ATHENS, W.Va. – The Concord University volleyball team wrapped up the Concord Classic by splitting matches against West Georgia and California (Pa.). Saturday at the Carter Center.
The Mountain Lions are 3-6 this season after falling to West Georgia in three sets, but holding off Cal U in a five-set classic.
Match 1: West Georgia 3 – Concord 0 (25-23, 25-12, 25-17)
Set 1
The opening game was tight throughout as neither team led by more than three points after CU erased an early 7-3 deficit. Trailing 22-19, the Mountain Lions rattled off four straight points to lead 23-22. Senior middle hitter
Amber Hall and junior middle hitter
Csayjah Whitelow each had a kill. However, UWG pulled out the first set with three straight points.
Set 2
Leading 7-5, West Georgia broke off a 10-2 scoring spurt. CU rallied to get within 19-11 after a Wolves' error and a kill from freshman setter
Kenzee Chaffin. However, Concord was unable to rally further.
Set 3
UWG scored 12 of the first 16 points of the third game. The Maroon and Gray kept the deficit from growing, but never got any closer than seven points.
Match Stats
CU hit .221 for the match, but West Georgia sported a .337 hitting percentage. Sophomore outside hitter
Hannah Steele posted her second double-double of the weekend with 13 kills and 12 digs, hitting .278 on the day. Whitelow had five of her seven kills in the opening set.
Chaffin added 27 assists, five kills and five digs. Junior middle hitter
Kyndra Pilant chipped in six kills.
Match 2: Concord 3 – Cal U 2 (25-19, 25-19, 20-25, 16-25, 15-12)
Set 1
The Mountain Lions broke off a 6-0 run early in the set that gave them the breathing room they needed to go up 1-0 in the match. Leading 6-5, consecutive kills from sophomore outside hitter
Gracie Brackney and Pilant kick started the run before a kill from Hall gave CU a 12-5 edge. The Vulcans crept back to 17-14, but a service ace from fifth-year senior defensive specialist Kelli EIlison and a Pilant kill thwarted the momentum.
Set 2
It was the midway point of the second game that saw Concord separated itself from Cal U. Tied at 15-15, Concord rattled off eight consecutive points to go up 2-0 in the match. Â Steele and Pilant combined for six of the points on kills.
Set 3
CU was unable to complete the sweep of the Vulcans. Concord did grab an 18-16 lead after a 5-0 run ended with a Brackney kill. However, Cal U came back with four straight points, and nine of the final 10 points of the set.
Set 4
The match went to a fifth and deciding game after Cal went on an 8-2 run with the score tied at 12-12. The Mountain Lions rallied from an early deficit after two kills from Hall, a kill from Brackney and a Steel ace to knot it at 12-12. However, Cal scored two of the next three points and did not give the lead back.
Set 5
The Maroon and Gray fell behind 5-2, but rallied with four straight points to regain a 6-5 edge. The Vulcans tied the game at 6-6, 7-7, 8-8 and 9-9. The deadlocked scores didn't bother CU as it went on a 4-0 run at 9-9 to secure the win. Pilant was responsible for three points with two kills and a service ace.
Match Stats
Steele finished with 21 kills, two off her career, and eight digs. Pilant pitched in her first career double-double with 13 kills and 15 digs. Hall hit .407 in the match and registered 12 kills. Brackney did a little bit of everything with seven kills, six aces and 13 digs.
Chaffin was at the center of the offense with 40 assists to go with 16 digs.
Concord won despite getting out hit by Cal U (.252-.204). CU did have four more kills, 56-52.
CU plays at WVU Tech 7:00 p.m. Wednesday.
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