Rockford edges Volleyball in five-set thriller

Box Score: RC 3, CUW 2

MEQUON, Wis. - The Concordia University Wisconsin volleyball team lived on the edge for the entire two-hour match against Rockford College on Friday evening during Northern Athletics Conference play. The Falcons rallied from two sets down to force an extra frame, but fell 3-2 (25-23, 26-24, 14-25, 23-25, 15-10) in front of a boisterous crowd inside the R. John Buuck Field House.

The Regents battled the Falcons throughout the first two sets, but a 6-0 run to end the opening frame and a Kemper Schroff service ace gave Rockford (3-7, 2-2 NAC) the early advantage. CUW (2-14, 1-3 NAC) blasted 12 and 18 kills in the third and fourth sets, respectively, to win the frames and force its third five-set match in conference play this season.

Rockford's offense continued as it did throughout the match during the final set, but CUW faltered with a -.042 hitting percentage which allowed the Regents to build an 8-4 lead. The Falcons fought back to within a point, 10-9, behind three Brittany Deinlein (senior, New Berlin, Wis.) kills. However, a trio of Falcon attacking errors and a Heather Hyland service ace gave the Regents the match victory.

Deinlein and senior Amanda Wilke (Oak Creek, Wis.) paced the Falcons with 15 kills apiece. Deinlein recorded 19 digs, while senior Amy Gray (Urbana, Ill.) finished with 28 assists and 15 digs. Sophomore Lauren Dumke (Wauwatosa, Wis.) and freshman Gabrielle VanBeaver (Green Bay, Wis.) led the defense with four blocks apiece.

Courtney Pehl led all players with 52 assists and added 17 digs. Laina Scheri led Rockford with 18 kills, while Hyland recorded 21 digs and three service aces.

The match was as close as it appeared by the final score, as there were 41 scoring ties and 22 lead changes. In the fourth set there were 16 scoring ties and 12 lead changes.

CUW returns to action on Saturday in Milwaukee, Wis., against Wisconsin Lutheran College at 12 p.m. at the Recreation Complex.