Concord Falls to Charleston

ATHENS, W.Va. – The Concord University volleyball team lost 3-0 to Charleston Friday evening in a Mountain East Conference match at the Carter Center.
 
Final Score: Charleston 3, Concord 0 (25-19, 25-19, 25-21)
 
Set 1
UC (21-8 10-3 MEC) started the game on a 12-2 run until freshman outside hitter Meg Williams collected Concord's (15-13 5-8 MEC) first kill of the match to make the scoring 12-3. A Golden Eagles attack error and a kill from freshman right side Natalie Brown brought CU within seven, 14-7. The Mountain Lions rattled off a 6-0 scoring run behind a kill from freshman outside hitter Chloe Thompson and back-to-back service aces from freshman setter Paige Richmond to cut Charleston's lead to 16-13. Senior middle hitter Kyndra Pilant added two kills, but a 5-3 UC run closed out the first set, 25-19.
 
Set 2
A kill from Thompson and a block headed by Williams and Pliant saw CU take a 2-1 lead. A 6-0 Charleston run was stopped with kills from Pilant and Williams, 8-4. A 4-1 Mountain Lions run behind a kill and ace from Williams, an ace from freshman defensive specialist Allie Davis and a kill from freshman right side Natalie Brown brought the scoring to 11-8 Charleston. Another 5-1 CU run later in the set was sparked by kills from Brown, senior middle hitter Csayjah Whitelow, and Thompson to cut Charleston's lead 21-18. A 3-0 run by UC was enough to take a 2-0 lead in the game by a final score of 25-19.
 
Set 3
Freshman middle hitter Jasmine Anderson got the scoring started for the Mountain Lions as they trailed the Golden Eagles 2-1 early in the third set. Kills by Williams and Whitelow paired with aces from Pilant and freshman setter Declyn Tooze tied the third frame 6-6. Another ace from Richmond ignited a 4-1 CU run to cut Charleston's lead to 13-12. Williams added two more kills, while Richmond picked up two more aces in the closing moments of the match as UC completed the sweep, 25-21.
 
Match Stats
Williams and Brown led Concord offensively with seven kills each. Williams also added two blocks and two aces. Richmond's stat line finished with 12 assists, six digs, and five aces. Tooze added 13 assists and a lone ace. Pilant led the Mountain Lions with three total blocks in the match. Davis ended with 12 digs and two aces. The 11 service aces by CU tied their season-high as a team.
 
The Mountain Lions are back in action Monday at 7:00 p.m. to face Davis & Elkins in the final home match of the 2023 season.