Concord Goes 1-1 at Raider Classic

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Concord University volleyball team completed its time at the Raider Classic hosted by Shippensburg University on Saturday as CU took a five-set thriller from Southern New Hampshire before falling in four sets to Seton Hill.

Concord's record now stands at 2-2 overall.

Match 1: Concord 3 – Southern New Hampshire 2
Concord won three of the final four sets including a convincing 15-5 win in the fifth set to earn a hard-fought win over SNHU.

The Penmen won the first set 25-18 before Concord stormed back for a 25-19 second set win.

In the third set, the two teams traded points with neither leading by two points at any points. With the set tied 20-20, a kill from sophomore middle hitter Brooke Heck and a Southern New Hampshire attack error gave the Mountain Lions the cushion it needed to win the third set 25-23.

SNHU took a nail-biting 26-24 fourth set from CU forcing a fifth and decisive set.

After back-and-forth action and CU leading 4-2 in the fifth set, the Mountain Lions rattled off eight straight points to take command of the fifth set. Redshirt freshman outside hitter Ellie Lawrence capped the run with three straight kills. After the run, CU led 12-2 and went onto win 15-5.

Heck finished the match with a career-high 17 kills while sophomore libero Erin Shannon finished with a career-best 33 digs. Junior setter Casey Mandeville notched 27 assists and 11 digs. Lawrence put together a match of eight kills and 12 digs. Junior middle hitter Shea Hoffman just missed a double-double with nine kills and a career-high 11 blocks.

Match 2: Seton Hill 3 – Concord 1
The Mountain Lions took the opening set 25-16, but SHU rallied to win the next three sets .

Concord jumped out 13-3 on the Griffins in the first set and never looked back to grab a 1-0 lead. The opening run was keyed by two service aces from Mandeville and two kills each from Heck and Lawrence.

Seton Hill took set two, 25-8, and set three, 25-16.

CU was able to rebound in set four, but could not force a fifth set as it fell 25-23 in the fourth set.

Heck led the way with nine kills while junior middle hitter Alexis Elliott freshman outside hitter Emily Ellis and Lawrence each had seven kills. Shannon tallied 21 assists while Mandeville racked up 18 assists and 10 digs.

Concord takes on Bluefield College 6:30 p.m. Thursday on the road.