(Rochester, MI) – Concordia volleyball traveled to Rochester on Wednesday evening for a critical WHAC conference matchup. Both teams entered the contest looking to pick up their second conference win of the year and move up the standings. After trading sets to begin the match, CUAA showed resilience in three closely contested sets to win 3-1.

Delaney Bennett (SR/Fruitport, MI) led the Cardinals with 12 kills in the contest while adding 15 digs. Kaitlin Veihl (JR/Muskegon, MI) led the team with 29 assists while adding 14 digs and tying Lena Thompson (SR/Howard City, MI) for second with 9 kills apiece. Tara Schatzle (JR/Brooklyn, MI) led the back end with a team-high 27 digs. Gabrielle den Boer (JR/Canton, MI) had a team-high 5 service aces along with 7 kills. Denae Tolu (SR/Canton, MI) was also in double digits with 10 digs.

Set 1 – CUAA 25, Rochester 22

Gabrielle den Boer recorded a kill for Concordia's first point of the set. Nicole Evans (JR/Bristol, IN) had two early kills in the set as the teams continued to have a close battle. Rochester rallied and led by 2-3 points for most of the set, holding their biggest advantage with a 17-13 lead.

The Cardinals slowly clawed their way back after a service ace from Gabrielle den Boer and a kill by Denae Tolu tied the set 20-20. Another ace from den Boer put CUAA ahead and Concordia went on to take set 1 by a score of 25-22.

Set 2 – Rochester 25, CUAA 23

Kaitlin Veihl had Concordia's first kill in the game to tie the set 1-1. Gabrielle den Boer recorded another ace and the teams continued to fight in a set that featured 13 tie scores. CUAA took a 19-16 lead late in the set after a kill by Delaney Bennett, and the Cardinals appeared to be on the verge of victory with a 23-20 lead. However, Rochester put together a 5-0 run to take set 2 by a score of 25-23.

Set 3 – CUAA 25, Rochester 17

Delaney Bennett had the first kill for Concordia in set 3 off an assist from Kaitlin Veihl. After an early 2-2 tie, the Cardinals put together a 5-0 run to force a Rochester timeout. CUAA never trailed for the remainder of the set with a Nicole Evans kill giving the team a double-digit lead at 16-6. Delaney Bennett finished off the set with a kill and the Cardinals took set 3 by a score of 25-17.

Set 4 – CUAA 25, Rochester 23

Lena Thompson made the Cardinals' first kill in the fourth set to put her team up 3-1. Concordia capitalized on early attack errors by Rochester, but the Warriors battled back to tie the set 6-6. CUAA's largest lead came with a 17-11 advantage, but a 9-2 run by Rochester tied the game 19-19. Delaney Bennett ended the run with a kill and Tara Schatzle notched a service ace. While Rochester pushed the game to a 24-23 score, Delaney Bennett smashed the final kill to secure the set and the game.

Concordia improves to 5-19 overall and 2-12 in WHAC play with the win. The Cardinals will return home on Saturday, October 26 when they host rival Siena Heights. The game will begin at 5pm.