Six Set Points Derail Playoff Momentum

MOORHEAD, Minn. (11/05/13)—Concordia had six set points in the second set, could never come up with a winner and went on to lose to St. Mary's 3-0 in the MIAC Quarterfinals.


Concordia vs. St. Mary's Video Highlights


The key to the playoff match came late in the second set after the Cobbers had rallied from dropping the first and then falling behind 7-3 in the second set. CC went on to take a 22-19 lead and then extended it to 24-21. The Cobbers dropped three straight set points and then couldn't put two straight points together. Concordia led 25-24, 26-25 and 28-27 before losing four of the next five points and falling 31-29.

Concordia, who had been 5-3 in MIAC quarterfinal matches, finishes the 2013 season with a 19-11 overall record. St. Mary's ups its overall mark to 24-8 and will advance to play at No.1 seed St. Thomas on Thursday, Nov. 5.

After dropping the up-and-down wild second set, the Cobbers fell behind 5-1 in the third set. CC eventually tied the score at 9-9 before the Cardinals won seven straight points to take a commanding 16-9 lead. SMU then finished the match by winning six of the final 12 points.

Concordia's defense improved throughout the three sets but unfortunately the offense trailed off from the first to the third sets. The Cobbers hit .186 in the opening set then .137 in the second and finally .119 in the third. On the other side of the net St. Mary's had an attack percentage of .279 in the first set and then .186 in the middle set before the Cobber defense held SMU to .125 in the third.

The Cobbers finished the match with .147 attack percentage while the Cardinals posted a .193 hitting percentage for the three sets.

Kynndyl Ross had team-highs in kills and hitting percentage. She had 12 kills and hit .226. Senior Angie Waller had a career-high 27 digs. The Cobber setting tandem of Mandy Mercil and Jena Klaphake had 17 assists each. Kayla Hampton had seven kills and a match-high four blocks.