Volleyball captures CIVT title, Howard named MVP

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The Concordia Invitational Volleyball Tournament trophy isn't going anywhere, as long as the Falcons have something to say about it. Concordia University Wisconsin earned a pair of 3-0 victories against its Concordia counterparts on Saturday to stay undefeated this season and win the tournament for the second-straight year.

CUW (3-0) knocked off Concordia University Ann Arbor, 3-0 (25-15, 25-19, 25-14), before toppling Concordia University Chicago, 3-0 (25-15, 25-14, 25-18), to win its third-straight match to start the 2014 season.

The CIVT championship is the second-consecutive for the Falcons and for second-year head coach Janelle Gabrielsen-Katz and her staff. Senior Erin Howard (Labadie, Mo.) earned CIVT MVP honors, while seniors Britta Duchow (Potter, Wis.) and Hannah Griffiths (Antigo, Wis.) were named to the All-CIVT team.

CUW 3, CUAA 0

The Falcons defense shined in their opening match of the CIVT and held the Cardinals to a -.010 attack percentage. While CUW's offense wasn't firing on all cylinders, hitting .135 for the match, its defense played well in critical times. CUW finished with 56 digs and 12 total blocks.

Freshmen Ashley Jehlicka (Salem, Wis.) and Terese Zymanek (Menomonee, Wis.) led the Falcons offensively with eight and seven kills, respectively. Jehlicka also paced CUW with 12 assists and senior Carley Valentine (De Pere, Wis.) connected for six assists of her own.

Jehlicka was a dynamic force, as she recorded a match-high 19 digs. Howard registered 13 digs and Duchow had two block solos and five block assists.

CUAA was led by Melissa Schoenow's seven kills, Claire Truskowski's 17 assists and Hannah Staples 13 digs.

CUW 3, CUC

The CIVT winning match was highlighted by an impressive offensive display by the Falcons. They hit an impressive .424 for the match, with 12 players smashing at least one kill. CUW had 15, 15 and 14 kills in the three sets and hit over .400 in each frame.

Zymanek paced the Falcons with nine kills, while sophomore Amanda Lehnerz (West Bend, Wis.) accumulated seven kills. Duchow and Griffiths each had six kills each. Jehlicka and Valentine combined for 32 assists, while Jehlicka served a pair of aces.

Howard again impressed on the defensive side of the net with 23 digs. Griffiths dug 13 attack attempts of her own. Freshmen Lauren Nevinski (New Berlin, Wis.) and Megan Jehlicka (Salem, Wis.) each had four block assists.

Kaylyn Anderson led all players with 13 kills for CUC and Jackie Bartnicki posted 26 assists.

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CUW returns to the court on Sept. 6 for a pair of non-conference matches against Carroll University and Lawrence University in Waukesha, Wis.