A Split Ends Worthwhile Washington Weekend

TACOMA, Wash. (9/14/13)—Concordia split its matches on the second day of their Washington fall trip. The Cobbers swept Pacific (Ore.) 3-0 before falling in five sets to host Pacific Lutheran 3-2.

Concordia (8-4) carried over their momentum from Friday night's dramatic victory over No.11-ranked Puget Sound in their first match against Pacific. The Cobbers jumped out to a 4-1 lead against the Boxers in the first set. CC trailed only twice during the three-set affair and that came at the start of the third set.

The Cobbers hit .300 or better in the first two sets and finished with a .272 attack percentage for the match. The CC defense held Pacific to under .150 in two of the three sets and the Boxers settled for a .135 attack percentage for the match.

Concordia had all four starting attack players finish with at least six kills for the match. Senior Kayla Hampton led the CC attack with 10 kills. Kelly Reed and Olivia Wangensteen had eight winners each and Wangensteen added 10 digs. The freshmen setter tandem of Mandy Mercil and Jena Klaphake had 21 assists each and Alyssa Schmidt finished with a match-high 19 digs.

The nightcap against Pacific Lutheran turned at the start of the second set. The Cobbers a 6-1 run in the middle of the first set to win 25-20. CC looked like they had the momentum and confidence to post another sweep but that is when the Lutes found their offense. They were able to score seven of the first 10 points in the second contest and eventually stretched the lead to 16-4.

The third set was won in the final nine points. With the score tied at 17-17, PLU won the next six points and eight of the final nine to pick up the 25-18 win.

Concordia returned the favor in the fourth set. The set was tied at 21-21 before an attack error from the Lutes coupled with two kills from Hampton and another winner from Wangensteen gave the Cobbers a 25-22.

Once again when it looked Concordia would have the momentum and fight their way to a win, Pacific Lutheran turned the tides and stole the match. Just as in the second set when PLU won six of the first seven points, PLU started the fifth set by grabbing a 7-1 lead. The Cobbers could never recover and lost 15-8.

Wangensteen and Kynndyl Ross finished with 10 kills each against PLU. Wangensteen also had a team-high 24 digs. Hampton recorded four blocks and Mercil had 23 assists.

Concordia will now start conference play when they line up with Hamline on Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. in St. Paul.