ATHENS, W.Va. – The Concord University volleyball team began Mountain East Conference play Friday night with a sweep of West Virginia Wesleyan.
CU improves to 6-9 on the season with the 1-0 mark in the league while the Bobcats drop to 3-10 and 0-1 in the MEC.
Concord picked up convincing wins in the first and third sets, but it was the second set that provided drama in the match.
After taking the first set 25-18—that saw CU score the first six points of the match as well 10 of the first 12, and also included five kills and four blocks from junior middle hitter
Brooke Heck—the Mountain Lions worked overtime to gain a 2-0 match lead.
The Maroon and Gray once again up jumped out on WVWC with a 13-6 lead. But the Bobcats would not be turned away as they rattled off a 10-2 run to take a 16-15 lead. From there, the set went back and forth. Tied at 23, Wesleyan's Hannah King and junior outside hitter
Alexi Pranckus had a dual. Back-to-back kills from Heck put CU in front 25-24. However, King came back with three straight kills to push Wesleyan in front 27-26. Pranckus was not to be outdone as her second of two straight kills from tied the set at 29-29.
A service ace from senior setter
Casey Mandeville pushed Concord to the brink of a second set win. Pranckus ended the set with another kill. Pranckus had four of her 11 kills in the final points of the set.
With the third set tied 6-6, the Mountain Lions seized momentum with a 10-3 burst. Sophomore middle hitter
Emily Ellis and Heck combined for four kills during the run. The closest Wesleyan would get the remainder of the set was 17-14, but Concord rattled off the next five points to clinch a sweep of the Bobcats as it won 25-17 in the final set.
Heck finished the match with 14 kills, five digs and five blocks. Ellis finished with 10 kills, five blocks and a .471 hitting percentage. Pranckus hit a season-best .391 to go along with her 11 kills.
Mandeville racked up 25 assists and seven digs. Sophomore setter
Jenna Mounts added 13 assists.
The Mountain Lions host Glenville State 1:00 p.m. Saturday.
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