An Exciting Way To Start The Year

MOORHEAD, Minn. (9/01/15)—If Concordia's 2015 season is going to be like their opening match against Valley City State then head coach Tim Mosser is in for a wild roller-coaster year. The Cobbers won the first two sets then watched as the Vikings rallied to take the next two. The fifth set went back-and-forth before Concordia erased a 12-10 deficit and won five of the final six points to claim a 15-13 victory.    

Concordia found its stride midway through the first set as they won 13 of the final 19 points after the score was tied at 12-12. The Cobbers carried that momentum into the second set and cruised to a 25-10 win.

The match turned at the back end of the third set with Concordia leading 18-15. CC was unable to put Valley City away in the final stretch and the Vikings claimed the set win by recording the final three points after a 22-22 tie score.

The fourth set was a carbon copy of the third as the Vikings pulled away late to take a 26-24 win.

Valley City almost pulled off the three-set comeback but their bid for the win fell short after Concordia rallied from the 12-10 deficit to win five of the final six points and earn the thrilling 15-13 win.

Olivia Wangensteen led all players with 13 kills and fellow senior Heather Beaner added 12. Jena Klaphake had a team-high 22 assists while Korbyn Ross added 23 digs.

HIGHLIGHTS

MOMENT THAT MATTERED
Terrific Timeout:

With Valley City carrying all the momentum and leading 12-10 in the fifth set, Mosser took a timeout and the team responded by winning five of the final six points. The Cobbers took a 13-12 lead on kills by freshman Tedi Ramberg and Beaner and an attack error by the Vikings.   

STAT STUFF
Concordia received at least one kill from 10 different players in the five-set win. Anna Skow-Anderson had seven kills and Ramberg added six to give CC four players with six or more winners.

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Concordia has now won 10 of its past 11 season openers. The Cobbers have now beaten Valley City seven straight times since the 2000 season – including five at home.   

QUOTABLE
"I was really pleased with the way our team stayed together and competed all the way through five sets. I was also very happy with the way our younger players stepped up in big situations."  - Mosser on the team's five-set thriller.

WHAT'S NEXT
Concordia will travel to Arden Hills to compete in the Bethel Invitational over the weekend. The Cobbers will play Neb. Wesleyan and Wis.-Eau Claire on Friday and then finish the invite by squaring off against Martin Luther and Buena Vista on Saturday. Nebraska Wesleyan was ranked 21st in Division III in the preseason AVCA poll.