Cavs Victorious in Key CCC Test at NCU

10/11/2013 7:18:00 PM

BOX SCORE

EUGENE, Ore.—In a crucial battle for positioning in the CCC standings, Concordia defeated Northwest Christian 3-1 (25-23, 25-20, 18-25, 25-19) at the Morse Event Center on Friday night.

After posting three convincing wins in a sweep on its home court in Portland last month, Concordia (15-4, 8-2 CCC) needed late rallies in each of the first two sets before completing its second win against the Beacons this season.

Despite the loss, Northwest Christian (13-6, 6-4 CCC) remains in the top half of the conference standings and will host Warner Pacific on Saturday. Concordia ended the day with a share of second place in the league standings along with College of Idaho (8-8, 8-2 CCC). The Cavaliers will travel to face Corban University (5-15, 2-8 CCC) in Salem tomorrow.

Following a Cori Wallace kill, the Beacons enjoyed a 15-12 lead in the first to force a Concordia timeout. Recollected, the Cavs managed to knot the set at 17-17 on an attacking error, but an attempt to run away with the opening win was denied as NCU managed to reclaim a two-point lead (23-21) on a CU swinging error.

Using a 4-1 run with the aid of two ball handling errors, a Shantel Gritsch (Gresham, Ore./Clackamas H.S.) ace and a Brianna Hogan (Portland, Ore./Centennial H.S.) kill, the Cavaliers went on to finish off the set, 25-23.

Mimicking the precursor, Concordia found itself trailing late in the second set. Behind 19-17, a CU block by Amanda Goringe (Aloha, Ore./Aloha H.S.) and Brenna Huwe (Troutdale, Ore./Reynolds H.S.) started a response which allowed the traveling team to eventually draw even at 20-20. Seizing the momentum completely, the Cavaliers scored the next five points for the 25-20 win.

The Cavs looked to end the match early with the first three points of the third set, but the Beacons, powered by a Janel Fetters kill, compiled a 9-1 run for its largest lead of the match (10-5) to that point.

The two teams traded the next seven points before a Hogan slam broke the alternating affair. The Beacons finally extended its lead to six (19-13) on a powerful block by Chelsea McGowan and eventually to eight (23-15) before earning NCU's first individual set win in its last six chances against the Cavaliers.

Tied 6-6 in the fourth set, Concordia compiled an 11-6 run to stake a five-point lead. The Cavs went up by as many as six points (22-17). The Beacons drew within three at 22-19, but couldn't overtake the deficit as the Cavs scored on the final three serves to close out the win.

Both teams struggled for consistent offense with Concordia narrowly edging the Beacons in hitting percentage, .115 to .107. Hogan led all attackers with 15 kills and was followed by 11 successful swings by Mariah Raudsepp (Dundee, Ore./C.S. Lewis Academy).

Four Beacons reached double figures in kills with Mansfield and McGowan sharing the team lead with an even dozen. The Beacons finished the match with advantage in digs (90 to 89) and blocks (9.0 to 7.0), but were troubled by more overall attacking errors and eight serving errors.

NCU's Dana McGowan led all players with 27 digs, one more than CU's Gritsch. Concordia setter Lindsay Mangan (Huntington Beach, Calif./Marina H.S.) recorded 39 assists on the night.