Concord Rolls Past Salem in Straight Sets

ATHENS, W.Va. – The Concord University volleyball team swept Salem 3-0 in a non-conference match at the Carter Center Thursday evening.
 
With the win, CU now sits at 10-11 overall and Salem falls to 3-17 on the season.
 
Set 1
The Tigers jumped out to an early 4-1 advantage, but sophomore right side Natalie Brown ignited the CU scoring attack and tied the frame 4-4. Then, with the set locked at 7-7, the Mountain Lions scored six-straight points to grab the lead. Sophomore outside hitter Chloe Thompson and senior middle hitter Kyndra Pilant added kills during the set before Pilant and sophomore middle hitter Meagan Poticher ended the run on back-to-back blocks. Pilant swung for another kill and assisted on a block to extend the edge, 18-9. Sophomore outside hitter Meg Williams hit for two more kills in the frame and served an ace to give CU a 1-0 lead in the match, 25-13.
 
Set 2
Pilant was active early on in the second set, meeting up with Brown for a block and serving an ace to lead 4-2. Then, Concord rattled off six consecutive points to grab a 10-3 advantage. Williams tallied three kills during the run and sophomore setter Declyn Tooze contributed an ace. After Salem brought the score within two, the trio of Thompson, Pilant, and Brown gave CU a 19-12 lead. Pilant would hammer home a kill on an assist from sophomore setter Paige Richmond as she recorded her 1,000^th career assist. After SU stormed in front 24-22, a kill from sophomore middle hitter Jasmine Anderson and an ace from Williams put the Maroon and Gray back in front, 25-24. After two straight Tigers' points, Thompson hammered the final kill of the set as Concord prevailed, 28-26.  
 
Set 3
Brown collected three kills to begin the third frame of action, but the score was gridlocked 7-7. The biggest CU run of the night ensued as the Mountain Lions scored eight straight points. After Pilant and Thompson got the scoring spurt started, Richmond served four of her five aces in the contest in a row to cap off the run. Freshman right side Maddie Stull, Brown, and Thompson scored the final points as Concord completed the sweep, 25-13.
 
Match Stats
Richmond becomes the 10^th player in program history to log 1,000 career assists and finished the game with a team-best 18. The Mountain Lions also tied their season-high with 11 service aces led by Richmond. Williams led all players in the match with nine kills and a .261 hitting percentage. Pilant finished with five total blocks in the contest.
 
The Mountain Lions will host Mountain East Conference newcomer Point Park at the Carter Center Friday at 7:00 p.m.