(Mishawaka, IN) - Concordia volleyball opened the 2024 season by competing at the Bethel Tri-Match on Saturday afternoon. The Cardinals topped Rio Grande 3-1 in the first game and fell to Bethel 3-2 in the second.
GAME ONE - CUAA: 3, Rio Grande: 1 FINAL
Breann June led the team with 16 kills. Emma Leinberger had a team-high 13 assists. Emiline Wood secured the back end with 11 digs. Merin Merkle had a team-best 3 blocks.
Set 1 – CUAA 25, Rio Grande 16
Jacey Powell had an early block for a 3-2 lead. Maggie Pritts and Jillian Kendrick recorded service aces for a 9-4 CUAA advantage. Breann June continued to make kills and combined with Merin Merkle for a block that secured the set 1 win.
Set 2 – Rio Grande 25, CUAA 22
Breann June notched a service ace to tie the set 2-2. June continued to pace the offense with kills in a tightly contested set. Merin Merkle combined with Jessalyn Peavyhouse and Jacey Powell for blocks as the Cardinals trailed 24-22 late, but Rio Grande secured the last point to tie the match.
Set 3 – CUAA 25, Rio Grande 22
The first 2 kills in set three were hammered by Breann June. Claudia Grepke had 3 early kills as the Cardinals built a 10-6 lead. Joy Pryor recorded an ace to pull the Cardinals ahead later in the set. Breann June notched the winning kill.
Set 4 – CUAA 25, Rio Grande 21
Jacey Powell made a block for the first CUAA point in set 4. Powell added a kill and Maggie Pritts capped a 4-0 run with a service ace. Jillian Kendrick recorded an ace and Jessalyn Peavyhouse made 3 kills down the stretch. Claudia Grepke recorded the winning kill to clinch the victory.
GAME TWO: Bethel – 3, CUAA – 1 FINAL
Breanne June and Claudia Grepke tied for the team lead with 11 kills each. Emma Leinberger and Jillian Kendrick tied for a team-high 13 assists. Kendrick added a team-best 5 service aces. Emiline Wood led the back end with 32 digs.
Set 1 – Bethel 25, CUAA 22
Megan Neumann had the first Cardinal kill in set one. Sarah Eggelmeyer and Jessalyn Peavyhouse notched early kills as well. Jillian Kendrick recorded an ace and Jessalyn Peavyhouse teamed up with Merin Merkle for a block, but Bethel held off a late Cardinal rally to take set one.
Set 2 – Bethel 25, CUAA 22
Jillian Kendrick had an ace to put the Cardinals up 4-2 early in set two. Breanne June continued to be a force for the Cardinal offense and Emma Leinberger notched a late service ace. The set was closely contested again but Bethel took set two.
Set 3 – CUAA 25, Bethel 23
Jacey Powell opened set three with a kill. Claudia Grepke smashed 3 early kills along with another ace from Jillian Kendrick. The set went down to the wire again with the Cardinals taking set three.
Set 4 – Bethel 25, CUAA 20
Claudia Grepke had the first Cardinal kill in set four. Jillian Kendrick had 2 aces down the stretch as the Cardinals looked to extend the game. Jacey Powell and Megan Neumann had 2 combined blocks each, but Bethel finished off the game.
Concordia will host a tri-match this Tuesday, August 20th, against Judson at 1pm and Kuyper at 5pm ET.
