Key MIAC Victory

ST. PAUL, Minn. (9/20/17)---Concordia seized control of the match in the final 15 points of the first, never trailed after that and went on to sweep Macalester 3-0 (25-22, 25-9, 25-21) in a key MIAC match-up for the Cobbers.

The Cobbers have now won two straight matches for the first time all season and even their conference record at 1-1 this year. CC is now 3-7 overall. The Scots drop their first league match of the year, have their one-match win streak come to an end and are now 5-10 overall.

Concordia led in the first part of the opening set as they grabbed a 7-5 lead. Macalester would take their only advantage of the match when they won four straight points to record a 12-9 lead. The Scots would hold a 13-11 advantage before CC countered with three straight and eventually tying the set at 16-16.

The Cobbers won nine of the final 15 points to win the opener 25-22. Concordia took three-point leads at 20-17 and 21-18 before holding on for the win. CC hit .205 in the first set as compared to .226 for the Scots.

The second set was all Concordia. The Cobbers bolted to a 7-1 lead, extended the margin to 14-2 and coasted to the 16-point win. Concordia hit a season-best .545 in the set and held Macalester to a .000 mark.

Concordia was able to pull away midway through the third set after the bout was close at 10-8 in favor of CC.  The Cobbers would then win eight of the next 10 points to grab an 18-10 lead and then hang on for the four-point victory to seal the match.

Concordia finished the match by hitting .257 while Macalester ended with a .130 mark. The .257 attack percentage is the second highest of the season for CC. The Cobbers also had 13 more kills in the match, holding a 41-28 advantage.

Haley Cuppett and Faith Anderson each had 10 kills to lead the Concordia offense. Cuppett hit a match-high .292 which is also the third time in the last five matches she has hit over .290.

Jill Klaphake tallied 23 assists and Stephanie Baker added 16 digs to help earn the sweep.

QUOTABLE: "Our goal was to sustain our confidence, intensity and focus. We certainly did that during the second set and I'm proud of the team for our overall effort. It was fun four our freshmen to see just how well we can play in a match – not just in practice." – Cobber head coach Tim Mosser.

CENTURY-MARK CUPPETT: Haley Cuppett leads the Cobbers in kills this year with 101. It is the second straight season she has reached the century mark in winners and she now has 354 kills for her career.   

KEEP THE FAITH: Faith Anderson, who earned All-Tournament honors at the Wis.-Eau Claire Tournament this past weekend, has now put up double-digit kill totals in three straight matches. Anderson now has 50 winners for the year which is tied for fourth best on the team.

WHAT'S NEXT: Concordia will host Augsburg on Saturday, Sept. 23 at 3 p.m. The Auggies are 1-1 in the MIAC and 10-3 overall and are coming off a 3-1 win at home against St. Mary's on Wednesday.