(Upland, IN) – Concordia volleyball traveled to Taylor on Friday to begin the first day of the Amber McClure Fayerweather Memorial Tournament. The Cardinals came in a perfect 2-0 after winning both games in their tri-match on Tuesday. CUAA fell to the host Taylor 3-2 in a tightly contest game 1 and was downed by a strong opponent in #16 Indiana Wesleyan in game 2.
TAY 3, CUAA 2
Kayla Peters led Concordia with 14 kills while tying Tara Drinane for first with 2 blocks. Abigail Austin had a team-high 49 assists. McKenzie Peters led the squad with 18 digs.
Set 1 – CUAA 25, TAY 23
Ellen Stolz began the game with Concordia's first kill. Tara Drinane notched an early kill and Breann June made an ace for a 4-1 lead. The Cardinals went up 13-9 after a kill by Ellen Stolz, but the Trojans fought back to tie the set 13-13. After a kill by Breann June put CUAA up 22-19, again Taylor came back to tie the set 22-22. The Cardinals were able to claim 3 of the last 4 points with Ellen Stolz clinching the winning kill.
Set 2 – TAY 25, CUAA 18
Concordia started set 2 on a 3-0 run with Breann June notching an ace. Taylor tied the game 3-3 but Kayla Peters put the Cardinals back ahead with a kill. The lead continued to change hands and the set would be tied 14-14 midway through. Kaitlin Veihl added a pair of late kills, but the Trojans took the lead and maintained it for a 25-18 set 2 win.
Set 3 – CUAA 25, TAY 17
1Tara Drinane had the first kill in set 3. Both teams continued to trade points with Kaitlin Veihl recording 2 early kills. Breann June had back-to-back kills and Kayla Peters had 2 consecutive kills later on to put the Cardinals ahead 20-13. An attack error by Taylor secured a 25-17 CUAA win in set 3.
Set 4 – TAY 25, CUAA 21
Ellen Stolz had the first kill in set 4, tying the game 2-2. The beginning of the set was close but a 5-0 run by the Trojans helped them to stay in the lead. Abigail Austin had 2 kills and set up late back-to-back kills from Kayla Peters, but Taylor forced a 5th set with a 25-21 win.
Set 5 – TAY 15, CUAA 12
Ellen Stolz had the first kill in the deciding set 5, tying the match 2-2. Both teams continued to be evenly matched with a combined block from Kayla Peters and Tara Drinane tying the set 8-8. Ellen Stolz recorded an ace to cut Concordia's deficit to 12-11, but Taylor was able to close out the game with a 3-1 run.
IWU 3, CUAA 0
Kayla Peters led Concordia in the second game of the day with 6 kills and 9 digs. Abigail Austin had a team-high 7 assists. While the Cardinals fought hard, #16 Indiana Wesleyan lived up to their billing and claimed the win in straight sets.
Concordia will have an early start tomorrow for day 2 of the tournament. The Cardinals face Mount Vernon Nazarene at 9:00am and then Governors State at 11:30am.
