ETTRICK, Va. - The Concord University volleyball team picked up a pair of wins on day one of the Virginia State Invitation with wins over Virginia State and Bloomsburg.
Game 1: Concord 3 - Virginia State 0
Concord (2-0) started on the right foot, picking up the first set 25-21. The following two sets were even closer, with scores of 27-25 in the second and 28-26 in the third.
The Mountain Lions were their most efficient in the first set with a hitting percentage of .273. Throughout the match, CU made Virginia State (0-1) uncomfortable as they committed 18 errors.
The first set was incredibly back-and-forth as neither team led by more than two points until CU ripped off five straight points to close it out and the set 25-21.
The second showed more of the same as the two teams were evenly matched in the season opener. The Trojans racked up three straight kills in the middle of the set, making it 16-12 and threatening an even bigger run. Concord shut this momentum down, winning five straight points of its own and taking back the lead. The set came down to the wire, but a kill from freshman middle hitter
Addison Adkins and then a Trojan error sealed it for the Mountain Lions.
The third set showed the resiliency of Concord. They trailed by as many as seven points at both the 13-6 and 18-11 marks. A couple of great runs saw the Mountain Lions tighten the gap but Virginia State made it 24-21, looking to win their first set of the match. Two kills from junior outside hitter
Meg Williams and a Trojan attack error tied it up for CU and they wouldn't look back. Kills by sophomore right side
Maddie Stull and junior outside hitter
Chloe Thompson put a bow on a great comeback and an opening match sweep for Concord.
Stull and Thompson led the way with 10 kills a piece. Concord didn't have a player with double digit digs, but junior setter
Paige Richmond, Thompson, and Williams each finished with nine.
Jasmine Anderson and Williams each controlled the net, notching three blocks each.
Game 2: Concord 3 - Bloomsburg 0
In their second game of the day, the Mountain Lions picked up another sweep, this time a 3-0 win over Blogomsbur (0-2). Concord got out to a hot start, hitting their best percentage of the match, .222, in the first set they won 25-17. The second set was the closest contest of the match, but CU still pulled away winning it 25-21. The Mountain Lions saved their best for last and closed out the match with a 25-15 third set.
Concord dominated for most of the match, ending with a total of 32 kills while forcing the Huskies to commit 22 errors.
The first set started off as a back and forth contest until CU went on a four point run, followed by a three point run that saw them take a commanding 17-9 lead. They held that eight point lead all the way until the first set concluded in favor of Concord, 25-17.
In the second set, Concord jumped out to a 19-12 lead, but the Huskies mounted a fierce comeback, winning five straight points and threatening to jump out in front. Concord was able to fend them off with a Thompson ace capping off a three-point stretch that extended their lead.
The third set started off well for Bloomsburg, but then CU went on its biggest run of the day. The Mountain Lions won eight straight points that saw them go from trailing 8-5, to leading 13-8. Junior libero
Allie Davis tallied two service aces over the stretch.Thompson finished off another 3-0 victory for the Mountain Lions with an emphatic ace to seal the 25-15 third set.
Thompson picked up the team's first double-double of 2025, racking up 13 kills and 10 digs. Williams pitched in nine kills Davis led the team with 16 digs and four aces.
The Mountain Lions continue play at the Virginia State Opening Weekend Invitation tomorrow at 9:00 AM against Bowie State and 1:00 PM against Shepherd.
