DENVER, Colo. - The fifth-ranked Concordia-St. Paul volleyball team (5-2) fell to #9 West Texas A&M (5-2) in five sets (21-25, 25-23, 25-20, 20-25, 15-13) in the semifinals of the Gold Bracket at the Colorado Premier Challenge on Saturday morning.

After CSP claimed a 25-21 victory in set one, the Lady Buffs responded with wins in sets two and three. Concordia secured a 25-20 win in the fourth to force a decisive fifth set, but West Texas A&M outlasted CSP 15-13 to take the match 3-2.

Breaking a 5-5 tie with a run of three consecutive points early in set one, the Golden Bears maintained the advantage throughout the remainder of the set on the way to a 25-21 win. Senior Emma Schmidt finished the set with seven digs and two kills.

Despite pulling within a single point on seven occasions in set two, the Golden Bears never managed to tie the set as the Lady Buffs claimed a tight 25-23 win. In the third set, CSP held an early 9-6 advantage. The Lady Buffs took control from that point, winning seven of the next eight points to take a lead that would hold for the remainder of the set on the way to a 25-20 win and a 2-1 lead in the match.

Concordia was in the driver's set for a majority of set four, breaking an early 3-3 tie and never relinquishing the lead in a 25-20 victory. Sophia Andersen was the leader for the Bears in the set, logging eight kills on a .667 hitting percentage.

The fifth set remained close throughout with neither team leading by more than three at any point, but the Lady Buffs managed to outlast the Golden Bears 15-13 to win the match.

Setter Teagan Starkey notched her second consecutive double-double, tallying 58 assists and 10 digs in the match. Ellie Sieling also logged a double-double, finishing with 17 kills and 13 digs.

Andersen was extremely efficient with 14 kills and no errors on just 20 attempts for a .700 hitting percentage.

Schmidt anchored the Golden Bear defense with 18 digs, also adding seven kills. Cassie Sieling was second on the team with 14 digs.

Freshman Makenna Nold chipped in 13 kills and six total blocks (one solo), and Mehlayna Straub added 10 kills and three block assists.

The Golden Bears will play the loser of the Chaminade vs. MSU Denver matchup in the third-place match at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday.