CU offense.

The Golden Bears and Spartans battled back and forth in the first set as the match was tied at 11 midway through. Three straight points by UT gave them a 14-11 lead and forced a CU timeout. Concordia couldn't find a way back and trailed 22-18 late in the set. A kill by Koenecke brought CU within three and then five straight points gave CU set point at 24-22. Tampa killed off one set point but Koenecke put the set away at 25-23.

Concordia jumped out in set two to a 9-5 lead but Tampa scored four straight to tie the set at nine. Both teams traded points back and forth, but Tampa took control late leading 22-20. Following a CU timeout the Golden Bears scored twice to tie the set at 22-all. Tampa called a timeout and then scored two straight points to put themselves one point away from winning the set. CU scored a point to pull within one but Tampa put the set away right after.

Set three was another barn-burner as the set was again tied at nine apiece midway through. Tampa kept the lead late in the set and was up 23-21. Kills by Palkert and then by Haag tied the set at 23-all. Tampa scored the next point and was at set point leading 24-23. Haag then took over and scored two straight as CU took a 25-24 lead. A hitting error by tampa gave CU the set 26-24.

CU took the momentum from set three and jumped out to a 9-2 lead. The Golden Bears kept the pressure on and extended the lead to 15-5. The Golden Bears then closed out the match by scoring 10 of the next 15 and took the set 25-10.

Concordia becomes the first NCAA division I or II volleyball program to win four consecutive NCAA Volleyball championships.

Concordia's members on the NCAA All-Tournament Team:
Emily Palkert, Cassie Haag, Megan Carlson, Kayla Koenecke, Amanda Konetchy