Streak Ends In Winona

WINONA, Minn. (10/03/15)--- Concordia's  five-match unbeaten streak and perfect 4-0 record in MIAC play came to a halt as the Cobbers were swept at St. Mary's 25-23, 25-18, 26-24.

St. Mary's got off to a quick start in the first set. After leading 3-0 right away, the two teams began to trade points. Trailing 14-11, Concordia could not muster a run as St. Mary's rattled off four straight points aided by a pair of attack errors to take an 18-11 lead. The Cobbers battled back and took 10 of the next 12 points to grab a 21-20 lead. Olivia Wangensteen served for five times in-a-row as CC pulled ahead. Back-to-back kills followed by a Wangensteen attack error pushed SMU back ahead 23-21 and they would go on to take the first set.

Concordia tumbled out of the starting block at the beginning of the second set. The Cobbers trailed 14-0 before they realized the set had started. The Cobbers made four errors and Jenna Sullivan had three service aces in the run. CC pulled within striking distance at 20-15 after a pair of attack errors but the deficit was too much to mount and the Cardinals held on for a 25-18 win.

The tables turned in the third set and it looked as if the Cobbers would avoid the sweep.  The Cobbers rattled off six straight points with kills from Vanessa Johnson and Wangensteen to take a 6-0 lead. Concordia held the six-point advantage all the way up to the match point at 24-18.

The Cardinals rallied furiously. With Brittney Hanson serving, St. Mary's rattled off eight unanswered points, aided by four consecutive Cobber attack errors, to take the lead 25-24. After a short volley, Hanson set up Alex Peterson for the game winning kill giving SMU the improbable 26-24 game win and the three-set sweep.

HELPING OUT A FRIEND: Jena Klaphake led the Cobbers with 19 assists. Mandy Mercil did a little bit of everything as she recorded 12 assists and 12 digs.

EFFICIENT SWINGS: Sophomore Vanessa Johnson led the team with eight kills on Saturday. She successfully recorded the kill on half of her tries (8-for-16).

WHAT'S NEXT? The Cobber will travel to Valley City State on Tuesday for a non-conference tilt before resuming MIAC play on Thursday when Bethel comes to town. Concordia hosted Valley City in the season opener. The Cobbers were able to escape with a 3-2 in that match.