(Adrian, MI) – Concordia volleyball continued their season on Friday night with a road contest at rival Siena Heights. The Cardinals entered the contest 12-13 overall (8-7 WHAC) while the Saints came in 16-6 (11-5 WHAC). CUAA nearly overcame a 2-0 deficit, forcing a close fifth set, but Siena Heights slipped away with the 3-2 win.
Kayla Peters led Concordia with 17 kills. Abigail Austin had a team-high 43 assists. McKenzie Peters anchored the back end with 24 digs. Madalyn Lisman led the Cardinals with 7 blocks.
Set 1 – SHU 25, CUAA 16
Tara Drinane had Concordia's first kill of the game. Kaitlin Veihl had two early kills including one that landed just near the back line. Breann June added back-to-back kills midway through the set, but Siena Heights was able to claim a 25-16 win in set 1.
Set 2 – SHU 25, CUAA 21
Kayla Peters made 4 kills in a 5-1 CUAA run to start set 2. Kaitlin Veihl combined with both Tara Drinane and Breann June for three early blocks. Abigail Austin and Tara Drinane notched two kills apiece down the stretch and a Korie Fowler ace cut the deficit to 22-20. However, Siena Heights finished off set 2 with a 25-21 win.
Set 3 – CUAA 25, SHU 22
Kayla Peters made 3 straight kills and combined with Madalyn Lisman for a block to open Concordia scoring in set 3. Kaitlin Veihl added an ace, but Siena Heights was able to use a 7-1 run to retake the lead. Breann June made back-to-back kills to tie the game 9-9 and the set continued to see multiple tie scores. Korie Fowler made back-to-back aces late in the set and a block by Madalyn Lisman and Kayla Peters secured a 25-22 set 3 win.
Set 4 – CUAA 25, SHU 23
Kayla Peters once again contributed to a 4-0 CUAA run with 2 kills and a combined block with Madalyn Lisman. Lisman and Tara Drinane made an early block and Drinane added a kill for an 8-8 tie. Kaitlin Veihl made 2 kills and Kayla Peters added an ace as the teams continued to battle. Korie Fowler made a kill after a long volley for a 23-19 lead and Tara Drinane eventually extended the game with the winning kill in set 4.
Set 5 – SHU 15, CUAA 12
Kaitlin Veihl had the first Cardinal kill in the deciding set 5. The Saints jumped out to a 9-2 lead, but the Cardinals began to make a small run with Breann June and Madalyn Lisman making a block. Kaitlin Veihl teamed up with Breann June and Tara Drinane to make blocks, trimming the deficit to 13-10. Concordia got within two points with a 14-12 score, but Siena Heights finished off the game to claim the win.
Concordia will return home tomorrow to host Lourdes at 1pm.