(Ann Arbor, MI) - The Concordia Cardinals Volleyball team is preparing for the 2024 season when they head to Bethel (IN) for a pair of games at the Bethel Tri-Match. The Cardinals made an appearance in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) Quarterfinals as the 8-seed before falling to #RV Indiana Tech, 3-1. The Cardinals return 12 players and have two newcomers this season. 

2023 SEASON REVIEW

Concordia finished the year at 18-14 overall and a 9-11 record in WHAC play. The team started out with a 10-2 record including a win over then #RV St. Ambrose at the Indiana Tech Tournament. 

2024 SCHEDULE OUTLOOK

Following the Bethel Tri-Match, the Cards will host their own tri-match with Judson and Kuyper coming to town. The team will then travel to the Amber McClure FayerweatherMemorial Tournament at Taylor for four games to round out August. 

September 4th will see the start of WHAC play with Northwestern Ohio at home before heading to the Aquinas/Cornerstone Invite for a trio of games. Heading back into WHAC play, the Cardinals will host Madonna and Michigan-Dearborn before traveling to Lawrence Tech and Rochester Christian. September 25 will feature the Cardinals hosting new WHAC member Defiance College before rounding out the month by traveling to rival Siena Heights. 

Four of the Cardinal's first five games of October will be on the road as the month starts with road games against Indiana Tech, Northwestern Ohio, Cornerstone, and Aquinas with a home game against Lourdes in the middle. Rochester Christian and Lawrence Tech will head to Ann Arbor before CUAA travels to Defiance to end the month. 

The final three games of the Cardinals' regular season will feature back-to-back home games against Siena Heights and Indiana Tech before rounding out the schedule against Lourdes. 

The WHAC Tournament will feature the top-10 teams in the standings with a play-in round occurring on November 11 with the remainder of the dates on November 13 (Quarterfinals), November 15 (Semifinals), and November 16 (Championship). 

CONCORDIA PERSONNEL

Seniors: The Cardinals will be led by their four seniors Claudia Grepke, Breann June, Megan Neumann, and Jessalyn Peavyhouse. Grepke earned 123 kills and tallied 28 blocks. June recorded a career-high 302 kills with 2.85 per set. Neumann scored 37 kills last year in 32 sets. Peavyhouse led the Cardinals with 58 total blocks last season and recorded 105 kills. 

Juniors: Leah Troyer and Maggie Pritts are the two juniors on the team this season. Troyer recorded 23 service aces while collecting 57 digs. Pritts appeared in 14 sets and had seven digs. 

Sophomores: The six sophomores on the team this season are Emiline Wood, Jacey Powell, Merin Merkle, Emma Leinberger, Courtney Kalahar, and Sarah Eggelmeyer. Wood led the team in service aces last season with 48 and recorded 305 digs. Powell tallied up 113 kills and 35 blocks. 

Newcomers: The Cardinals have added two newcomers with freshmen Jillian Kendrick and Joy Pryor joining the team. 

Head Coach Danielle Cook is joined by assistant coaches Austin Cook and Aliyah Rothrock. Kylie Dudas will serve as a student manager. 

2023 TEAM STATS

2024 WHAC PRESEASON POLL

The WHAC released their preseason poll on August 5th with the Cardinals ending up in 9th place with 51 points. Aquinas was tabbed as the preseason favorite garnering 139 points and seven of the first-place votes with Indiana Tech close behind them with 137 points and five first-place votes. Rounding out the top-5 were Siena Heights (116), Madonna (104), and Cornerstone (98). 

FULL RELEASE

As announced on June 13th by CUWAA President Erik Ankerberg, the 2024-25 Academic Year will serve as the final season for CUAA Athletics. If you would like more information check out www.cuaa.edu/future. Concordia Ann Arbor fans, community members and alumni are encouraged to come out and support CUAA's student-athletes in their final season as a Cardinal.