BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – The Concord University volleyball team dropped a five-set match to Bluefield State Wednesday night at Ned Shott Gymnasium in a non-conference meeting of Mercer County rivals.
The Mountain Lions (6-18) took the first and third sets by the identical score of 25-21. BSU (8-11) was victorious in the second and fourth sets, 25-20 and 25-16, before winning the fifth game 15-13.
Set 1
With both teams not being able to find consistent momentum throughout the set, CU pulled away down the stretch to win the opening game. Holding a 21-20 lead, sophomore outside hitter
Hannah Steele's kill started a quick three-point spurt as Concord opened up a four-point advantage. After a Bluefield State point, another Steele kill closed the game.
Set 2
Concord opened a 13-8 lead in the early stages of the set before the Big Blues rallied to tie the game. Steele's kill gave the Mountain Lions a 19-18 edge, but BSU scored five straight points to pull away and tie the match at a set each.
Set 3
CU made its charge in the third game right before the midpoint. Up 9-8, the Maroon and Gray rattled off six consecutive points. Junior middle hitter
Kyndra Pilant contributed two points with a kill and a service ace in the run. Bluefield State chipped away at the deficit to get within 24-21, but like the first set Steele had the final point with one of her 16 kills in the match. The Mountain Lions hit .382 in the game.
Set 4
With the set tied at 6-6, the Big Blues went on a 4-0 run as Concord was never able to tie the set again. The Mountain Lions got within 18-15 and 19-16 after a Pilant kill, but the advantage stood up for BSU.
Set 5
Concord erased a late deficit in the game, but the final two points of the match belonged to Bluefield State. BSU found itself up 12-9 before the Maroon and Gray broke off three of the next four points. Two BSU errors allowed CU to get within 12-11 before back-to-back kills from senior middle hitter
Amber Hall and Steele tied the score at 13-13. A kill and an ace ended the match.
Match Stats
Pilant racked up a career-best 21 kills to go with 14 digs. She hit .340 on the night. Steele added 19 digs to go with her kill output. Hall reached double-digit kills with 10. Freshman setter
Kenzee Chaffin finished one assist shy of her career high with 45.
Bluefield State's Allyson Martin recorded a match-best 28 kills.
CU stays on the road for a 7:00 p.m. Friday match with Frostburg State.
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