(Ann Arbor, MI) – Concordia volleyball hosted Aquinas as part of homecoming weekend on Friday night. Both teams traded sets throughout the game, but the Cardinals won the critical fifth set to clinch the win.
Kayla Peters led the Cardinals with 15 kills. Abigail Austin had a team-high 44 assists. McKenzie Peters secured the back end with 31 digs. Jessalyn Peavyhouse led the team with 5 blocks.
Set 1 – AQ 25, CUAA 22
Claudia Grepke had the Cardinals' first kill in set 1. Concordia found themselves down 19-8, but the team started to fight back with aces from Jessalyn Peavyhouse and Breann June. Trailing 23-15, the team made a 7-1 run which included an ace from McKenzie Peters and two kills by Kayla Peters. However, Aquinas narrowly held on to take set 1.
Set 2 – CUAA 25, AQ 22
Breann June made Concordia's first set 2 kill. The lead shifted early with Jessalyn Peavyhouse notching back-to-back kills in a 4-0 run to take the lead. The set went down to the wire again with CUAA holding a 23-22 lead, but the Cardinals were able to claim the last two points with Kayla Peters notching the winning kill.
Set 3 – AQ 25, CUAA 21
Kayla Peters recorded the first kill in set 3. Claudia Grepke made two early kills and the Cardinals continued to hold on to a lead of a few points. Abigail Austin made an ace and Breann June continued to make solid hits for kills. However, Aquinas was able to gain momentum later in the set and claimed set 3.
Set 4 – CUAA 25, AQ 21
Jessalyn Peavyhouse and Abigail Austin combined for a block to start set 4. Kayla Peters made two early kills and Peavyhouse combined with both Peters and Breann June on 3 blocks. Claudia Grepke added several kills and the Cardinals fought to maintain their lead. A block by Jessalyn Peavyhouse and Kayla Peters extended the match to set 5.
Set 5 – CUAA 15, AQ 8
Kayla Peters made the first Cardinal kill in set 5. Concordia forced an Aquinas timeout with a 4-2 lead, but the Saints came back to force a CUAA timeout with a 6-5 advantage. The Cardinals continued to gain momentum during a 10-2 run to close the game. Madalyn Lisman and Abigail Austin combined for a block, and Austin touched the ball over the net for the winning kill.
Concordia will head on the road tomorrow to face Cornerstone at 1pm.