(Fort Wayne, IN) – Concordia volleyball continued competition at Indiana Tech on Saturday in the Liz Lykowski Memorial Tournament. After dropping two games on day one against Goshen College and Trinity International the Cardinals quickly regrouped to face (RV) Thomas Moore and Spring Arbor. The Cardinals picked up a set in each match but eventually fell 3-1.
Game 1 – Thomas Moore 3, CUAA 1
Lena Thompson (SR/Howard City, MI) score three of the Cardinals five points to give them the early lead, 5-1. Thomas Moore quickly responded to even the game 6-6. Thomas Moore's lead eventually grew as much as 17-10 and never looked back. The Cardinals forced a Thomas Moore timeout after an ace by Gabrielle denBoer to trim the lead 17-14. Thomas Moore scored the last seven points to take the first set, 25-17.
The Cardinals and Saints battled evenly to start the second set, 10-10. The Saints slowly started to pull away winning five straight points to take a 15-10 lead. The Cardinals struggled to find their rhythm late and eventually dropped their second set, 25-17.
The Cardinals continued to scrap and fight to extend the match taking the third set, 25-22. Lena Thompson led the way for the Cardinals with six kills as Kaitlin Viehl recorded several assists.
In the fourth set, the Saints began to wear down the Cardinals taking an 11-5 lead. The Saints led by as much as 20-9. A kill by Delaney Bennett (SR/Fruitport, MI) pulled the Cardinals within 22-15 but the Saints went on to score three of the remaining four points.
Lena Thompson recorded a season high 17 kills with Gabrielle den Boer (JR/Canton, MI) and Delaney Bennett also recording 16 and 14 respectively. Kaitlin Veihl (JR/Muskegon, MI) paced the Cardinals with a career and season high with 46 assists. Tara Schatzle (JR/Brooklyn, MI) also recorded a personal best 32 digs.
Game 2 – Spring Arbor 3, CUAA 1
The Cardinals gave the Cougars everything they had looking to come away with a win before heading back to Ann Arbor. The Cardinals remained competitive in each set, with only specific stretching making up the difference in the outcome. The Cardinals came from behind to nearly force extra points in the first set, 25-23.
The Cardinals played from behind for much of the second set but eventually battled to a tie at 21-21. A couple errors on the Cardinals gave the Cougars the advantage before a kill at set point gave the Cougars the 2-0 lead.
The Cardinals forced a fourth game by winning the third set 25-20. Despite giving the early lead, the Cardinals remained competitive and took the lead at 20-19 on a kill by Gabrielle den Boer. Consecutive kills by Lena Thompson increased the Cardinals lead 23-20 forcing a Cougar timeout. A kill by Lindsay Luff and exclamation point ace by Gabrielle den Boer gave the Cardinals set point, 25-20.
The Cardinals came out aggressively in the fourth set to take the advantage 14-10 forcing a Spring Arbor timeout. After a timeout, the Cougars slowly began to find their rhythm evening the set at 16-16. Despite a Cardinals timeout at 21-17 in hopes a rally, the Cougars won the last 4 out of 6 points to take the set and match.
Lena Thompson recorded a season high 17 kills and 28 total for the weekend to earn her a spot on the all-tournament team. Several other Cardinals achieved season bests with Gabrielle den Boer and Delaney Bennett also recording 16 and 14 kills respectively against Spring Arbor. Kaitlin Veihl paced the Cardinals with a career and season high with 46 assists. Tara Schatzle also recorded a personal best 32 digs.
The Cardinals return to Ann Arbor for three home matches starting this Wednesday, October 15th against the University of Northwestern Ohio at 7pm.
