Klemin, Pearson and Schiltz Shine in Career Nights as Cobbers Rally to Five-Set Win Over Saint Mary’s
Concordia volleyball rode a wave of career performances to a thrilling 3-2 victory over Saint Mary’s. The Cobbers captured the first two sets 25-17 and 25-23 before the Cardinals responded to take the third and fourth sets 25-18 and 25-15, setting the stage for a decisive fifth set. Concordia came out firing in the final set, winning 15-9 to clinch the match. The victory featured standout performances across the roster, highlighted by Addy Klemin’s career-high 16 kills on a .433 hitting percentage and Lauren Pearson’s career-best 13 kills, hitting .310. Betsy Schiltz also recorded a career-high 40 assists, orchestrating the Cobber offense, while Holland Fitterer anchored the defense with 14 digs.
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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17 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 9 | 2 |
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25 | 25 | 18 | 15 | 15 | 3 |
Team Stats
Saint Mary's (Minn.)
| Game Statistics | Concordia-M'head | Saint Mary's (Minn.) |
|---|---|---|
| Hitting % | 0.262 | 0.231 |
| Blocks | 8 | 7 |
| Digs | 53 | 68 |
| Aces | 9 | 11 |
WINONA, MINN (10/7/25) – The Cobbers jumped out to an early lead in the opening set, closing it 25-17.Concordia's front row was relentless, with Addy Klemin and Lauren Pearson leading the charge with several key kills, while Mallory Leitner contributed critical points on timely attacks. The set remained close until the 9-point mark, when a Pearson ill sparked a five-point run that allowed the Maroon and Gold to maintain control. A kill by Leitner, followed by a Cardinal error, pushed the Cobbers to a 25-17 set one finish. Pearson finished the set with five kills, while Klemin added four.
The second set became a back-and-forth battle, with both teams trading points through multiple tight rallies. Saint Mary's took an early 7-5 lead, but three consecutive Cobber kills gave Concordia a 1-point advantage. Although the score stayed close, the Cobbers held the lead through the remainder of the set. The Cardinals tied it at 15-15 following a Cobber error, but another Pearson kill quickly reclaimed the lead. Concordia's composure in the late stages proved decisive, as Pearson finished the set with five kills. Klemin and Annie Horan added key support at the net, combining for seven kills, and the Cobbers edged past Saint Mary's 25-23 to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
Saint Mary's responded in the third set, using aggressive serving, precise attacking, and capitalizing on Concordia errors to claim a 25-18 victory. The Cobbers stayed competitive early, with Klemin and Lauren Bangs contributing early kills, and Holland Fitterer recording a service ace to bring the deficit to just two (10-12). However, the Cardinals went on a five-point run, pushing the lead to eight, and claimed the set 25-18.
The fourth set saw Saint Mary's maintain momentum, taking it 25-15 as Concordia struggled to match the visitors' serving and attacking efficiency. Despite the deficit, Concordia managed timely kills from Leitner and Klemin, along with service aces from Kelsi Martini, Pearson and Betsy Schiltz, keeping the set competitive.
In the decisive fifth set, Concordia came alive, controlling the pace from the outset. The Cobbers jumped out to a 6-1 lead, sparked by a Leitner kill and a service ace from Becca Woody. Following a Klemin kill, the Cardinals responded with a five-point run to cut the deficit to just one (8-7). Horan nded their surge with a kill, and Concordia never looked back. After back-to-back Saint Mary's errors, the Cobbers closed the set 15-9, sealing the match victory.
Statistically, Concordia had one of their best games of the season, hitting .262 as a team and collecting 53 kills. Klemin led the way with a career-high 16 kills on a .433 hitting percentage, while Pearson also had a career night with 13 kills, hitting .310. Schiltz guided the offense with a career-high 40 assists, and Fitterer led the defense with 14 digs.