MATCHDAY RECAP:

MOORHEAD, Minn. (08/31/07)--Despite turning over a majority of their roster from 2006, Concordia picked up where they left off by excelling in regular season tournaments, and in particular, the Cobber Invitational. Concordia has won the Cobber Invitational three straight seasons, posting a 12-0 record and a 36-6 record in individual games during that stretch. Furthermore, CC has combined to fashion a 34-1 record in regular season tournaments. Add a pair of wins to that total as Concordia beat Valley City State 3-1 (30-21, 30-28, 23-30, 30-22) to finish the opening day of their tournament with a perfect 2-0 record.

The Cobbers once again hung tight in the early stages of all four games but then was able to pull away from the Vikings when the teams started to get near 20 points. In all three game wins, CC used mini runs in the latter part of the game to take control of the contest.

The Concordia chemistry is starting to show in the early part of the season. The two outside hitters on the team, Michelle Honek and Angie Bonde, are the most dangerous while middle blocker Abby Scheel plugs up the front of the net on defense. Honek had a team-high 14 kills against Valley City and finished the day with 25 kills. She also had 10 digs. Bonde went for 11 kills and also 10 digs. Scheel had seven blocks in the match, marking the fourth time in her career that she has had at least seven blocks in a match. For the day she finished with 10 blocks and eight kills.

Defensively the Cobbers were led by Anna Tinkham who fought her way for a match-high 25 digs. She helped the Cobber offense swing into attack by passing the ball to the trio of Cobber setters. Alyssa Dahl finished with 32 assists for the match, while freshman Allie Burnside added 11.

Valley City rallied in the latter stage of the match, claiming game three and then hanging around until the final moments of game four. Heidi Larson was unstoppable at times from the right side and came away with a match-high 26 kills. Megan Floerke had 60 assists and Kelsey Hanson had a team-high 20 digs.

Concordia will finish off the Cobber Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 1 when they host Rocky Mountain at 9 a.m. and then Bemidji State at noon. Both matches will be played in Memorial Auditorium.