Video Courtesy of Concordia Television Productions (CTP)
Video Courtesy of Concordia Television Productions (CTP)

No. 4 Concordia downs No. 13 Minnesota State in straight sets

10/16/2012 9:09:00 PM

By: CJ Siewert

ST. PAUL, Minn. – On its annual Dig for a Cure event – which raises awareness for breast cancer – the fourth-ranked Concordia University volleyball team got revenge on No. 13 Minnesota State with a victory in straight sets. The Golden Bears fell to the Mavericks in five sets on September 18, resulting in a split of the regular season series. Concordia improves to 16-3 overall and 10-2 in the NSIC, while the Mavericks fall to 14-6 overall and 8-4 in the conference.

Cassie Haag (Plymouth, Minn.) posted her second best performance of the season with a .667 attack percentage. The senior middle hitter tallied 12 kills on 15 attempts with two errors. She also had three block assists and one solo block. Kayla Koenecke (Delano, Minn.) connected for a game-high 14 kills on 29 attempts (.345) with eight digs. Taylor Dordan (Blaine, Minn.) started at libero and posted 13 digs, while Amanda Konetchy (Victoria, Minn.) served up 38 assists (12.67 per set).

Minnesota State got out to a 4-1 lead in the opening set before the Golden Bears came back with a 12-to-7 run to lead 13-8. The Mavericks cut the deficit to three at 15-12 but that would be the closest margin en route to a 25-17 Concordia win. Haag was a perfect 5-for-5 on the attack in the first set as Konetchy posted 16 assists.

The Golden Bears scored the first point in the second set and didn’t look back. There was one scoring tie at 1-1, but from there on out it was all Concordia. The Bears had scoring runs of five points at the beginning (6-1) and end of the set for a 25-15 victory. Haag and Ashley Murtha (Apple Valley, Minn.) led the charge in the set, both going 3-for-3 on the attack.

The third set was Concordia’s most impressive with scoring sprees of six points three times (ending at 7-2, 17-9 and 23-10). The Bears hit a collective .444 on the attack (16-4-27).

Concordia continues its hot streak at home with a perfect 10-0 record, while not having dropped a single set out of 30. The Golden Bears have also won seven straight and increase their home winning streak to 12.

CU hosts Minnesota, Crookston on Friday at 7:00 p.m.