Volleyball snaps winning streak at Dominican

RIVER FOREST, Ill. – In a highly anticipated matchup of Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference undefeated teams, it was Dominican University who overcame Concordia University Wisconsin, 3-2 (26-24, 13-25, 21-25, 25-21, 14-16), Friday night at Igini Sports Forum.

The Falcons entered the match as the hottest team in the league with six-straight victories, while the Stars were last year's NACC representative in the NCAA Tournament. The contest didn't disappoint, as there were 25 scoring ties and 11 lead changes during the nearly two hour battle.

CUW responded from a 2-1 sets deficit by winning the fourth frame to extend the match and nearly pulled out the thrilling win after serving match point. It was just the second five-set match of the season for the Falcons.

Freshman Ashley Jehlicka (Salem, Wis.) led CUW with her sixth triple-double of the season, 10 kills, 17 assists and 10 digs. Senior Hannah Griffiths (Antigo, Wis.) added a double-double with a team-high 15 kills and 17 digs, to go along with four block assists. Senior Carley Valentine (De Pere, Wis.) finished with six kills, 11 assists and nine digs in just three sets played.

Defensively, the Falcons ended with 11 total blocks, which is the fourth double-digit block total of the season and the first since Sept. 19. Senior Britta Duchow (Potter, Wis.) and freshman Lauren Nevinski (New Berlin, Wis.) led the charge with five block assists each.

DU (15-8, 5-0 NACC) had three players finish with double-doubles and five players recorded double-figure kill totals. Christina Wilson led all players with 62 assists, while Caitlen Foote posted 18 kills and 11 digs. Carrie Chambers recorded a double-double of her own after smashing 15 kills and digging 14 attack attempts. Olivia Szuskiewicz led all players with 25 digs.

The opening frame was the most contested with 14 scoring ties and seven lead changes. CUW capitalized on two-consecutive DU errors to take the set, 26-24, and gain momentum early. During the frame, Jehlicka smashed six kills, but the Stars finished with a .308 attack percentage.

The Stars overwhelmed the Falcons in the second set with a .469 attack percentage and 17 kills. DU continuously pulled away before winning 25-13 to even the match at one set apiece.

Following a 12-12 tie, the Stars used a 5-0 scoring run to take advantage in the third set. However, the Falcons wouldn't back down, as they answered by scoring nine of the next 12 points to own a 21-20 lead. At one point they rattled off five-straight points after three DU errors. The Stars' Foote had plans of her own and had three-consecutive kills to end the third set in favor of DU, 25-21.

Duchow hammered two of her six kills in the fourth set down the stretch to give CUW a 25-21 victory to knot the match at two sets apiece. The Falcons jumped out to a 5-0 lead and never relinquished the advantage throughout the frame.

It appeared as if the Stars were going to run away with the fifth and deciding set after leading 8-3 early. The Falcons weren't going to give up easily and took a comfortable 13-10 lead following a 10-1 scoring run. DU earned the come-from-behind victory after recording kills on six of its last seven points.

CUW (16-5, 5-1 NACC) will have little time to hang its heads, as it hosts Wisconsin Lutheran College on Saturday at 12 p.m. in a NACC matchup inside the R. John Buuck Field House.