ST. PAUL, Minn. - Top-ranked Concordia-St. Paul (9-0) kept its perfect start to the 2023 season intact with a three-set sweep of #6 St. Cloud State (7-2) on Tuesday night in a non-conference match at Gangelhoff Center.

The win gives the Golden Bears three consecutive victories over top-10 opponents in as many matches and the squad is now 4-0 against nationally-ranked teams in 2023. It sets up another top-5 showdown on Friday night as Concordia hits the road for its NSIC opener at #3 Wayne State in Nebraska.

The Golden Bear attack was clicking against the Huskies behind AVCA National Player of the Week Teagan Starkey as she distributed 44 assists in three sets to an attack that hit .440 with three players in double-figures.

Junior Emma Schmidt had a strong all-around night, as well, leading the team with a .588 hitting percentage with 11 kills and just one error while adding 11 digs for a double-double. She was also perfect on the serve receive in 20 chances and a key contributor to Starkey's ability to set the attack.

The night started close, with 10 ties and eight lead changes in the first set with all of them occurring before the 15th point of the set. SCSU claimed a 13-12 lead after the midway point of the first before the Golden Bears scored six of the next seven points.

Concordia didn't trail the rest of the night, claiming set scores of 25-19, 25-19, 25-20.

Sophia Andersen added 13 kills on a .435 hitting night and Jasmine Mulvihill missed a double-double by just one dig with 10 kills and nine digs on the evening.

The Huskies were led by Kenzie Foley's match-high 14 kills.