Cavs shake off slow start for 3-1 win over Corban
PORTLAND, Ore.—Already down a set and clinging to a lead in the second, Concordia University overcame a sluggish beginning to defeat Corban University 3-1 (20-25, 25-20, 25-15-25-15) in Cascade Collegiate Conference volleyball action on Friday night.
With Sloane Morrison swinging for seven of her match-high 18 kills in the first set, Corban (5-12, 2-8 CCC) came back from a 6-1 deficit to stun the home crowd with a 25-20 opening-set win.
Before Concordia sezied crontol of teh match, the Warriors maintained its momentum for the early portions of the second set, snaring a four-point lead at 7-3 from a Miah Smith kill.
Concordia (11-6, 8-2 CCC) rallied to knot the set at 8-8 via a
Anna Chizum (Happy Valley, Ore./Clackamas H.S.)-assisted
Nicole Barth (Vancouver, Wash./Skyview H.S.) swing and went on to extend the lead to three (15-12) on a Corban service error. Another Smith kill regained the lead for Corban at 20-19, but Concordia registered the final six points in the set to even the match.
Moving to the third, Concordia once again found itself trailing in the middle portion of the set with Shelby Miller providing a kill for a 10-9 advantage for the visiting side. The Cavs, however, went on to hit a match-high .300 in the third to complete the go-ahead win on a 16-5 tear.
Jumping out to an 11-5 lead, the fourth and final set provided less drama for the home team as the Cavs held to a 0.24 attack rate thanks to eight attacking errors.
Two shy of Morrison's total,
Lindsey Dorsey (Salem, Ore./Sprague H.S.) led Concordia with 16 kills and was followed by 14 winning strikes by
Brenna Huwe (Troutdale, Ore./Reynolds H.S.).
Chizum led all players with 26 assists sand added four digs, two kills and two block assists. Teammate
Shantel Gritsch (Gresham, Ore./Clackamas H.S.) set the pace on the defensive end with 32 digs.
Concordia will return to action on Saturday by hosting Northwest Christian University. Corban, meanwhile, will return to Portland to face Warner Pacific College.