CU's Jenessa Taylor recorded 51 assists and added 4.5 blocks against WPC on Friday.
Concordia prevails in Portland showdown with Warner Pacific
PORTLAND, Ore.—Extending its winning streak to eight matches, Concordia University defeated Warner Pacific College 3-1 (25-21, 21-25, 25-13, 25-19) in a crosstown rivalry inside the Cavalier Gymnasium on Friday night.
With the win, Concordia improved to 10-4 on the season and remained perfect in CCC contests with a 7-0 mark. The win also represented the 100th career victory for sixth-year head coach Melanie Hambleton, who stands eight wins shy of the school record.
Concordia got off to a scorching start in the first, grabbing a 9-1 lead with several early terminations by
Ashley Jibby (Post Falls, Idaho/Post Falls H.S.) and
Brianna Hogan (Portland, Ore./Centennial H.S.). Warner Pacific (4-8, 2-5 CCC) quickly fought back into the set, however, climbing back to within two at 13-11 as Devan Belshie, Kenessa White and Cara Wonsley all connected for three first-set kills.
Jibby came back to close out the opening set-win, but the momentum reversed again as Warner Pacific stormed out to a 15-7 lead in the second set with White providing the bulk of the attacking load.
Like the Knights in the first, the Cavs closed to within two, this time with the score 23-21, but would not overcome the deficit completely as White and Hannah Wright provided the final two successful swings to knot the match up at 1-1.
Holding their guests to a -.129 hitting percentage, the Cavs dominated action in the third set before using a 12-4 ambush to clinch the win in the fourth.
White, the CCC's No. 4-ranked hitter at 3.47 kills per set entering the match, kept pace with her average with a match-high 14 kills against the Cavs.
Jibby led Concordia with 13 kills and was followed by
Brenna Huwe (Troutdale, Ore./Reynolds H.S.) (11) and
Lindsey Dorsey (Salem, Ore./Sprague H.S.) (10). Controlling the offense, with 51 assists CU's
Jenessa Taylor (Beaverton, Ore./Sunset H.S.) posted just the league's fourth 50-assist tally in a four-set match this season.
Three Cavs reached double figures in digs with
Shantel Gritsch (Gresham, Ore./Clackamas H.S.) (16), Leslie Christensen (11) and
Leslie Hanks (Hockinson, Wash./Hockinson H.S.) (10) all providing strong work against the WPC attack.
Concordia and Warner Pacific will travel east next weekend by facing Eastern Oregon and College of Idaho. The Cavs begin its trip in La Grande, Ore., for an Oct. 3 tilt against the Mountaineers before traveling to face College of Idaho on Saturday.
Eastern Oregon was ranked No. 11 in the country in the most recent NAIA Coaches' Poll while the Yotes received votes in the national poll.