WHEELING, W.Va. – The Concord University volleyball team fell in the first round of the Mountain East Conference Tournament to Wheeling Jesuit (25-13, 25-7, 25-14) Thursday night at the McDonough Center.
Concord (18-14, 7-9 MEC) was paced by senior setter
Nikki McMillan who had 12 assists and 10 digs to record her 10
th double-double of the season.
The Mountain Lions jumped out a 4-1 lead in the first set, but couldn't maintain the momentum against the MEC's best team and 10
th-ranked team in the country as Wheeling (33-3, 16-0 MEC) won the first set 25-14.
The Cardinals jumped out to a commanding 16-3 lead in the second set and cruised to a 25-7 win.
Once again, CU took an early 6-4 lead in the third and final set of play. However, WJU rallied by scoring six straight points and 10 of the next 11 to take command of the set and win 25-14.
Senior middle hitter
Sarah Jones finished the match with seven kills and a team-high 12 digs while senior libero
Amanda Walker had 10 digs for the Mountain Lions.
Senior outside hitter
Brytni Willis tallied four kills. Freshman middle hitter
Shea Hoffman (three), freshman middle hitter
Alexis Elliott, senior setter
Whytni Willis (two), McMillan (one) and freshman outside hitter
Lisette Roldan (one) rounded out the kill total for the Mountain Lions.
Despite losing in the first round of the conference tournament, Concord won 18 matches this season, the most they have won since 2002. Concord has continued an upward trajectory under sixth-year head coach
Kate Southcott posting more wins each season than with the exception of 2009 to 2010.
The seven conference wins the Mountain Lions had this season also tied the most league victories under Southcott and was the most since the 2005 season when Concord was 8-10 in conference action.
Thursday night marked the final collegiate games for six Concord seniors: defensive specialist
Megan Fisher, Jones, McMillan, Walker, B. Willis and W. Willis.
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