MATCH REWIND:

Match Stats: Concordia vs. Carleton Box Score - Now Online!

MATCH RECAP:

NORTHFIELD, Minn. (10/25/08)--The story line was playing out just like Friday night with Concordia trading blows with a conference rival. Unlike Friday when CC got behind in the fifth set and fell to Gustavus, the Cobbers started the fifth set against Carleton with a charge and held on to post a 22-25, 25-22, 23-25, 25-13, 15-11 win over the Knights in Northfield.

With the win, Concordia clinches a spot in the MIAC playoffs. It will be their eighth straight appearance in the conference tournament. The Cobbers also clinch a home match in the playoffs as they can finish no worse than fourth place in the league standings. CC is now 19-3 overall and 7-2 in the MIAC. Carleton has now lost their last four conference games and are now 4-5 in the league after starting the season 4-1. They are currently in a dog fight for the sixth, and final, spot in the playoffs. Three teams all have identical 4-5 conference records.

The match was won in the fourth and start of the fifth sets for the Cobbers. After finiding themselves down two sets to one, Concordia left little doubt in the fourth set. CC ran off five straight points after leading 4-2 early in the set and finished off the frame by winning 14 of the last 21 points. They carried that momentum into the fifth set by grabbing a 5-1 lead. The teams traded points until the score was 9-4. That's when Carleton tried to rally and steal the match. The Knights got to within three points at 9-6 and then closed to within two at 13-11 before Concordia closed out the match with a pair of kills from Jenna Green.

Green led all players with 16 kills on the day. She hit .249 for the five sets and also had 11 digs and five blocks. Abby Scheel had one of her best matches of the season. She finished with a game-high attack percentage of .611 and came away with 12 kills. She also had a match-high six blocks. Katie Vohnoutka was the final member of the Cobbers with at least 10 kills. She had 10 kills on the day. Concordia senior Anna Tinkham showed her character by playing all five sets on a banged up knee. Her leadership was on of the keys to the CC victory and she finished with a team-high 13 digs. Jill Hance also stepped up her play and had a career-high 46 assists. Her previous high was 45 against Mayville State in her freshman season.

As a team Concordia hit .251 for the five sets and had 63 kills. The Knights hit .220 and had 58 winners.

The Cobbers will finish off the regular season by playing at Bethel on Wednesday, Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. and then hosting St. Ben's on Saturday, Nov. 1 at 3 p.m.