Volleyball splits matches at IIAC/NACC Tournament

MILWAUKEE – Concordia University Wisconsin split a pair of matches on Friday during the first day of the IIAC/NACC Tournament, hosted by Wisconsin Lutheran College. The Falcons dropped a hard-fought 3-1 (22-25, 25-19, 22-25, 23-25) match to Buena Vista University before sweeping Central College 3-0 (28-26, 25-18).

Overall, senior Hannah Griffiths (Antigo, Wis.) paced the team with 20 kills, while senior Britta Duchow (Potter, Wis.) had a .282 attack percentage and 17 kills. Freshman Kaly Moegenburg (Plymouth, Wis.) also smashed 17 kills.

Sophomore Karina Klotz (Hubertus, Wis.) and freshman Ashley Jehlicka (Salem, Wis.) assisted on 35 and 30 kills, respectively. Defensively, Jehlicka and Griffiths led the way with 29 and 27 digs. Duchow led CUW with seven total blocks, all assisted, and freshman Lauren Nevinski (New Berlin, Wis.) registered six total blocks, also all assisted.

As a team, the Falcons hit .167, served eight aces and had 14.5 total blocks. Their two opponents hit .163, served seven aces and recorded 18.0 total blocks.

BVU 3, CUW 1

The opening non-conference match of the day went back and forth and saw each team win a set before the Beavers captured the final two frames.

Duchow and Griffiths led the Falcons with 11 kills apiece, while Jehlicka and Klotz each had 17 assists. Griffiths led the defense effort with 16 digs and Nevinski posted three block assists.

BVU (10-8) was led by Maddie Bardole who had 21 kills and 19 digs. Jade Schaap and Celie Kohls recorded 17 and 10 kills, respectively, while Laura Barry led all players with 43 assists. Five Beavers had double-figure dig totals and two players had a solo block and four block assists.

CUW 3, CC 0

CUW's offense wasn't spectacular, but it did enough to earn the team's seventh sweep of the season. They hit just .181 for the match, but held CC to a .116 attack percentage.

The opening frame featured nine scoring ties and four lead changes, before the Falcons edged out a 28-26 victory. The built a seven-point cushion in the second frame before winning and held off a mini Dutch rally late in the third set to earn the sweep.

Griffiths had nine kills to lead a Falcons offense that featured six Falcons with five or more kills. Klotz and Jehlicka combined for 31 assists, while Jehlicka had a team-high 18 digs. Duchow recorded five block assists and Griffiths ended with a block solo and four block assists.

Mollie Mason and Emily Stoakes paced CC (11-6) with 10 kills each, while Claire Stewart had 14 assists and was one of three players with double-digit assists. Dzenita Bahtic led all players with 28 digs and Emily McDonald finished with five block assists.

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CUW returns to the court on Saturday for the final two matches of the IIAC/NACC Tournament against Simpson College (12 p.m.) and University of Dubuque (4 p.m.).