(Ann Arbor, MI) – The Concordia volleyball team traveled to Southfield to play Lawrence Tech in a WHAC matchup Wednesday night. The Blue Devils entered the match featuring a 1-1 record on the year. The Cardinals jumped out to a quick two set lead before the Blue Devils forced a third set. It took extra points but the Cardinals eventually put the Blue Devils away on their home court, 25-23, 25-21, 23-25, 26-24.
Kayla Peters led the Cardinals with 17 kills and 17 digs in the match. Gabriella de Boer helped the Cardinals with 13 kills. Hailey McCourt finished with a team-high 29 assists. Madalyn Lisman made her presence known at the net recording a season high three block assists and one solo block.
Set 1 – CUAA 25, LTU 23
Nicole Evans made a kill to put the Cardinals on the board, 1-2, Lawrence Tech. The score remained tightly contested throughout as the largest lead was by CUAA at 11-8. A kill by Kayla Peters put the Cardinals back up by 2 with a score of 19-17. LTU looked to swing the momentum calling a timeout at 24-22 Cardinals advantage. Kaitlin Veihl had other plans and recorded a kill for the Cardinals to take the first set, 25-23.
Set 2 – CUAA 25, LTU 21
Kaitlin Veihl started the second set how she ended the first with a kill to put CUAA up 2-1. The Cardinals contained the lead the whole way through the first half of the set. Consecutive kills by Madalyn Lisman and a thunderous kill by Kayla Peters gave Concordia the lead, 8-3. Concordia had an answer for every Blue Devil run. A kill by Gabrielle den Boer and an impressive ace by McKenzie Peter helped with the momentum to give Concordia the lead, 16-12. Back to back kills from Nichole Evans and Gabrielle den Boer helped increase the Cardinals lead, 23-19. A kill by Madalyn Lisman ended the second set with a score of 25-21, CUAA. The Cardinals recorded their highest hitting percentage of the match of .323 in the second set.
Set 3 – LTU 25, CUAA 23
Kayla Peters started the third set aggressively contributing to the Cardinals first three points of the set. The Cardinals and Blue Devils continued to play evenly throughout the set until three quick points (7-11) by LTU forced a timeout by Coach Cook. The Cardinals responded and rattled off five straight points to take the lead, 14-13. The Cardinals appeared to be headed for a sweep leading 22-20 when LTU called a timeout. The Blue Devils responded as the tides quickly turned. The Blue Devils managed to rally take five of the last six points and took the third set, 25-23.
Set 4 – CUAA 26, LTU 24
The Cardinals stumbled out of the gate and quickly found themselves behind, 3-7. Three kills by Gabriella de Boer and a kill by Abigail Austin helped bring the fire back to the Cardinals tying the game 8-8. Concordia kept this energy going with two kills by Kayla Peters and a kill by Kaitlin Veihl to get the biggest lead of the night 15-9.
LTU would not go away without a fight at home and clawed their way back to tie the game 23-23. came back to tie the score 23-23. The Cardinals were able to keep the energy they had in this last set to gain the win with a kill from Gabriella de Boer securing the win, 26-24
Concordia improves to 2-2 on the year. The Cardinals are back at home on Saturday, October 21 at 1pm against Lawrence Tech.
