Season-High Block And Ace Totals Don't Add Up To Win

MOORHEAD, Minn. (10/15/21)---Concordia put up season-high numbers in blocks and service aces, but it wasn't enough in the Cobbers' 5-set, back-and-forth 3-2 (25-20, 23-25, 21-25, 25-21, 15-12) loss to Carleton.

Concordia (6-14, 0-6 MIAC) won the first and forth sets, while the Knights were able to grab the middle two sets and then the decisive fifth set.

The statistical numbers were very similar for the two teams in the match. Carleton held a 58-53 edge in kills and a 95-90 advantage in digs. The Cobbers held the upper hand in service aces 13-10 and fewer receiving errors 10-13.

The swing point in the match was at the end of the second set. After taking a 25-20 win in the opening set, Concordia led 23-20 in set No.2 and was on the verge of taking command of the match. Carleton was able to come up with three straight kills, a service ace and another offensive winner to come-from-behind and win 25-23.

Carleton (6-14, 1-5 MIAC) carried that late-set momentum into the third set and won 25-21. The Cobbers evened the match at 2-2 with a 7-4 run late in the fourth set.

The fifth set was won with the score tied at 6-6. The Knights were able to rattle off three straight points to take a 9-6 lead. CC would get the deficit down to two points at 10-8, but then Carleton won the next two points and the Cobbers could never get within three points for the rest of the match.

Concordia hit .113 for the night. That included a set-high .227 in the first set. The Cobbers had 13 service aces which bettered their old season high of 12 which came against Crown. The 11 team blocks is one better than CC had against Bethany Lutheran and Presentation earlier in the year.

Anna Brakke led all players with 18 kills and hit .280 for the match. She also had a season-high five service aces which is the second straight match she has had five service winners in the match. Brakke also led the team in digs. She finished with 21 digs, her fourth 20-plus digs match of the year.           

Freshman Hannah Keil posted her third straight double-digit kill total. She started slowly, but found her stride in the third set and finished with 10 winners.

Kendra Wiggs and Brook Carney had solid matches at the net. Wiggs recorded a career-high nine blocks and also added eight kills. Carney also had a career-high block total. She came away with five blocks and nine kills.

Mariah Iwen had a season-high 34 assists and had 10 digs.

UP NEXT: Concordia will finish off their home conference doubleheader weekend when they host St. Mary's on Saturday, Oct. 16 at 3 p.m.