Sweet Senior Celebration Night
Concordia played its most consistent match of the season and pulled off a 3-0 upset over #11 Gustavus on Senior Night.
MOORHEAD, Minn. (10/20/17)---Concordia used consistent offensive and defensive to upset No.11-ranked Gustavus 3-0 (25-22, 25-20, 26-24).
The Cobbers rallied from a 20-14 deficit in the third set to post their biggest win in the past several years.
Concordia has now won two straight matches – both by sweeps – and is 6-13 overall and 3-5 in conference play. The loss drops the Gusties out of the lead in the MIAC standings and ends their eight-match win streak. Gustavus had only lost two sets in the previous eight matches and had a combined set record of 24-2. It's also the first time that the nationally-ranked Gusties have been swept all season. Gustavus is now 21-4 overall and 6-2 in league play.
"Consistency was the key for us tonight," commented Concordia head coach Tim Mosser. "We have played at a high level in spurts in other matches against quality teams. Tonight were able to play at the level on a consistent basis and it showed in the result."
The Cobbers hit over .200 for the first two sets and then held Gustavus to a match-low .040 attack percentage in the third set to pull off the upset.
Concordia rarely trailed in the first two sets but then found themselves fighting an uphill battle in the third set. CC watched an 8-7 lead turn into an 18-13 deficit and it looked like the momentum had swung in favor of the Gusties. GAC pushed the lead to six points at 20-14 before the Cobbers came up with a rare competitive push after being down by multiple points. Concordia came up with a kill from Brianna Carney and were then helped out by a pair of Gustavus errors to cut the lead to 20-17.
Gustavus would push back and take a 23-18 lead before CC gained control of the set and the match. Faith Anderson started the 8-1 match-clinching rally with a kill and junior Haley Cuppett would add three winners in the final stretch to put the match on ice.
"We really showed how competitive we can be in that final stretch," said Mosser. "This young team is starting to show that they can be competitive on a consistent basis and it is exciting to watch."
The Cobbers finished with a .186 attack percentage as opposed to .076 for the Gusties. It's the first time all season that the Gustavus offense has been held under a .140 attack percentage in a match.
Concordia also enjoyed a 41-33 edge in kills and a 7-4 margin in blocks.
Cuppett was the lone player in the match with more than 10 kills. She finished with 12 winners.
Carney posted nine kills and a match-high four blocks.
The freshmen tandem of Anderson and Alicia Louters had seven kills apiece. Anderson also had 14 digs.
Senior Stephanie Baker celebrated Senior Night by matching Anderson's total of 14 digs. Jill Klaphake came away with 20 assists and Lexi Turn added another 15 helpers.
WHAT'S NEXT: Concordia will look to keep its consistent competitiveness going when it hosts St. Olaf in the second half of the annual conference home doubleheader weekend. The Cobbers will square off against the Oles on Saturday, Oct. 21 at 3 p.m.
CONCORDIA vs. GUSTAVUS HIGHLIGHTS: