ATHENS, W.Va. – The Concord University volleyball team split two matches inside the Carter Center Thursday night as CU lost in four sets to Notre Dame before sweeping Salem in three sets.
Concord is now 6-13 overall and 2-4 in the Mountain East Conference after the conference loss to NDC.
Match 1: Notre Dame 3 – Concord (21-25, 25-18, 25-20, 25-21)
CU nearly pushed the Falcons (16-7, 3-3 MEC) to five sets as the Mountain Lions found themselves up 21-19 in the fourth set, but Notre Dame ran off six straight points to win the match.
Tied at 19-19 in the fourth game, junior outside hitter
Kirsti Pouncy notched a kill before freshman outside hitter
Hailey Buchanan had a service ace to put Concord up two points. However, the Mountain Lions were unable to close the deal in the fourth game.
The Maroon and Gray made Notre Dame play from behind from the start. Down 7-4 in the first set, Concord scored eight straight points including three service aces from senior defensive specialist
Erin Shannon. NDC stormed back, but could only take an 18-17 lead on CU as the Mountain Lions finished the set on an 8-3 run to go up 1-0. Shannon had another service ace while Buchanan chipped in three kills.
NDC was able to win the second and third games before overtaking the Mountain Lions late in the final set.
Sophomore middle hitter
Sheridan Herron finished with 10 kills while Buchanan added nine. Junior defensive specialist
Lindsay Maddox had 21 digs while senior setter
Jenna Mounts and sophomore setter
Imani Rodgers combined for 33 assists.
Match 2: Concord 3 – Salem 0 (25-21, 25-18, 25-9)
After a tight first set, CU made quick work of Salem over the final two sets to pick up the win.
With Concord leading just 12-11 in the first game, the Mountain Lions used a 9-2 run to create some space between them and Salem (0-26). Sophomore right side
Camryn Huber had four kills while senior outside hitter
Lauren Bethel and freshman middle hitter
Amber Hall each had two kills to power the run. Up 21-13, CU had to fend off a late Salem run to win the game by four points.
Concord went up 5-1 to start the second game, and led by as much as 11 points (23-12) after a service ace by sophomore outside hitter
Jessica King as it took a 2-0 lead in the match.
Up 10-5 in the close out game, CU rattled off seven straight points with King notching two kills and Shannon coming through with two more aces. It marked the first time this season Concord has held an opponent to less than 10 points in a set.
Mounts tallied her second double-double of the season with 23 assists and 10 digs. Shannon had another 18 digs. Hall, Huber and King all tied for the team high with eight kills.
Concord hosts Urbana 6:00 p.m. Friday at the Carter Center. It will be Dig Pink Night for the Mountain Lions.
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