(Southfield, MI) The Cardinals headed to Rochester this afternoon to take on the Warriors of Rochester Christian. The fans got their money's worth, as the game came down to the sixteenth point of the fifth set, with your Cardinals taking home the thrilling victory!
Breann June led the Cardinals with 21 kills and 21 digs, while Merin Merkle added four blocks on the day. Emma Leinberge, Jillian Kendrick, and Emiline Wood combined for 50 assists as well.
SET 1: ROCHESTER 25, CONCORDIA 21
Concordia opened up the day on a 10-2 run, sparked by some excellent serving from Breann June, Sarah Eggelmeyer, and Jillian Kendrick. The warriors came roaring back and knotted the game at 17 a piece later in the set. A kill by Chante Hudgins of RCU was the 25th and final point to give them the first set over your Cardinals..
SET 2: CONCORDIA 25, ROCHESTER 23
After a 4-0 start to the set from the Cardinals, the second set was a back-and-forth affair. A big kill from Breann June put them up 24-21 heading into an RCU timeout. Rochester rattled off two points to come within one, before a timeout from CUAA and a massive kill from Megan Neumann tied the match up at 1 a piece.
SET 3: CONCORDIA 25, ROCHESTER 20
The Cardinals once again started the match off up 1-0, this time from a kill off the hand of Breann June. Later in the set a big block from Jessalyn Peavyhouse and Merin Merkle put them up 19-13. A surge from the Warriors would get them within one point, but the Cardinals would go on a run of their own, with a kill from Claudia Grepke putting them ahead 23-18. The Cards would go on to win the set and up 2-1 on the day looking for that third and final victory.
SET 4: ROCHESTER 25, CONCORDIA 19
The fourth set saw Rochester receive the first five points, giving them an early advantage. They then saw an 11-1 lead and 17-7 lead in this set, trying to even out the match at 2-2. The Cardinals would come on late, but it was not enough to keep them from heading to a fifth set. The Warriors were able to win 25-19.
SET 5: CONCORDIA 16, ROCHESTER 14
The two teams battled hard in the deciding set, with the Cardinals facing a 3-6 deficit early. A timeout was called to settle back in. A Claudia Grepke Kill out of the timeout helped, but they once again found themselves in an 8-12 hole later in the set. Concordia was down 12-14 before rattling off four straight points, capped off by a Breann June kill, to take down the RCU Warriors on the road!
UP NEXT
The Cardinals are back in action Wednesday the 25th at home, welcoming Defiance College into the Cardinal Fieldhouse for a matchup set for 7pm.
