(Grand Rapids, MI) – The Concordia Cardinals volleyball team ended the regular season last Saturday with a win over Rochester, clinching a spot in postseason play for the third consecutive year. This Wednesday, they will go up against top seeded Cornerstone with a chance to advance to the semifinal round of the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Tournament. 

Game Information

#8 Concordia Cardinals vs. #1 Cornerstone

November 9 | 7 pm | Mol Arena | Grand Rapids, MI

Live Video | Live Stats | Tickets

About the Golden Eagles

The Golden Eagles had a dominant 2022 as they became the second team to ever go perfect 20-0 in the regular season of WHAC play. Cornerstone finished the season 29-3 overall, losing the first three games of the year at the Montana Tech tournament against some of the top teams in the NAIA, before going on a 29-game winning streak. The Golden Eagles currently sit at #21 in the most recent NAIA poll.

Cornerstone features a well-balanced attack with five players totaling over 200 kills on the season. Olivia Keelean and Kaylee Dykema lead the Golden Eagles with 333 and 331 respectively. Rylie Walters, Kylie Barron, and Kathryn Detwiler all have surpassed 200 kills this season as well. Kaylee Dykema is tied for the WHAC's most efficient hitter with a .287 hitting percentage. Aubrey Lenz is the setter for the Golden Eagles and currently leads the WHAC with 1252 assists (10.62 per set). Lenz also has the third most service aces per set in the conference with 0.51.

Defensively, Patsy Morris leads the team and the WHAC with 693 digs (5.87 per set). Kaylee Dykema is fourth in the conference with 1.11 blocks per set.

About the Cardinals

The Cardinals ended the regular season splitting their final four games and finished the regular season with a record of 12-20 and a 7-13 WHAC record. 

Offensively the Cardinals are led by Claudia Grepke, Kayla Peters, and Breann June with 362, 325, and 169 respectively. Grepke currently leads the WHAC in kills per set, with 3.20. Madeline Vnuk and Abigail Austin have shared setting duties for the Cardinals with 558 and 499 assists each.

McKenzie Peters is the Cardinals' libero and has 5.08 digs per set, the fourth most in the WHAC. Joining Peters in the backline have been Kayla Peters, Abigail Austin, and Breann June with 382, 310, and 258 digs respectively. Jessalyn Peavyhouse leads the team in blocks with 72, followed by Madalyn Lisman with 14.

In Case You Missed It (Previous Matchups)

These two teams have battled twice this season with Cornerstone coming out on top both times. 

The first time these two teams played was back on September 30 when the Golden Eagles won 3-1. Concordia was able to take the third set, with Kayla Peters getting three straight kills in the set and the Cardinals closing out the set with three straight points. Peters would go on to lead the team in kills (11) and digs (19) in the game. Following that match the Cards were able to get hot and proceed to go on a three-game winning streak.

The last time these two teams played was on October 29, when the Golden Eagles won in straight sets. Cornerstone came out strong and never allowed Concordia more than 19 points in a set. Claudia Grepke would lead the Cardinals in kills for the match with 17, while Abigail Austin was the main setter for the team earning 26 assists and McKenzie Peters would anchor the backline with 23 digs.

Stats Comparison

WHAC Tournament

First Round - Wednesday, Nov. 9
#8 Concordia (7-13, 12-10) at #1 Cornerstone (20-0, 29-3), 7 p.m.
#5 UM-Dearborn (10-10, 14-17) at #4 Madonna (11-9, 14-12), 7 p.m.
#6 Lourdes (9-11, 13-16) at #3 Indiana Tech (14-6, 26-6), 3:30 p.m.
#7 Aquinas (8-12, 12-22) at #2 Siena Heights (18-2, 23-7), 7 p.m.

Semifinals - Friday, Nov. 11
at highest remaining seed
5 p.m.
7 p.m.

Finals - Saturday, Nov. 12
at highest remaining seed
1 p.m.

The WHAC Regular Season Champion earns the first automatic bid to the NAIA National Tournament.

The WHAC Conference Tournament Champion earns the second automatic bid (if the two champions are the same, the tournament runner-up is awarded the second bid).