Mariah Raudsepp led the Cavs with a .444 hitting percentage and eight block assists in the match on Wednesday.
Cavs Sweep HIU to Open Season
BOX SCORE -
Concordia vs. Hope Internatonal
FULLERTON, Calif.—The Concordia volleyball team opened its season in dominating fashion Wednesday, sweeping host Hope International 3-0 (25-12, 25-18, 25-18).
The Cavaliers (1-0) controlled the match offensively, hitting .252 compared to just .058 for Hope International (1-3). The Cavaliers also committed just nine errors in the match, compared to 25 for Hope International.
The CU defense played a large role in Hope International’s low offensive numbers, as the Cavalier front line combined for 11 blocks in the match.
On the flip side, offensive efficiency had been a concern heading into the season for head coach Melanie Hambelton, especially with the Cavaliers so young on the outside. However, despite starting two true freshmen on the outside in all three sets, the Cavalier offense never wavered.
The Cavaliers’ efficiency on Wednesday compares well across seasons as well, as the team’s nine errors would have tied for the second-lowest total during all of last season and the third-lowest total for any match in the 2010 season. Both those teams featured much-more experienced attacks though, making the Cavs’ season-opening performance against Hope International all that more impressive.
The CU offense started hot in the match, turning an early 8-6 lead in the first set into a 19-8 advantage with an 11-2 run. Kills from Briana Hogan, Melanie Miller and Mariah Raudsepp helped fuel that run and the Cavaliers held on easily from there to take the opening set.
The first-set statistics reflected the Cavaliers’ dominance as well, with the team recording 16 kills and a .342 hitting percentage in the frame.
The Cavaliers ran out to an early lead again in the second set, though Hope International kept it tight this time and stood only two points down at 16-14 in the middle of the second. The Cavaliers ran off five quick points after that, though, giving them a 21-14 lead that they’d maintain for the rest of the set. Miller had two service aces during the Cavs’ pivotal 5-0 run, while Raudsepp added the final point of the rally.
Hope International bounced back to take an 11-7 lead at the start of the third, only to have the Cavalier defense stuff them four times over the next eight points after that, as the Cavs went on a 7-1 run to take the lead back at 14-12.
HIU responded to level the set at 16-16, but that would be as close as they’d get for the rest of the match. Concordia ended the match on a 9-2 run, which included two kills and a block from freshman Jackie Stein.
Stein led the Cavs with 10 kills in the match, an impressive stat line considering it was Stein’s first collegiate match.
Besides Stein, Raudsepp finished with nine kills in the match while leading the Cavs with a .444 hitting percentage and eight block assists.
Junior setter Lindsay Mangan, meanwhile, played a remarkable all-around match for the Cavs, recording 27 assists, five kills and five block assists.
Finally, Kelsey Kai led the defense with 19 digs on the back line, though Leslie Hanks finished close behind Kai with 13 digs of her own.
The Cavaliers will now look to continue their momentum at the Biola Summer Slam, which begins tomorrow, August 23. The Cavaliers will begin action at the Slam with a match against Cal State San Marcos at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow. The Cavs will then return to action later in the day when they face Concordia-Irvine at 4:30 p.m.