Falcons grit out win over Benedictine to stay undefeated in NACC play

MEQUON, Wis. – It wasn't the prettiest of offensive performances, but Concordia University Wisconsin did enough to earn a 3-1 (23-25, 27-25, 25-15, 25-23) victory over Benedictine University on Friday night inside the R. John Buuck Field House. The win keeps the Falcons undefeated in Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play and are one of two remaining unbeaten teams in the conference.

THE BASICS
Final Score: Concordia Wisconsin 3, Benedictine 1 (23-25, 27-25, 25-15, 25-23)
Location: R. John Buuck Field House (Mequon, Wis.)
Records: Concordia Wisconsin 14-7 (7-0 NACC), Benedictine 9-13 (4-3 NACC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Falcons remained undefeated in Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play with a nervous victory over the Eagles. They dropped the opening set before winning three-straight to also win their fourth-consecutive at home.
- CUW hit a dismal -.080 (9K-13E-50A) in the opening set, while Benedictine managed to hit .020 (11K-10E-49A) to take a back-and-forth battle. There were 11 scoring ties and five lead changes before the Eagles won 25-23. After a 23-all tie, Beckie Whitmarsh smashed a kill and Benedictine benefited from a CUW attack error to score the final two points of the frame.
- The second set was more of the same, featuring nine scoring ties and four lead changes. Following six unanswered points by the Falcons, both teams forced the scoreboard operator to alternate points until the fans saw 21-21. CUW scored consecutive points, but Benedictine responded with three in a row to go ahead 24-23. Each team traded a point before the Falcons smashed three-straight balls to win 27-25 and tie the match at 1-1.
- Despite recording just nine kills in the third set, CUW took advantage of a poor offensive performance by Benedictine who hit -.054 (7K-9E-37) to win 25-15, its most convincing set win of the night. The Falcons jumped in front 11-3 and idled to an 18-11 advantage. After four-straight points by the Eagles, CUW slammed its foot on the gas pedal with seven points in a row to earn a 25-15 third set win and go ahead 2-1 in the match.
- Even know the fourth frame was close, there was just one scoring tie at 4-4. CUW built a 14-10 lead and answered each Benedictine offensive attack the remainder of the way for a 25-23 set win to claim the NACC match.
- The Falcons finished with a .086 attack percentage (48K-32E-187A), while the Eagles didn't perform well either and recorded a .056 attack percentage (42K-32E-179A).
- CUW recorded 10 total blocks, including three solo, and Benedictine had nine total blocks.
- Sophomore Lauren Nevinski (New Berlin, Wis.) led the Falcons with 12 kills, while freshman Mackenzie Paszek (Sussex, Wis.) added 10 kills of her own. Sophomores Kaily Moegenburg (Plymouth, Wis.) and Terese Zymanek (Menomonee Falls, Wis.) added eight and seven kills, respectively.
- Junior Karina Klotz (Hubertus, Wis.) assisted on 20 kills and freshman Haley Sedo (Neenah, Wis.) had 15 assists of her own.
- Paszek served a career-high three aces, while Sedo and senior Kelsa Rubeck (Eau Claire, Wis.) each had a pair of service aces.
- Freshman Lindsey Casper (Hubertus, Wis.) led CUW with a career-high-tying 29 digs. Rubeck dug 17 attack attempts, while Paszek had a career-high 15 digs and Sedo dug 10 attack attempts.
- Moegenburg led the defensive front line with five block assists and two block solos, while sophomore Megan Jehlicka (Salem, Wis.) finished with four block assists.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- The Falcons won their second match hitting below .100 within the last week. The other being a .075 attack percentage performance during a 3-2 victory at Lakeland on Saturday, October 10.
- The 187 attack attempts is tied for the second most in a match this season, with the other two going the distance of five sets.
- CUW's eight service aces is the most since recording eight against Maranatha Baptist on September 17 during a home 3-0 win.
- Casper's career defensive night was the fifth time this season she dug over 20 attack attempts. She also assisted on a career-best six kills.
- The Falcons were balanced offensively with six players recording over 20 attack attempts.

THE OPPOSITION
- Erin Wiegrand led the Eagles with 17 kills, but hit just .032 (17K-15E-63A) on the night.
- Kelcey Adams directed the offense to the tune of 35 of the teams 40 assists.
- Ashley Karsten served a match-high four aces.
- Kristina Billie led four players in double-figure digs with 33, while Vanessa Possidoni had 17 and Adams dug 16 attack attempts. Alyssa O'Boyle recorded 12 digs.
- Defensively, Kara Epping ended the match with six block assists and Keriann Groen assisted on four blocks of her own.

NEXT ON THE SCHEDULE
- CUW's three-match stretch against the top teams in the NACC continues on Saturday with a 7 pm match at Dominican. The Stars are third in the league with a 6-1 record.