Starts Prove Costly

MOORHEAD, Minn. (9/21/16)—The start of the first and second sets proved to be costly for the Cobbers in their conference home opener against Augsburg. Concordia trailed 13-3 in the opener and 13-1 in the second set and lost 3-0 (25-14, 25-14, 25-22).

The loss is the fifth straight for the Cobbers – a streak that came after Concordia had won three consecutive matches. CC is now 3-8 overall and 1-1 in conference matches. Augsburg moves to 8-6 and 2-0 in the MIAC.

Concordia was stunned early in both of the first sets. The opener was tied at 2-2 before the Auggies won 11 of the next 12 points to take the commanding 13-3 lead. The Cobbers could only get to within seven points for the remainder of the set and lost 25-14.

Just when the Cobbers thought the beginning of the second set could be much worse – it was. Augsburg pounced on CC by winning the first four points and then stringing together a 9-0 run to bolt to a 13-1 lead.

It looked like the Cobbers would turn the tables in the third set. CC led 10-4 early on and then held a 15-11 lead before the Auggies made their move. Augsburg won six of the next eight points to tie the score at 17-17. Concordia battled through the next several points to push the set to 21-21. Unfortunately the Cobbers would stumble at the end and allow Augsburg to win the third by claiming four of the final five points.

Concordia only hit above .000 in the third set. The Cobbers had a .000 attack percentage in the opener and then a  minus-.071 in the second set. On the flip side, Augsburg hit at least .100 in all three sets. They took control in set No.1 with a .209 mark and then hit a match-high .458 in the second set.

Concordia did not have a player with more than eight kills in the match. Emily Friedrich found her swing in the third set and finished with a team-high eight kills while Haley Cuppett and Brianna Carney added five winners each.

Friedrich also led the team in digs with 13. Jena Klaphake had a team-high 16 assists and Friedrich, Carney and Emma Chandler had one block each.
 
WHAT'S NEXT: Concordia will look to get back on the winning track when they play at Minn.-Morris on Friday, Sept. 23 at 6 p.m. The Cobbers will then continue southwest to take on conference foe Hamline on Saturday, Sept. 2 at 3 p.m.   

Concordia vs. Augsburg Highlights - Sept. 21, 2016