Volleyball dominates Benedictine in battle of NACC unbeatens

MEQUON, Wis. – Coming into Saturday, both the Concordia University Wisconsin and Benedictine University were unbeaten in Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play. The Falcons were the ones to remain unbeaten after the pivotal matchup, dominating the Eagles in sweeping fashion.

CUW won the three sets by scores of 25-12, 25-12 and 25-7 as they were in control throughout on Saturday. The win improved the Falcons to 5-0 in NACC play and was the first over Benedictine since the 2008 season. In 2008 the Falcons rallied for a 3-2 win over the Eagles on October 21.

CUW posted a .349 attack percentage in the win, including a staggering .571 attack percentage in the third set. Benedictine meanwhile hit .000, posting a negative percentage in both the first and third sets. The Falcons middle proved too tough for the Eagles as CUW combined for 12 blocks, led by five from senior Britta Duchow (Potter, Wis.).

Freshman Kaily Moegenburg (Plymouth, Wis.) paced a balanced Falcons attack, finishing with a match-best 10 kills. Moegenburg hit an impressive .769 for the match, converting those 10 kills on just 13 chances. Duchow added a .571 attack percentage with four kills, while freshman Ashley Jehlicka (Salem, Wis.) finished with seven kills.

Senior Carley Valentine (De Pere, Wis.) dished out a team-best 10 assists, while Jehlicka added eight and sophomore Karina Klotz (Hubertus, Wis.) chimed in with seven.

Defensivelly, CUW was led by senior Erin Howard (Labadie, Mo.) as she finished with a match-best 13 digs. Senior Hannah Griffiths (Antigo, Wis.) added seven digs, while recording five kills as well. Klotz, Valentine and Jehlicka all added four digs.

Benedictine was led by Andraia Leja as she recorded 11 digs, while teammate Erin Wiegand led the Eagles with six kills. Abby Screnock added 10 digs for BU.

The Falcons key Saturday was getting up early in each set and never letting up. CUW jumped out to a 11-3 in the first set, forcing the Eagles to burn two early timeouts. That model worked again in the second set, where the Falcons were up 10-3 lead and the third set that also saw CUW go up 11-3 before the Eagles knew what hit them.

With the win CUW is now one of two remaining NACC unbeaten, Dominican University being the other. The Stars are in action later tonight, hosting Edgewood College at 6 p.m.

The Falcons next matchup will be against that Dominican Stars team as they are set for a NACC matchup next Friday night. CUW will visit DU for a 7 p.m. start. Fans who can't make the trip can follow along by visiting CUWFalcons.com for live coverage links.