ST. PAUL, Minn. – The #1 Concordia Golden Bears (3-0) stayed unbeaten with their third straight sweep as they defeated the #17 Wheeling Jesuit Cardinals (2-1) on Saturday afternoon. The Golden Bears took the three sets 25-17, 25-23 and 25-19.
Defense was the story again for the Golden Bears as they held the Cardinals to a miniscule .071 hitting percentage in the match. CU dominated at the net as they doubled up WJU in the blocks category 8-4.
Concordia was forced to grind out points as they hit .213 themselves as they found many different ways to score points.
Sophomore
Emma Lange was a force from the right side as she contributed a team-high and career-high 13 kills to go along with an efficient .476 hitting percentage. She also made an impact on the defensive end with a solo block and three assists in the match.
CU Volleyball vs. Wheeling 9.6.2014 - Images by
Justin Oakman Kasey Williams was again a steady presence with 41 assists and 14 digs to pick up her first double-double of the season.
Anna Schlaak picked up her second double-double with 10 kills and 11 digs as well.
Riley Hanson was the third Golden Bear in double figures in kills with 10 while
Taylor Dordan collected a team-best 15 digs.
The first set proved to be tough sledding for the Cardinals as Concordia allowed only seven kills and an -.051 hitting percentage. Wheeling Jesuit was undeterred as they led by as much as three at 15-12, but couldn't hang on to the lead. Concordia scored the final five points and 11 of the last 12 to claim the set 25-17 to take the early 1-0 lead in the match.
Wheeling Jesuit held an even bigger lead at 16-11 in the second set but saw that lead disappear as well. The two teams remained tied until the 23 point mark but kills from Hanson and Lange closed the door in a 25-23 win. Dordan was active in the set with seven digs.
A 5-0 run late in the third set spoiled a Wheeling Jesuit comeback as Concordia turned a 16-15 deficit into a 20-16 lead. WJU got it back to three points at 22-19 but it wasn't enough as the Golden Bears closed out the set with a 25-19 win.
Makenzie Ripley had a match-high 20 digs for Wheeling Jesuit while Haley Kindall added a team-high eight kills.
Concordia returns to the court next weekend in the Colorado Premier Challenge in Denver.
