BISMARK, N.D. – The No. 6 Concordia-St. Paul volleyball team defeated the University of Mary in straight sets (25-9, 25-14, 25-18) Saturday afternoon for its sixth consecutive victory – its longest streak of the season – all of which have been in straight sets. The Golden Bears improve to 15-3 overall and 9-2 in the NSIC.

U-Mary scored the first point to begin the match, but that would be its last lead of the opening set. Concordia sandwiched streaks of 3-to-5 points between single Mary points and allowed only one back-to-back scoring opportunity to the Marauders in a convincing 25-9 win.

The second set was much more evenly matched as both team traded blows through 28 points with nine ties and three lead changes. Leading 15-13, the Golden Bears pulled away with six straight points and allowed only one point from that moment on.

The Marauders tallied the first point in the third set, but once again couldn't maintain the lead. They kept the score close throughout the set until Concordia claimed the final five points for the victory.

Kayla Koenecke (Delano, Minn.) led the Bears as an all-around performer. The junior outside hitter connected on 15-of-29 attacks with two errors for a .448 attack percentage and accumulated ten digs defensively for her team-high sixth double-double of the year. Ellie Duffy (Fridley, Minn.) matched Koenecke's 15 kills and hit at a .400 attack rate (15-3-30).

Ashley Murtha (Apple Valley, Minn.) also posted a double-double with 11 kills and led the squad with 12 digs, while Amanda Konetchy (Victoria, Minn.) served up 43 assists (14.33 per set). As a team, CU hit accumulated a .387 attack percentage with 53 kills on 111 attempts and ten errors.

Concordia returns home to the Gangelhoff Center on October 16 for a match with Minnesota State. The match will begin at 7:00 p.m. The volleyball team and the Concordia Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) is hosting its annual Dig for a Cure event that night as well. For more information, view the release.