ATHENS, W.Va. – The Concord University Volleyball team travels to Wise, Virginia Thursday and Friday for the Cavalier Classic as it begins the 2023 season.
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SCHEDULE
2:00 p.m. Thursday – Concord at UVa.-Wise
4:00 p.m. Thursday – Concord vs. Lees-McRae
11:00 a.m. Friday – Concord vs. Johnson C. Smith
3:00 p.m. Friday – Concord vs. Davis & Elkins
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LIVE COVERAGE
Coverage will be broadcasted on FloSports. A subscription is required to access the live stream. The UVa.-Wise Sports Information Department will provide free live statistics.
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LIVE STATS
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SERIES HISTORY
UVa.-Wise: Concord leads 9-2
Lees-McRae: Lees-McRae leads 2-1
Johnson C. Smith: Concord leads 3-0
Davis & Elkins: Davis & Elkins leads 10-2
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LAST FIVE MEETINGS AGAINST UVA-WISE
September 2, 2022: Concord 3 – UVa.-Wise 0 (Athens, W.Va.)
September 22, 2021: UVa.Wise 3 – Concord 0 (Wise, Va.)
October 29, 2019: Concord 3 – UVa.-Wise 0 (Athens, W.Va.)
October 1, 2019: Concord 3 – UVa.-Wise 2 (Wise, Va.)
September 25, 2018: Concord 3 – UVa.-Wise 0 (Athens, W.Va.)
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ALL-TIME MEETINGS AGAINST LEES-MCRAE
September 7, 2018: Lees-McRae 3 – Concord 0 (Athens, W.Va.)
September 13, 2013: Concord 3 – Lees-McRae 2 (Bristol, Tenn.)
September 17, 2011: Lees-McRae 3 – Concord 0 (Banner Elk, N.C.)
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ALL-TIME MEETINGS AGAINST JOHNSON C. SMITH
September 9, 2009: Concord 3 – Johnson C. Smith 0 (Spartanburg, S.C.)
August 28, 2009: Concord 3 – Johnson C. Smith 0 (Charlotte, N.C.)
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LAST FIVE MEETINGS AGAINST DAVIS & ELKINS
October 28, 2022: Concord 3 – Davis & Elkins 0 (Athens, W.Va.)
September 30, 2022: Davis & Elkins 3 – Concord 0 (Elkins, W.Va.)
November 5, 2021: Davis & Elkins 3 – Concord 0 (Elkins, W.Va.)
October 8, 2021: Davis & Elkins 3 – Concord 1 (Athens, W.Va.)
March 4, 2021: Davis & Elkins 3 – Concord 0 (Elkins, W.Va.)
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CONCORD AT A GLANCE
2022 Overall Record: 7-25
2022 MEC Record: 1-15
2022 Home Record: 5-9
2022 Away Record: 1-10
2022 Neutral Record: 1-6
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VETERAN LEADERSHIP
Concord will lean on senior middle mitter
Kyndra Pilant and junior middle hitter
Csayjah Whitelow to lead the Mountain Lions into their 2023 schedule. Pilant was second on the team in kills last season, totaling 246 while also tallying 49 blocks. Although Whitelow's 2022 was cut short, she holds a .171 hitting average in 35 career games.
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NEW FACES
The Mountain Lions have a number of freshman/transfers that will seek to make an immediate impact. CU adds 2022 West Virginia State Volleyball Player of the Year
Meg Williams and her Shady Spring High School teammate, two-time First Team Class AA select
Chloe Thompson. The Mountain Lions also welcome Ohio Christian defensive specialist junior transfer
Alexis Anzevino who logged 53 total matches with the Trailblazers over two seasons. Also joining the squad is Bluefield University setter/right side senior transfer Reese Tuner.
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MATCHING UP WITH THE OPPONENTS
Of the four teams on the opening slate, CU holds a series lead against two. The Mountain Lions are 9-2 all-time against UVa.-Wise, winning four out of the last five contests. Concord owns an undefeated record against Johnson C. Smith, with the last meeting in 2009. With only three matchups all-time, Concord's only win in the series against Lees-McRae came on September 13, 2013, with the final score favoring the Mountain Lions 3-2 in Bristol, Tenn. Concord will also matchup against Mountain East Conference South Division foe Davis & Elkins. The 2022 season series was split one game to the Mountain Lions and one game to the Senators. In last year's home win over Davis & Elkins, Pilant recorded one of her four double-doubles on the season.
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UVA-WISE AT A GLANCE
2022 Overall Record: 6-18
2022 SAC Record: 2-17
2022 Home Record: 4-7
2022 Away Record: 0-10
2022 Neutral Record: 2-1
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SCOUTING THE CAVALIERS
UVa.-Wise returns a lot of production from last year's squad, including its top-five hitters, as well as starting setter/ace leader Lily Gutierrez. The Cavaliers placed one player on the SAC Preseason All-Conference team in sophomore Outside Hitter Bailey Connor. The Cavalier's head coach is former CU assistant Alyssa Hanley.
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LEES-MCRAE AT A GLANCE
2022 Overall Record: 7-23
2022 Conference Carolinas Record: 6-12
2022 Home Record: 3-7
2022 Away Record: 4-9
2022 Neutral Record: 0-7
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SCOUTING THE BOBCATS
Lees-McRae welcomes new head coach Lauren Havill in 2023. Havill was previously head coach of men's and momen's volleyball at Alderson Broaddus, as well as an assistant coach at Glenville State. The Bobcats return 2022 Third -Team All-Conference Carolinas selection Sydney Stigler, who totaled 295 kills a season ago.
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JOHNSON C. SMITH AT A GLANCE
2022 Overall Record: 7-14
2022 CIAA Record: 4-11
2022 Home Record: 3-3
2022 Away Record: 1-7
2022 Neutral Record: 3-4
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SCORING THE GOLDEN BULLS
Johnson C. Smith welcomes nine newcomers while returning four from last year's roster. The Golden Bulls were winners in three out of their last five matches last season.
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DAVIS & ELKINS AT A GLANCE
2022 Overall Record: 15-14
2022 MEC Record: 8-8
2022 Home Record: 8-4
2022 Away Record: 4-7
2022 Neutral Record: 3-3
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SCOUTING THE SENATORS
Leading the charge for Davis & Elkins is new Head Coach Moneshia McKenney, who has an impressive background including assistant coaching positions at East Carolina University and Oral Roberts University. McKenney returns a talented roster, including junior Defensive Specialist Clara Caralt and Outside Hitters Brianna Portley and Reanne DeBose.
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