MATCH REWIND:

Match Stats: Final Stats vs. Mayville State

Key Point of the Match: With the scored at 31-31 in the third game, Concordia was able to get a key kill from Michelle Honek and then finished the match on a block from Abby Scheel.

The Quote: "We were a little flat at times but overall I am pleased with our effort in the first day of the tournament." Cobber head coach Tim Mosser.
The Leader: Becca Shane had a match-high 15 kills and also added four service aces.

MATCH RECAP:

MOORHEAD, Minn. (08/31/06)-- Despite a lull in the final stages of the third game in their match against Mayville State, Concordia showed why they are the preseason pick in the MIAC to win the conference and are currently ranked 11th in the AVCA preseason national poll.

The Cobbers used a balanced attack on offense and showcased their formidable front-line on defense en route to their second straight sweep of the Concordia Invitational. Concordia came away with a 30-21, 30-16, 33-31 victory over the Comets and pushed their record in regular-season tournaments over the past three seasons to a mind-boggling 25-0. The Cobbers have won every tournament they have played in for the past two seasons and showed no effects of a new season as they posted their second victory of the year.

For the second straight match, Concordia waded into the pool against their opponent and then splashed into the deep end once they got acclimated to the temperature. Against St. Scholastica in the opening match, the Cobbers went on an 18-5 run in the middle of the first game to seize control of the contest and against Mayville State (1-5), Concordia used a 9-3 spurt at the end of the first game to effectively get off to a splashing start.

Concordia blew the second game open with a 9-2 spurt after leading 11-10 and then had to hold off the Comets in the third game after leading 24-20.

The Cobbers only trailed at one point during the entire first day of competition and that came in the first game of the match against Mayville State and that was for only a single point.

Becca Shane stepped up for Concordia on the front-line. She finished with a match-high 15 kills and three service aces. She now has seven service aces in the first two matches. Michelle Honek continued her steady play. After getting 14 kills and 16 digs in the opening match, she came away with 10 kills and 13 digs in the second match. Sophomore Abby Scheel once again held the Cobber defense down at the net. She had six blocks against the Comets to go along with five agianst St. Scholastica. Scheel also put up eight kills. Alyssa Dahl posted her second straight 20-assist match to lead the Cobber attack.

Three different Mayville State players recorded seven kills. Breanne Gebeke, Amy Evenson and Ashley Nelson all played well at the net. Betsy Winkler had 19 assists in the loss.

Concordia will finish the Concordia Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 2 when they host Bemidji State at 9:30am and then Valley City State at noon. Both games can be seen live via the internet at:

http://media2.cord.edu:8080/ramgen/encoder/sports.rm