Box Score WAYNE, Neb. - The Concordia University volleyball team (16-1, 8-0 NSIC) pulled out a big five set win over the #15 Wayne State Wildcats (12-5, 4-4 NSIC) on Friday night in Wayne. Concordia got some impressive individual performances from multiple players as they extended their winning streak to 14. The two teams are now an even 1-1 on the season as WSC handed the Golden Bears their only loss of the season.
The two squads traded blows in the first set with neither team holding a lead over three points. Concordia held set point at 24-23 and 25-24 with a kill from
Erienne Lauersdorf and
Heather Schiller, respectively, before the Wildcats forced their own set point by scoring the next two points. Concordia bounced back to score the next three to take the first 28-26.
Concordia jumped out to an early 9-3 lead in the second and controlled play throughout the rest of the match, not allowing Wayne State to get back in it. They went up 2-0 in the match with a chance to collect the sweep after a 25-18 win in the second.
Wayne State responded in the third by taking a 9-4 lead, but CU answered by scoring eight of the next ten points to take a lead of their own. The teams traded the next few points before WSC took the lead for good at 17-16. They went on to extend the match by picking up a 25-23 win in the third.
The Golden Bears and Wildcats were even throughout the fourth as there were 11 ties and four lead changes in just that set alone. Wayne State broke the last tie by taking a 20-19 and didn't reliquish it, forcing a deciding fifth set with a 25-22 win.
WSC got an early jump on CU by taking a 4-3 lead but five straight points for the Golden Bears gave them the deciding advantage. The fifth set proved to be an anticlimatic conclusion to a great match as Concordia cruised to a 15-9 win in the final set.
Setter
Amanda Konetchy was brilliant on Friday night, setting a school record for assists with 77. The previous record of 75 was set back in 2007 by Maggie McNamara also in Wayne State. She also managed a career high 17 digs in the match to complete the double-double.
Kayla Koenecke also set a career high with 25 kills and also contributed an impressive 19 digs to pick up her ninth double-double on the season. Not to be outdone,
Emily McDonough joined the two in grabbing a pair of career highs of her own with 22 kills and 20 digs. It was the first 20-20 match of the year for any Golden Bear. Lauersdorf was the fourth member of the Golden Bears to pick up a double-double with 14 kills and 13 digs.
Cori Hobbs led the Wildcats with 17 kills and 19 digs while setter Leisa McClintock had 54 assists and six digs.
Concordia is back in action tomorrow night taking on the Augustana Vikings. Concordia returns home next Friday and Saturday to take on Sioux Falls and #6 SMSU, respectively.
