ATHENS, W.Va. – The Concord University volleyball team faces a pair of non-conference CIAA opponents Saturday against Bluefield State and Sunday against Virginia State.
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SCHEDULE
12:00 p.m. Saturday – Concord vs. Bluefield State (Bluefield, W.Va.)
11:00 a.m. Sunday – Virginia State vs. Concord (Athens, W.Va.)
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LIVE COVERAGE
The Bluefield State Sports Information Department will provide live coverage and statistics for Saturday's match. The Concord University Sports Information Department will provide live coverage and statistics for Sunday's matchup against Virginia State.
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LIVE STATS
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LIVE VIDEO
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SERIES HISTORY
Bluefield State: Concord leads 24-8
Virginia State: Concord leads 2-1
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LAST FIVE MEETINGS AGAINST BLUEFIELD STATE
October 12, 2022: Bluefield State 3 – Concord 2 (Bluefield, W.Va.)
September 21, 2018: Concord 3 – Bluefield State 0 (Bluefield, W.Va.)
September 19, 2017: Concord 3 – Bluefield State 0 (Athens, W.Va.)
October 29, 2016: Concord 3 – Bluefield State 2 (Athens, W.Va.)
September 12, 2014: Concord 3 – Bluefield State 0 (Elkins, W.Va.)
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ALL-TIME MEETINGS AGAINST VIRGINIA STATE
October 27, 2018: Concord 3 – Virginia State 1 (Wheeling, W.Va.)
August 24, 2018: Virginia State 3 – Concord 2 (Petersburg, Va.)
October 29, 2016: Concord 3 – Virginia State 2 (Athens, W.Va.)
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CONCORD AT A GLANCE
Overall Record: 7-3
Home Record: 1-1
Away Record: 1-1
Neutral Record: 5-1
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FLIPPING THE SCRIPT
This weekend, Concord seeks their eighth victory of the season. The Mountain Lions have already matched their win total from a season ago at seven wins. Concord did not reach eight victories until November 6 in 2021, and not until October 26 in 2019. CU rides a three-game winning streak across Mercer County to take on rival Bluefield State inside Ned E. Shott Gymnasium.
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BREAKOUT ACCOLADES
On Tuesday, freshman outside hitter
Meg Williams smashed 25 kills in a home contest against King. The mark ties the all-time single-game kills record set by Amber Miller in 2010. Williams hit .360 in the match and also collected 12 digs for a double-double. Williams ranks first in the Mountain East Conference with 160 kills, followed by fellow Mountain Lion freshman outside hitter
Chloe Thompson who has 111 kills. Â
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PREVIOUS MATCHUPS
Concord and Bluefield State faced off last season with the Big Blues winning 3-2. The Mountain Lions won sets one and three, but fell 15-13 in the game-deciding set five. Senior middle hitter
Kyndra Pilant recorded her career-high in kills with 21. Pilant also racked up 14 digs and ended with a hitting percentage of .340. Sophomore right side
Maddie Bohan played in all five sets in last years contest where she had one kill and four digs.
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BLUEFIELD STATE AT A GLANCE
Overall Record: 2-8
Home Record: 0-2
Away Record: 0-2
Neutral Record: 2-4
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SCOUTING THE BIG BLUES
Bluefield State will compete in its first season of CIAA competition led by third-year head coach Savanna Hammond. She returns 2022 kill leader sophomore outside hitter Allyson Martin. Martin also leads the Big Blues in kills this season with 71 through 10 games and had 28 kills against CU last year. Senior setter/outside hitter Kateryna Dashevska leads the Big Blues with 240 assists and nine aces. Junior libero Veronica Butler has 87 digs on the season and Dashevska trails her with 86 digs.
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VIRGINIA STATE AT A GLANCE
Overall Record: 1-4
Home Record: 1-2
Away Record: 0-1
Neutral Record: 0-1
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SCOUTING THE TROJANS
The Trojans return All-CIAA second-team select junior libero Najlaa Williams for their 2023 campaign. Williams leads the team with 63 digs, good for 3.71 per set. Other returners include junior outside hitter Helena Eubanks and junior defensive specialist Kennedy Hoge. Eubanks leads the Trojans with 42 kills, while Hoge has totaled 33 kills and 44 digs in the early season. Freshman setters Leila Jackson and Peyton Reese split the setting duties for the Trojans. Jackson has assisted on 66 kills, while Reese has assisted on 33 kills in three appearances. VSU is coached by Amanda Walker, who played for Concord from 2011-2014.
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