Conference-Opening Mouthwash

ST. PAUL, Minn. (9/12/12)—Concordia used the MIAC opener to wash the bad taste of their mouth after losing four straight matches over the weekend. The Cobbers blew past Hamline 3-0 (25-19, 25-12, 25-11) in St. Paul on Wednesday.

The win ends a five-game losing streak that gathered steam at the Washington Univ. (Mo.) Invite on Friday and Saturday. Concordia is now 3-6 on the year but are1-0 in the ever-important conference season. Hamline loses for the first time all season and falls to 8-1.

After trading points with the Pipers at the start of the first set, the Cobbers took control of the match with a 6-1 run that turned a 13-13 tie score into a 19-13 advantage. CC then closed out the opener by winning six of the final eight points.

Concordia refused to allow Hamline to rally in the second set. CC claimed the lead after the first eight points of the middle set and then cruised to a 13-point win. The third set was over just after it started. Concordia bolted to a 10-3 lead and then closed out the match on an 8-4 string. Sophomore outside hitter Kynndyl Ross put the icing on the conference opener by registering kills on the final two points.

Cobber freshman Olivia Wangensteen led all players with nine kills. Senior Rachel Wiinanen had a match-high 19 digs and Shelby Bommersbach added a match-high 16 assists.

The Cobber defense held Hamline to a -.106 attack percentage and allowed only 14 kills in the three-set match. Concordia hit .168 for the match and had 34 total kills.

The Cobbers will now have their first break of the season. CC won't play until Wednesday, Sept. 19 when they host their home opener against Bethel at 7 p.m.