ATHENS, W.Va. – The Concord University volleyball team will play its first home games inside the Carter Center this season as it hosts the Concord Classic Friday and Saturday.
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SCHEDULE
3:00 p.m. Friday – Davis & Elkins at Concord
5:00 p.m. Friday – Virginia State at Concord
2:00 p.m. Saturday – Pikeville at Concord
6:00 p.m. Saturday – Bluefield State at Concord
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TOURNAMENT CENTRAL
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LIVE COVERAGE
The Concord University Sports Information Department will provide live video and statistics for all matches this weekend.
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LIVE VIDEO
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LIVE STATS
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SERIES HISTORY
Davis & Elkins: D&E leads 14-11
Virginia State: Concord leads 4-1
Pikeville: Series tied 2-2
Bluefield State: CU leads 25-9
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LAST FIVE MEETINGS AGAINST DAVIS & ELKINS
November 6, 2023: Concord 3 – Davis & Elkins 0 (Athens, W.Va.)
October 6, 2023: Concord 3 – Davis & Elkins 0 (Elkins, W.Va.)
September 1, 2023: Concord 3 – Davis & Elkins 0 (Wise, Va.)
October 28, 2022: Concord 3 – Davis & Elkins 0 (Athens, W.Va.)
September 30, 2022: Davis & Elkins 3 – Concord 0 (Elkins, W.Va.)
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ALL-TIME MEETINGS AGAINST VIRGINIA STATE
September 17, 2023: Concord 3 – Virginia State 1 (Athens, W.Va.)
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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ALL-TIME MEETINGS AGAINST PIKEVILLE
2006: Pikeville 3 – Concord 0 (Pikeville, Ky.)
2006: Pikeville 3 – Concord 1 (Athens, W.Va.)
2005: Concord 3 – Pikeville 2 (Pikeville, Ky.)
2005: Concord 3 – Pikeville 0 (Athens, W.Va.)
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LAST FIVE MEETINGS AGAINST BLUEFIELD STATE
October 10, 2023: Bluefield State 3 – Concord 1 (Athens, W.Va.)
September 16, 2023: Concord 3 – Bluefield State 0 (Bluefield, W.Va.)
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.)
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CONCORD AT A GLANCE
2024 Record: 1-8
Home Record: 0-0
Away Record: 1-2
Neutral Record: 0-6
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ACROSS THE HALL
Friday marks a new beginning for Concord volleyball as it will play its home games on Christie/Cox Court in the Carter Center for the first time in program history. The Mountain Lions will move across the hall from Gym 2 to Christie/Cox Court, also the home of the CU men's and women's basketball teams. Concord went 6-6 at home last season and picked up four Mountain East Conference home victories to log the most wins since 2016 and clinch a MEC Tournament berth.
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HOSTING THE CLASSIC
2024 will mark the fifth time that CU will host the Concord Classic on its home court, this time on Christie/Cox Court in the Carter Center. Since the first Concord Classic in 2017, the Mountain Lions have a record of 7-9 in the event and went 3-2 the last time it was held in 2022. CU's best effort at the tournament came in 2019 when the Maroon and Gray went 2-1 with wins over Ohio Valley and Limestone. This year's field will feature non-conference opponents Bluefield State, Pikeville, and Virginia State, as well as Mountain East Conference members Davis & Elkins and West Virginia Wesleyan alongside Concord.
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FAMILIAR FOES
Although the Mountain Lions did not have the Concord Classic in 2023, they competed against three of the four opponents on the tournament schedule in 2024. CU squared off with Davis & Elkins three times a season ago and swept the season series. Sophomore outside hitter
Meg Williams clubbed a team-best 33 kills in three outings against the Senators. Virginia State and Concord met in Athens in 2023 for the first time since 2018 with CU coming away with a 3-1 win. Mercer County rival Bluefield State and the Mountain Lions played two games against each other last fall with the road team picking up the win. The only team in the field Concord did not play last season was Pikeville who it hasn't met in almost 20 years.
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DAVIS & ELKINS AT A GLANCE
2024 Record: 0-3
Home Record: 0-0
Away Record: 0-1
Neutral Record: 0-2
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SCOUTING THE SENATORS
D&E got its season underway at the Tony Banner Memorial Tournament at Clarion, but was unbale to come away with a victory. Prominent returners for the Senators this season include senior outside hitter Reanne DeBose, senior defensive specialist Clara Caralt, and senior middle hitter Gracjana Rozanska.
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VIRGINIA STATE AT A GLANCE
2024 Record: 1-2
Home Record: 0-0
Away Record: 0-1
Neutral Record: 1-1
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SCOUTING THE TROJANS
Former Concord volleyball player Amanda Walker enters her seventh year at the helm of Virginia State. VSU has three players averaging one block per set or better in freshman middle hitter Anya McKinley (1.43), junior middle hitter Morgan Green (1.1), and freshman middle hitter Celene Mclean (1.0). VSU leads the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association swatting 2.33 blocks per set.
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PIKEVILLE AT A GLANCE
2024 Record: 6-3
Home Record: 0-1
Away Record: 3-1
Neutral Record: 3-1
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SCOUTING THE BEARS
Pikeville is led offensively by kill leaders freshman outside hitter Cassidy Rivas (90) and sophomore middle hitter Lanie Hawley (84). Freshman setter Tylie Barton aids in the Bears' offensive production averaging 8.97 assists per set and has served a team-best 14 aces. As a team, UPike is swinging a .200 mark though nine contests.
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BLUEFIELD STATE AT A GLANCE
2024 Record: 2-8
Home Record: 1-4
Away Record: 0-1
Neutral Record: 1-3
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SCOUTING THE BIG BLUES
Senior outside hitter Jannice Lynch is the only BSU player with more than 100 kills with 101. Junior middle hitter Imani Stokes is second with 76 kills and is hitting .335 through 10 games. Stokes also posed a defensive threat against CU last fall, totaling 10 blocks in two games against the Mountain Lions. Sophomore defensive specialist Kaileigh Solis ranks sixth in the CIAA averaging 3.39 digs per set.
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