(Grand Rapids, MI) - Concordia volleyball competed against Indiana South Bend University and #12 Aquinas on Saturday afternoon. The Cardinals earned a thrilling five-set victory in game one but fell in straight sets in game two.
GAME ONE: CUAA 3, IUSB 2
Claudia Grepke led the team with 17 kills. Emma Leinberger had a team-high of 23 assists. Emiline Wood led the back end with 18 digs. Merin Merkle had a team-best three blocks.
SET ONE: IUSB 25, CUAA 16
Jacey Powell opened the game with a kill. Emma Leinberger made an ace for a 9-9 tie. The Cardinals kept pace through most of the set, but a late run gave IUSB the win.
SET TWO: CUAA 25, IUSB 20
Claudia Grepke started set two with a kill. Grepke added two more kills and Joy Pryor chipped in an ace. The Cardinals weathered a late run, and an Emiline Wood ace clinched the set two win.
SET THREE: IUSB 25, CUAA 19
The first Cardinal kill in set three went to Claudia Grepke. She continued to dominate with six of the team's first seven points on kills. Breann June added three kills down the stretch as well, but IUSB used a late run to take set three.
SET FOUR: CUAA 25, IUSB 15
CUAA made a 4-0 opening run capped by an Emma Leinberger ace. Merin Merkle had an early kill and combined with Courtney Kalahar for a block. The Cardinals built a double-digit lead and extended the game with Claudia Grepke recording the winning kill.
SET FIVE: CUAA 15, IUSB 7
Jacey Powell started a 7-0 run with a kill. Breann June notched three straight aces during the run. Jacey Powell and Merin Merkle made a combined block for an 11-1 lead. The Cardinals secured the win with a Breann June kill.
GAME TWO: AQ 3, CUAA 0
Claudia Grepke led the team with five kills. Emma Leinberger had a team-high of ten assists. Breann June and Emiline Wood tied for a team-best six digs.
SET ONE: AQ 25, CUAA 12
Megan Neumann started the contest with a kill. The Cardinals battled to a 9-9 tie after an Emiline Wood ace. However, Aquinas began to pull away and took set one.
SET TWO: AQ 25, CUAA 11
Jacey Powell ended a 6-0 run with a kill. Emiline Wood had another ace and Powell combined with Megan Neumann for a block. Claudia Grepke made two late kills, but Aquinas took set two.
SET THREE: AQ 25, CUAA 10
Jacey Powell once again notched the opening kill. Claudia Grepke and Merin Merkle teamed up for a block and Emiline Wood made her third ace of the game. However, Aquinas closed out the match in three sets.
Concordia will return home this Friday, September 13th, to host Madonna University at 7pm.
