SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Concord University volleyball team went 1-1 on the second day of the Capital Classic hosted by the University of Illinois at Springfield.
The Mountain Lions put their record at 1-3 with the split.
Match 1: Lindenwood 3 – Concord 1 (25-12, 25-14, 23-25, 25-7)
CU fell behind in the first two sets, but could not rally further after winning the third set.
Lindenwood took command of the first set as it opened up on a 10-0 run and did not look back. Concord and LU were tied 8-8 in the second set before Lindenwood scored nine of the next 11 points to take control of the set.
Late in the third set, CU built up a 20-15 lead, but saw it fade as the Lions rallied to tie the set at 23-23. However, a kill from freshman outside hitter
Kirsti Pouncy gave Concord a lead and, an error by LU pushed the Mountain Lions to a third set win.
Lindenwood controlled the fourth set en route to winning the match.
Junior middle hitter
Brooke Heck had a team-high eight kills while senior middle hitter
Shea Hoffman and junior outside hitter
Alexi Pranckus each contributed six kills for the match.
Match 2: Concord 3 – Oakland City 2 (21-25, 25-12, 23-25, 25-17, 15-8)
Concord outlasted OCU as it picked up its first win of the season.
Oakland City led throughout the most of the first set and opened up a late 23-18 advantage, however, the Mountain Lions made it close as back-to-back errors from the Mighty Oaks and a Heck kill trimmed the deficit to two points. But, OCU scored the final two points to take the first set.
The Mountain Lions raced out to an early 12-4 lead in game two as it won by 13 points. Included in the early run was two kills each from Ellis and freshman defensive specialist
Lindsay Maddox.
With the match tied at 1-1, OCU controlled the scoreboard throughout the third set, leading 23-18. Once again, a late Concord push cut the score to 24-23 as Ellis and Pranckus each came up with a kill. But again, the Mighty Oaks recorded the set point to take a 2-1 edge.
CU pulled away from Oakland City midway through the fourth set to force a final decisive game. Concord scored eight of the final 12 points of the set. In the spurt was an ace from sophomore setter
Jenna Mounts, two key kills from Pouncy and an additional kill by Pranckus.
The teams split the first eight points in the fifth set before CU took control with a 6-1 burst. Ellis, Pouncy and Pranckus spurred the run with a kill a piece.
Pranckus finished the match with her second double-double of the weekend tallying 16 kills and 18 digs. Ellis recorded 11 kills and Heck added 10.
Maddox piled up 25 digs and fellow freshman defensive specialist
Joi Haywood notched 18 digs. Senior setter
Casey Mandeville and Mounts each had 24 assists with Mandeville also accumulating 12 digs.
The Mountain Lions host the Concord Classic next weekend that starts Thursday night and runs through Saturday.
More information about the six-team event will be posted next week.
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