Balanced attack leads Volleyball over Rockford

MEQUON, Wis. – Concordia University Wisconsin overwhelmed Rockford University from the first point on Tuesday evening to earn a 3-0 (25-15, 25-18, 25-23) victory during Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play inside the R. John Buuck Field House.

Hannah Griffiths and Ashley Jehlicka led the Falcons with double-doubles, while the team recorded 8.0 total team blocks. CUW dominated the first two sets and led by a match-high 10 points three times during the night. The Falcons hit .203 for the match and served seven aces, while holding the Regents to a .034 attack percentage.

Griffiths (senior, Antigo, Wis.) led all players with 11 kills and 18 digs, while Jehlicka (freshman, Salem, Wis.) posted her team-best 16th double-double after smashing 10 kills and assisting on 10 kills. She also dub seven attack attempts.

Sophomore Karina Klotz (Hubertus, Wis.) led the Falcons with 16 assists, while Griffiths served a match-high four aces. Senior Erin Howard (Labadie, Mo.) ended with 18 digs and two service aces.

RU (8-14, 1-6 NACC) was led by Taylor Rossi who had 18 assists and 15 digs. Katelyn Hasken posted 10 digs and Erin Pederson led the team with six kills.

CUW scored five-consecutive points midway through the opening frame to take a commanding 16-9 lead. Following a RU kill, the Falcons rattled off four more points for a match-high-tying 10-point lead, 20-10. They would go on to win the first set, 25-15, for a 1-0 set lead in the match. Howard dug 14 attack attempts in the opening frame.

After five-straight points to start the second frame, the Falcons slowly built their lead to 10 points, 20-10, and didn't look back. Senior Britta Duchow (Potter, Wis.) smashed six kills in the frame to help CUW take a 2-0 lead.

The final set featured six scoring ties and three lead changes before CUW won 25-23 to end the match. In all, 14 players saw action during the victory and 10 played during the final frame. Senior Carley Valentine (De Pere, Wis.) directed the offense to the tune of nine assists during the Falcons' 13th sweep of the season.

CUW returns to the court on Friday for a 7 p.m. NACC contest at Alverno College.