Schultz smashes 32 kills, Women’s Volleyball splits matches

MEQUON, Wis. – Amanda Schultz paced Concordia Wisconsin on Saturday afternoon with 32 total kills, as the Falcons dropped a 3-2 (25-21, 21-25, 25-22, 25-27, 13-15) decision to Wartburg before defeating Luther 3-2 (25-21, 12-25, 16-25, 26-24, 15-12) during the final day of the NACC-IIAC Challenge Series.

THE BASICS
Final Score: Wartburg 3, Concordia Wisconsin 2 (25-21, 21-25, 25-22, 25-27, 13-15); Concordia Wisconsin 3, Luther 2 (25-21, 12-25, 16-25, 26-24, 15-12)
Location: R. John Buuck Field House (Mequon, Wis.)
Records: Concordia Wisconsin 15-2, Luther 8-6, Wartburg 11-4

QUOTING AMANDA SCHULTZ


HOW IT HAPPENED VS WARTBURG
- It was a back-and-forth match against the Knights, with 26 scoring ties and 13 lead changes through the five-setter. Neither team was able to take control, as each set was traded until Wartburg scored three of the last four points to win.
- The Falcons put together an important four-point rally in the end of the opening set to win 25-21.
- Concordia Wisconsin fought back from a 13-7 deficit to take a one-point advantage, 16-15, but Wartburg had an answer with a 7-1 scoring run before eventually winning 25-21.
- Both the third and fourth sets were even throughout, as neither team led by more than four points as they each won to knot the scoreboard at two sets apiece.
- The Knights jumped out to a sizeable 7-1 lead to begin the final set before the Falcons clawed back to an 11-11 tie. Wartburg smashed four kills to earn a difficult 3-2 victory.
- Junior Amanda Schultz (North Prairie, Wis.) pounded a career-high 19 kills and had a .255 attack percentage, while two of her teammates had double-figure kills. The setting duo of juniors Haley Sedo (Neenah, Wis.) and Mackenzie Wockenfus (Appleton, Wis.) combined for 46 assists.
- Senior Lindsey Casper (Hubertus, Wis.) had an outstanding match with 38 digs, four assists and two service aces.
- Sedo, Wockenfus and senior Kaily (Moegenburg) Erdman (Plymouth, Wis.) all had double-doubles in the defeat.
- Sophomore Kelsey Kleba (Hartland, Wis.) and Erdman each had five block assists.

HOW IT HAPPENED VS LUTHER
- Luther went ahead 2-1 in the match, with the second and third sets coming somewhat easily. However, Concordia Wisconsin regrouped and won the fourth set 26-24 and held off the Norse for a 15-12 final frame win to earn a difficult 3-2 non-conference win.
- There were 16 scoring ties and six lead changes in the contest.
- The Falcons had .233-plus attack percentages in the first and fifth sets, but didn't show as well in the middle stanzas.
- Numerous three-point spurts helped the Falcons to a 25-21 first set win and momentum to begin the contest. However, the energy was short-lived, as the Norse won sets two and three behind .233 and .343 attack percentages.
- Concordia Wisconsin was ahead 23-18 in the fourth set and nearly let it slip away, as Luther put together a 6-1 scoring run to knot the scoreboard at 24-all. A pair of Megan Mayer (sophomore, Downers Grove, Ill.) kills ended any chance of a comeback and gave the Falcons a 26-24 set to win extend the match.
- The fifth set was nearly identical to the fourth, as the Falcons built a 13-7 advantage and again had to hold off the Norse who got to within two points, 13-11. Senior Lauren Nevinski (New Berlin, Wis.) and Erdman each had kills to put a win on the host's side.
- Mayer led the team with a career-best 17 kills, while Schultz posted 13 kills and a .324 attack percentage. Sedo and Wockenfus had 28 and 23 assists, respectively.
- Moegenburg dug a career-high 28 attack attempts and sophomore Arianna Richmond (South Elgin, Ill.) recorded a career-best 27 digs.
- Nevinski tallied five block assists.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Casper's career-high 38 digs against Wartburg were the second most in a match in program history.
- Concordia Wisconsin's 62 kills against Wartburg and 61 kills against Luther were tied for the seventh and 10th most in a match in program history.

THE OPPOSITION
- Lizzy Blough and Aryn Jones each had 18 kills for Wartburg and Mallary Erbes tallied 31 assists.
- Katie Foster and Maria Brown recorded 31 and 26 digs, respectively, for the Knights.
- Karissa Kime posted a Luther-best 13 kills, while Sam Sixta had 45 assists.
- Natalie Cote had a team-high 24 digs and Emma Veum recorded six block assists for the Norse.

NEXT ON THE SCHEDULE
- Concordia Wisconsin will compete on Friday and Saturday with road NACC matches at Wisconsin Lutheran and Alverno, with both matches starting at 7 pm.