DENVER, Colo. – The top-ranked Concordia University volleyball team (7-1) finished off a 3-1 weekend in the Colorado Premier Challenge with a four-set win over Colorado Mesa (6-2) on Saturday night. The Golden Bears stormed back after dropping the first set 25-22 to take the final three sets 25-16, 25-19 and 25-11.
 
The Golden Bear offense, led by Kasey Williams, put together a diverse attack that kept Colorado Mesa guessing. Williams finished the match with 51 assists and 12 digs to pick up her fifth double-double of the season while helping five Golden Bears finish in double figures in kills.
 
Leading the way in the kill department was Heather Schiller with 15 kills and .429 attack percentage. Emma Lange was close behind with 14 kills while she hit an even more efficient .650 for the match. Anna Schlaak and Mariya Sampson were next in line with 13 kills apiece while they added eight and six digs, respectively. Riley Hanson was the final Golden Bear in double digits with 10 kills as she also chipped in eight blocks a match-best eight blocks.
 
The Golden Bears finished the match with a .376 team hitting percentage and finished .300 or above in each of the four sets. The defense held the Mavericks to just .184 hitting, aided by Lisa Atkinson's match-high 17 digs for Concordia.
 
Melissa Hess proved to be a bright spot for Colorado Mesa as she led the team with 11 kills and a .308 hitting percentage while Tiffany Peterson added 15 digs.
 
Concordia appeared to have things under control in the first set as they maintained a small lead until the 20-20 mark. Colorado Mesa grabbed the next point on an ace and didn't allow the Golden Bears to regain the lead as they finished off the set by a score of 25-22. Erin Perez led the Maverick attack with seven kills in just nine attacks in the set.
 
The second set began in much the same way before Concordia gained the upper hand using a 7-1 run to take a 21-14 lead. The Golden Bears wouldn't let up as they pulled even in the match with a 25-16 set win.
 
The Mavericks tried to pull back ahead as they managed to take a 9-8 lead in the third set but six straight points for CU gave them a lead they wouldn't squander. Colorado Mesa closed the gap back to three at 16-13 but couldn't get any closer as Concordia pulled away with a 25-19 set win to take a 2-1 advantage in the match.
 
The Golden Bears came out firing in the fourth and final set as they didn't allow CMU to take the lead at any point in the set. CU gradually increased the lead throughout the entire set as they cruised to win the set 25-11 and take the match in four sets.
 
The Golden Bears had two players named to the All-Tournament Team Riley Hanson and Anna Schlaak while Tampa's Berkley Whaley took home Tournament MVP honors.
 
Concordia returns to the Gangelhoff Center next Friday and Saturday for opening weekend in the NSIC as #21 Northern State and MSU Moorhead come to town.