DENVER, Colo. - The fifth-ranked Concordia-St. Paul volleyball team (4-1) opened play at the Colorado Premier Challenge on Friday morning, sweeping #23 Lewis (Ill.) (2-3) (28-26, 25-21, 25-22) at the Regis Fieldhouse on the campus of Regis University.

The opening set was a back-and-forth affair containing 10 ties and seven lead changes, but the Golden Bears managed to outlast the Flyers with a 28-26 win. Sophia Andersen and Emma Schmidt led the way for Concordia in the first set with five kills each, hitting .364 and .308, respectively.

Tied at 19 each late in the second set, a run of three straight Concordia points gave the Golden Bears enough breathing room to secure a 25-21 win to go up 2-0 in the match. Andersen and Schmidt led the way once again with four kills each. Cassie Sieling anchored the back row with seven digs in the frame.

CSP trailed 10-8 early in set three, but two separate runs of five straight points for the Golden Bears put them up 18-12. Lewis managed to pull within two at 24-22, but Concordia hung on for a 25-22 win to take down the Flyers in straight sets.

Andersen led the team with 12 kills while Schmidt finished with 11 kills and eight digs. Makenna Nold and Mehlayna Straub added 10 kills each.

Middle blocker Claudia Stahlke put together another effective outing, finishing with five total blocks (three solo) and six kills on a .333 hitting percentage.

Cassie Sieling held down the back row for the Golden Bears, tallying a team-leading 16 digs and adding a service ace and a set assist.

Senior Teagan Starkey neared a double-double with 46 set assists, nine digs, and two kills in the match.

With the win, Concordia moves to 7-0 all-time versus Lewis, with four of the wins coming via sweeps. The Golden Bears will be back in action this evening, taking on Seattle Pacific at 7 p.m. on the campus of Regis University.