ATHENS, W.Va. – The Concord University team solidified its spot in next week's Mountain East Conference Tournament with a four-set win over West Virginia State Friday night at the Carter Center.
With the win, CU (14-18, 8-7 MEC) eliminated the Yellow Jackets (14-16, 6-10 MEC) from postseason consideration and in the process will either be the six or seven seed depending on result tomorrow.
Concord won the match 25-19, 23-25, 25-22, 25-18.
The Mountain Lions controlled the first set as it built up a lead as much as seven points, 20-13, after a kill from junior outside hitter
Alexi Pranckus. West Virginia State creeped back to within five points, but sophomore middle hitter
Emily Ellis finished the set with a kill. During the first game, CU never trailed and was only tied twice.
WVSU made a run midway through the second set to take a 20-16 lead. However, Concord chipped away at the deficit to create some drama at the end of the set. Down 24-21, sophomore outside hitter
Ellie Lawrence provided a kill, and a West Virginia State error trimmed the deficit to 24-23. The Yellow Jackets scored the next point to close the game out and tie the match at 1-1.
Again in the third set, Concord found itself down midway through. Trailing 17-12, the Maroon and Gray went on a 9-4 run to tie the set at 21-21. Pranckus provided three kills during the spurt while junior middle hitter
Brooke Heck added two kills. Pranckus came up with another kill while senior setter
Casey Mandeville recorded a service ace to march the CU lead to 24-21, and an eventual three-point win.
Concord was able to control play in the fourth set as the Mountain Lions slowly pulled from West Virginia State. After being tied at 11-11, CU scored five straight points to open up a five-point lead. The run was spurred by a kill from Heck and four WVSU errors.
Heck notched 12 kills and five blocks while Ellis tallied 11 kills.
Senior outside hitter
Felicia Huerta played her best match of the season with eight kills in 11 swings and a hitting percentage of .727.
Mandeville and sophomore setter
Jenna Mounts each distributed 22 assists.
The Mountain Lions can clinch the sixth seed with a win over Charleston 1:00 p.m. Saturday. A loss would mean the seven seed in the MEC Tournament.
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