(Ann Arbor, MI) – Concordia volleyball celebrated Senior Day on Saturday night as they hosted UNOH to wrap up their WHAC regular season. The Cardinals celebrated Emily Belinsky prior to the game. After CUAA won the first 2 sets the Racers forced a deciding fifth set, but the Cardinals were able to finish the game in set 5 for the 3-2 win. The win concluded the regular season for Concordia, earning them the 6th seed in the WHAC playoffs.
Kayla Peters had a team-high 22 kills and season-high 25 digs. Abigail Austin led the Cardinals with 51 assists. Alexandra Lucaj and Kaitlin Veihl tied for the lead with 2 blocks.
Set 1 – CUAA 25, UNOH 13
Senior Kaitlin Veihl opened the game with a kill. Tara Drinane added back-to-back kills for a 3-0 lead. Alexandra Lucaj had two straight kills and the Cardinals slowly built and maintained their lead. Senior Emily Belinsky recorded an ace late in the set and served for the final two points in a 25-13 set 1 win.
Set 2 – CUAA 28, UNOH 26
Breann June opened set 2 with a service ace. The lead swung back and forth early on with McKenzie Peters notching back-to-back aces. The set required extra points to decide as both teams traded match points later on. With senior Emily Belinsky serving, senior Kaitlin Veihl recorded the winning kill in a 28-26 set 2 win.
Set 3 – UNOH 25, CUAA 22
Kayla Peters had the first Concordia kill in set 3 for a 4-1 lead. UNOH responded with a 7-0 run and never trailed for the rest of the set. Trailing 23-16, the Cardinals nearly mounted a full comeback with a 6-0 run capped by a kill from Tara Drinane. However, UNOH finished off the set to extend the game.
Set 4 – UNOH 28, CUAA 26
Breann June made 2 aces in a 3-0 CUAA run to open set 4. The set would be closely contested with extra serves once again required to determine a winner. While Kayla Peters notched back-to-back kills and the Cardinals had several chances to end the game, the Racers came away with a 28-26 win to force set 5.
Set 5 – CUAA 15, UNOH 6
Kaitlin Veihl made two well-placed kills to start a 6-0 run in set 5. Alexandra Lucaj and Tara Drinane combined for a block and the Cardinals stayed in control for the entire final set. An ace from McKenzie Peters ended the game and clinched the 15-6 win.
Concordia secured the 6th seed in the WHAC playoffs and are set for a bout with 3rd seeded Indiana Tech this Wednesday, November 10th. First Serve will be at 7:00 PM in Fort Wayne.