Women's Volleyball looks to continue recent success

MEQUON, Wis. -- Concordia Wisconsin enters the fall with yet another strong outlook for the Women's Volleyball program, one that was predicted second in the NACC Preseason Poll and has six seniors.

The Falcons senior leadership has compiled a 32-2 record in conference play over the past three seasons, which includes a pair of NACC regular season and tournament titles. They have also accumulated an impressive 70 victories during that span. Returning for their final year will be Natalie Lutz (West Bend, Wis.), Holly Anderson (Grant Park, Ill.), Ariana Richmond (South Elgin, Ill.), Kelsey Kleba (Hartland, Wis.), Kendall Stribling (Greenfield, Wis.) and Megan Mayer (Downers Grove, Ill.).

Mayer garnered All-NACC First Team honors and Kleba was named All-NACC Second Team a season ago.

Of the many strengths on the roster, the offense will look to flex its muscle as seven of the top eight hitters, in regards to total kills, have returned. Mayer led the team with 322 kills in 2018 and the Falcons had the second most kills (1,429) ever in a season in program history. There will be a new face setting up the offense, as both setters from last year graduated, leaving junior Cristina Stinson (Aurora, Ill.) and company to guide the team and put the points on the scoreboard.

Defensively, the front line returns Kleba and Stribling who combined for 166 total blocks last year. In addition; Richmond, sophomore Madelyn Alton (Farwell, Minn.) and Mayer all posted 300-plus digs for the Falcons last season, which rounds out a complete roster, making it difficult for opponents to contend with.

Concordia Wisconsin's schedule for the 2019 season features just nine home matches, with seven occurring during the month of October. Since head coach Janelle Katz took over prior to the 2013 season, the program has been strong on its home court inside the R. John Buuck Field House with a 53-12 record (81.5 percent). During the first 15 matches of the season, which spans until the end of September, it features three opponents who were in the NCAA Division III Tournament last season and has the Falcons on the road for nearly 1,300 miles.

The Falcons first home match of the season is September 18 at 7 pm against Lakeland. Fans wanting to follow live video or live statistics can click here for all links.