Cobbers Split Saturday Matches at Yellowjacket Invite, Sweep Knox Before Falling to Stout

Concordia College vs Knox (25-15, 27-25, 25-10) 

Concordia College volleyball put on a near-perfect display Saturday morning, sweeping Knox in three sets, 25-15, 27-25, 25-10. The Cobbers showed off their depth, teamwork, and composure, blending aggressive serving, precise attacks, and smart defensive plays to stay in control throughout the match.

Knox came out firing, jumping to a quick 3-0 lead behind kills from Elle Haddon and Maria Jabor Jahn. But Concordia quickly found its rhythm. Mallory Leitner opened the Cobbers' offense with a kill, and a string of service aces from Kelsi Martini, paired with steady kills from Annie Horan and Leitner, turned the momentum. Knox struggled with errors, allowing Concordia to pull ahead 8-3. Horan continued to dominate at the net, finishing set one with five kills, while Leitner added four. Becca Woody and Martini's serving kept Knox off balance, and Concordia closed the set comfortably at 25-15, capped by a kill from Addy Klemin.

The second set was a nail-biter. Both teams traded points early, and a balanced Cobber attack gave Concordia a 14-9 lead. Knox fought back, tying the score multiple times and even taking a brief 25-24 lead on timely kills. Concordia didn't panic. A clutch block from Horan and Leitner tied the set, and Woody delivered a crucial service ace to take a 26-25 lead. Cayla Sailer followed with a kill that finally sealed the hard-fought 27-25 victory, giving the Cobbers a boost of confidence heading into the final set.

The third set belonged to Concordia from the start. The Cobbers jumped out to a 5-0 lead thanks to Holland's serving and quick kills from Leitner and Horan. Knox struggled to find answers as Concordia extended the lead to double digits by the midway point. Horan and Leitner continued to lead the offense, while Sailer added multiple service aces and key defensive plays. Concordia closed out the match decisively, 25-10.

Horan led the Cobbers' offense with 14 kills while hitting an impressive .522, with Leitner close behind, adding 13 kills and a team-high .600 hitting percentage. As a team, Concordia hit .264. Betsy Schiltz directed the offense effectively, recording 31 assists, while Sailer contributed eight kills and a team-high 13 digs, anchoring the defense and helping keep the Cobbers in control throughout the match.

Concordia vs UW-Stout (17-25, 19, 25, 19-25)

Concordia College volleyball faced a tough challenge in their second game on Saturday, falling in a competitive three-set match against UW-Stout, 25-17, 25-19, 25-19. 

The Cobbers started strong in the first set, jumping out to an early 3-0 lead thanks to early kills from Addy Klemin and a few Stout miscues. Concordia's balanced attack, featuring contributions from Cayla Sailer and Mallory Leitner, kept the Blue Devils on their heels for much of the set. But Stout went on a four-point run in the middle of the frame to grab a 16-9 lead. A kill from Leitner cut into the run, yet Concordia struggled to regain control, and Stout eventually closed out the first set 25-17 despite a late Cobber rally.

The second set saw both teams trading points early, but Stout's strong net play and ability to capitalize on Cobber attack errors allowed them to build a 10-4 lead. Concordia responded with steady kills from Annie Horan, Klemin, Kali Malvey, and Lauren Bangs, while a service ace from Becca Woody helped the Cobbers stay within striking distance. Despite trimming the deficit several times, Stout's balanced offense and consistent serving kept Concordia from taking the lead, and the Blue Devils captured the set 25-19.

In the third set, Concordia fought to keep the match competitive. Stout jumped to a 5-2 lead early, but a timely kill from Horan stopped the run. The Cobbers stayed close for a while, showing efficiency at the net with a .353 hitting percentage in the set, highlighted by Horan's 7 kills at an impressive .700. Even as Stout gradually extended their lead, Concordia's offense continued to produce, making it a hard-fought finish.

Horan led the Cobbers with 11 kills and just one error, while Klemin added 8 and Sailer chipped in 7. Schiltz contributed 29 assists, and Horan led the defense with 12 digs, followed by Kelsi Martini's 10.

Horan finished the tournament with double-digit kill totals in each match and had 35 winners to go with 35 digs and 11 toal blocks. Those totals led to her selection on the All-Tournament Team.   

Concordia will look to bounce back as they travel to Mayville State for a 7:00 p.m. match against the Comets on Tuesday.

2025 Subway Stinger Classic All-Tournament Team
UW-Stout: Brooke McCune and Kailey Kline
Augsburg: Ava Carlson
Concordia: Annie Horan
St. Scholastica: Ava Swangstue
Knox: Zoe Thunhurst
UW-Superior: Makenna Hohbein