Cobbers Host Season Opener
Concordia finally got to play in their season opener. The Cobbers gave up big point streaks in all three sets and lost 3-0 to Bethel.
MOORHEAD, Minn. (3/20/21)---The good news for Concordia is that they were finally able to play in the 2020-21 season opener. The not so good news is that they ran into a red-hot Bethel team and lost 3-0 (25-18, 25-15, 25-15).
The Cobbers were locked in a tight battle with the Royals, trailing 11-9, but then Bethel went on a 9-5 run to grab a 20-14 lead and take control of the opener. CC would fall 25-18 in the opener as they were outscored 5-4 in the final nine points.
The second set started with the team trading point streaks. The Cobbers captured the first three points and then Bethel countered with three of their own. The teams were deadlocked at 6-6 when BU won six of the next seven points. Unlike the first set, the Cobbers had an answer as they won five straight points to tie the set as 12-12. The Royals would make the push for the second-set win by running off the next 10 points to take a 22-12 lead on their way to a 25-15 set win.
The third set was eerily similar with the Cobbers holding a 5-3 lead and then the set was tied at 9-9. That's when things went south for Concordia. Bethel scored six straight points, 11 of the next 13 and 16 of the final 22 to win by the same 25-15 score.
Concordia hit .235 in the first set but was held to under a .100 attack percentage for the next two. The Cobbers finished with a .054 hitting mark as opposed to .290 for the Royals.
Anna Brakke and Brook Carney led the Cobber attack. Brakke had a team-high seven kills and hit .059 while Carney finished with six winners and had a team-best .333 attack percentage. Brakke also had a team-high nine digs which was tied by freshman Chloe Markovic. Jill Klaphake came through with 12 assists to captain the offense. She also had seven digs.
UP NEXT: Concordia will play their first road match of the season when they play at St. Benedict on Wednesday, Mar. 24 at 7 p.m. The Bennies reached the NCAA quarterfinals in 2019.
RECAP SPONSOR: Today's recap sponsor is Travelodge. Travelodge has been a terrific partner with Cobber athletics for many years. Thanks to Travelodge for their support of all the Concordia student/athletes.
