Volleyball sweeps Aurora for second-straight NAC victory
Box Score: CUW 3, AU 0
MEQUON, Wis. - Brittany Deinlein smashed 11 kills to help lead the Concordia University Wisconsin volleyball team to their second-consecutive Northern Athletics Conference victory, a 3-0 (25-20, 25-18, 25-23) sweep over Aurora University on Saturday afternoon inside the R. John Buuck Field House.
It was the Falcons first back-to-back league victories this season and first conference sweep of the year. CUW's hopes of getting a bid into the NAC Tournament remain slim, but alive.
CUW (5-18, 4-7 NAC) controlled the pace throughout with a .235 attacking percentage, their highest in a NAC match this season. The Falcons offensive rhythm has been steadily improving over the past three matches and the team finished with just 16 attacking errors during the victory, their lowest in a league match this season.
Deinlein (senior, New Berlin, Wis.) also recorded eight digs, while the setting combination of senior Amy Gray (Urbana, Ill.) and sophomore Ashley Faber (Kewaskum, Wis.) finished with 30 assists. Freshman Gabrielle VanBeaver (Green Bay, Wis.) and junior Amanda Stahmann (Van Dyne, Wis.) were a force at the net with a combined nine blocks.
AU (7-24, 3-9 NAC) was led by Brittany Budimier's nine kills. Nina Zalewski finished with 31 assists while Jessica Barney recorded 21 digs.
The Falcons found themselves down 11-10 in the opening frame before a 6-0 run behind a pair of Deinlein kills and a Lauren Gonring (sophomore, Kewaskum, Wis.) service assist turned the tide for a short period. AU fought back to tie the set a 19-19, but CUW capitalized on five Spartan errors to claim a 25-20 frame win.
CUW controlled the second set throughout, and at one point built a 20-10 lead. The Spartans chipped away at their deficit to get within five, 23-18, but a pair of errors allowed the Falcons to earn a set win and go up 2-0 in the match.
The final stages of the third and deciding set were intense as there were four scoring ties during the final 10 points. The teams traded points after a 20-20 tie, but Hannah Griffiths (freshman, Antigo, Wis.) and Amanda Wilke (senior, Oak Creek, Wis.) kills slammed the door shut and gave CUW the match sweep.
CUW returns to the court for its final NAC regular season match against MSOE at 7 p.m. inside the R. John Buuck Field House. Head coach Joe Cawley will honor his three seniors during the night for their years with the program.
The night will also feature the Digs for Emilee event which is supporting Emilee Ziorgen who is fighting Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
