SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Concordia University volleyball team (20-3, 13-2 NSIC) rebounded from a first-set loss to win in four sets over Sioux Falls (14-11, 8-7 NSIC) ON Saturday afternoon. The win was the Golden Bears' fifth in a row and 13^th in the last 14 matches.
 
It certainly wasn't easy as the lead changed hands at least once in each set with 23 total ties and nine lead changes in the match. Offensively, the Golden Bears held the edge over the Cougars as they hit .315 compared to .172 for USF. As has been the case for much of the season, CU dominated at the net with 13.0 total blocks while Sioux Falls had only three.
 
Riley Hanson was nearly unstoppable for the Golden Bears as she finished with a match-high 17 kills while committing no errors on 24 attempts. Her .708 hitting percentage was good for 11^th best in school history with at least 20 attempts. She also added five blocks.
 
Anna Schlaak and Mariya Sampson each delivered well-rounded performances as each one finished with a double-double. Schlaak had 16 kills and a team-best 15 digs for her eighth double-double of the season while Sampson finished with 12 kills and 10 digs for her first career double-double.
 
Emma Lange also made her presence known with eight kills to go along with a career-high eight blocks while Heather Schiller added six blocks of her own. Taylor Dordan was also active with 13 digs for Concordia. Kasey Williams also hit the half-century mark with 50 assists along with six digs of her own.
 
Three different Cougars finished in double figures in kills as Emily Johnson led the way with 13 and Michelle Ritland and Kate Hart chipped in 12 and 11, respectively.
 
The two teams battled hard to build a lead with 13 ties and three lead changes in the opening set with neither team leading by more than three until late. A 5-0 run in favor of USF proved to be the difference in the first set as it gave the Cougars a 24-18 lead. CU answered back with four straight but an Emily Johnson kill closed it out for Sioux Falls as they took a 1-0 lead with a 25-22 set win.
 
Concordia scored four of the first five in the second but USF once again gained control with strong 6-0 run. They held the lead until seven points in a row for the Golden Bears put them on top 18-13. The Cougars were unable to rebound as CU cruised to a 25-17 set win to even it up at 1-1 heading into the intermission.
 
The third set featured a series of runs as USF built a 7-2 lead before seeing the Golden Bears erase that lead and grab a 12-9 lead of their own with a 10-2 run. A 6-0 run for the Cougars gave them the lead back at 15-12 and they maintained that margin at 22-19 until Concordia surged to six straight points to win the set 25-22.
 
Sioux Falls jumped out to a 7-3 lead in the fourth but it was short-lived as Concordia took the lead at 11-10 and didn't give it back. The Golden Bears continued to grow the lead the rest of the way as they claimed the set 25-16 and the match 3-1.
 
Concordia is back home for a four-match homestand beginning this Tuesday night as they play host to Minnesota State at 7 p.m.