OPPORTUNITY MISSED

11/11/2010 6:59:39 PM

CU EXITS TOURNAMENT WITH FIVE-SET LOSS TO SHEPHERD

For a moment, it appeared Concord's Volleyball team would pull off an upset in the first round of the WVIAC Tournament on Thursday.

But the moment didn't last. The 12th-seeded Lady Lions couldn't hold a two-sets-to-one lead and suffered a heartbreaking five-set loss to #5 Shepherd at the Charleston Catholic Athletic Complex in Charleston, WV.

The 25-17, 18-25, 21-25, 25-23, 15-7 defeat ended Concord's season at 9-26. CU was making its first appearance at the tournament since 2008.

Concord opened a quick 6-2 lead in the first set, but Shepherd recovered to take leads of 12-9 and 18-11. CU scored four straight points to get within 18-15 and Shepherd took a timeout. The Rams came back with a five unanswered points to lead 23-15, then closed out the set.

Concord started quickly again in the second set, going ahead 10-6 and forcing a Shepherd timeout. The Rams would come back to forge an 18-18 tie, but consecutive kills by CU's Tori Fornadel and Emily Wilson and three straight errors by SU put the Lady Lions ahead 23-18. Shepherd spent their last timeout, but CU's Kayla Martin floored a kill on the next point, and another Shepherd error ended the set.

The third set was closely contested. Neither team could gain separation until Shepherd broke a 15-15 tie with three straight points on the way to a 21-19 lead.
That's when Concord seized momentum.
Kills by Wilson and Amber Miller tied the set. Shepherd took a timeout, but then committed a center line violation and a hitting error. Miller then slammed another kill, and Wilson served an ace to put Concord up two sets to one.

The fourth set resembled the third, closely contested at first. Concord would open an 18-15 lead after a
nifty tip kill by Helen Theisen, but Shepherd replied with a 6-1 rally to lead 21-19. Back-to-back kills by Miller tied the score, and the teams exchanged two points each to make the score 23-23. But consecutive receiving errors by CU gave Shepherd the set and the initiative going into set number five.

The Rams bolted out to an 8-0 lead in the final set. Concord would settle down and get within 10-6, but Shepherd closed out the match.

Miller ended her Concord career with a match-high 19 kills, and was impressive in the back as well with 25 digs. Wilson, also in her final match, posted 14 kills and 11 digs. CU's third senior, Kayla Martin, provided six kills, five digs and four blocks.

Theisen dished out a match-high 39 assists, to go with 18 digs, on the day in which she earned Honorable Mention recognition on the 2010 All-WVIAC team. Allie Pennington and Nicole Atkinson added 27 and 11 digs, respectively.

Kasey Mercier and Kayla Walker topped Shepherd with 16 kills each. Mercier also led SU with 24 digs. Lauren Jeschelnik had 37 assists.

Shepherd outhit Concord .155 to .134, tried 19 more attacks (213-194) and outkilled Concord 66-52.

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