MANKATO, Minn. – The #2 Concordia University volleyball team (7-2, 0-1 NSIC) dropped their NSIC opener to Minnesota State (5-3, 1-0 NSIC) in four sets (25-23, 19-25, 18-25, 15-25) on Tuesday evening. The loss marks the first conference opening loss for the Golden Bears under Brady Starkey.
 
Concordia got off to a quick start by taking the first set before the Mavericks held them in check for the final three sets. After hitting .600 in the first set, CU hit .240 or below in each of the final three sets for a total of .250 for the match. MSU finished the match with a .289 hitting percentage.
 
Anna Schlaak provided a bright spot for the Golden Bears with 16 kills on just 27 attempts for an efficient hitting percentage of .519. Schlaak fell three digs short of a double-double with seven.
 
Kasey Williams also fell just short of a double-double as well with 33 assists and nine digs. Emma Lange also chipped in nine kills with three assists and four blocks (three solo). Taylor Dordan led the Golden Bears in digs with 14.
 
Chanrda Honebrink led the attack for the Mavericks with 20 kills and a .395 hitting percentage while Krista Hassing added 18 kills while hitting .371.
 
Ellie Van De Steeg had 53 assists and Haley Fogarty had 15 digs to lead Minnesota State.
 
The first set was very much a back and forth affair 12 ties and four lead changes in the set. MSU held the largest lead of the set at 10-7 and led as late as 21-20 before Concordia closed out the set 25-23. Schlaak got off to a strong start with six kills in the set as CU only had one error.
 
A 5-0 run in the second set turned 12-9 MSU lead into 17-9 lead that the Golden Bears couldn't erase. They closed the gap back to three at 21-18 before the Mavericks scored four of the next five to even the match with a 25-19 set win. CU was only able to muster an .036 hitting percentage as a team in the set.
 
Concordia and Minnesota State traded points through the early going of the third set before the Mavericks once again pulled away. MSU closed out the set on a 7-2 run to take a 2-1 advantage with 25-18 win. Six aces buoyed the Mavericks performance in the set as they finished the match with 12.
 
The fourth set turned in the favor of MSU when the Mavericks grabbed six straight points to take a 17-10 lead. Concordia couldn't get it back below six the rest of the way as Minnesota State completed the upset with a 25-15 set win.
 
The Golden Bears are back in action this weekend as they host #21 Northern State and MSU Moorhead in their conference home opening weekend. Friday's match begins at 7 p.m. and Saturday's begins at 4 p.m.