Men's Volleyball was having record-setting year

MEQUON, Wis. -- Concordia Wisconsin's season came to an abrupt end because of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, but it will go down as a highly successful and in some rights a record-setting year over the two-thirds of a season that was completed.

The Falcons posted an 8-7 overall record, the first winning season in the program's young existence, and a 2-3 record in the highly-difficult Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference. How difficult? They ended the season with three-straight losses, two against nationally-ranked opponents who are also in the league.

Over the course of January and February, Concordia Wisconsin was putting on displays of outstanding dominance and record-setting moments. They began the year 1-2, but then went 7-2 over the next nine matches. They controlled their home court inside the R. John Buuck Field House with a 5-2 record. Six of the eight wins this season ended in a 3-0 sweep.

Of the record-setting moments mentioned; the Falcons set the single-season record for kills per set (9.46), assists per set (9.08), service aces per set (1.34), digs per set (10.52), solo blocks (26), blocks per set (2.31) and points per set (13.11).

They ended the season ranked sixth nationally in blocks per set (2.31) and were ranked first in the country from February 12-26. They averaged at least 2.0 blocks per set and had a season-high of 2.632 from February 24-26 in the national rankings. As of the last nationally rankings update on March 11, junior Blake Schwandt (Kenosha, Wis.) was 10th with a 1.068 blocks per set average.

Offensively, junior James Althoff (Kenosha, Wis.) led the team in kills (189) on a .213 hitting percentage, while also serving a team-best 26 aces. The left-hander set the program's three-set match record for kills with 22 at Maranatha Baptist (February 27). Althoff also set the single-season record for kills per set (3.78), service aces per set (0.52) and points per set (4.71). Senior Matthew Korman (Roscoe, Ill.) directed the offense to the tune of 377 assists and set the single-season record for assists per set (8.06).

Freshman Dylan Griffith (Middleton, Wis.) was a defensive stalwart with a team-high 140 digs. He also set the single-season record for digs per set (2.80).