Balanced attack leads Midland University past Concordia, 3-1

Concordia University dropped to 11-15 overall and 1-10 in GPAC play with a 3-1 volleyball loss to Midland University on Tuesday evening in Seward.  Scores of the match were 25-19, 21-25, 25-17 and 25-23.  It was the third straight loss for the Bulldogs.  Midland University improved to 11-15 overall and 3-9 in GPAC play with the win.

Concordia took an early 5-2 lead in game one.  However, Midland quickly responded to take a 7-5 lead.  The Bulldogs wouldn’t lead again, and the visiting Warriors scored five of the final six points to take the game 25-19. 

Game two went back and forth early on.  Concordia led by as many as four at 14-10, but Midland rallied to tie the game at 20-20.  A kill by Alex Szalawiga and a big block by Szalawiga and Ashlea Vaudt helped push Concordia to a 23-20 lead, and a kill by Amanda Kisker gave the Bulldogs the 25-21 win to tie the match. 

Midland jumped out to a big lead early in the game three and never looked back.  The Warriors led 10-3 early on.  Concordia rallied to pull within three at 19-16, but Midland used a 6-1 run to take the 25-17 win. 

The Bulldogs built an early lead in the fourth game but were unable to hold it.  Down the stretch, Concordia lead multiple times at 22-19 and 23-21.  But the Warriors tied the match at 23-23, and a big block by the Midland defense gave the Warriors a 24-23 lead.  Halie Wewel pouned her ninth kill of the game to secure the 25-23 win for Midland. 

The Warriors hit .147 for the match compared to just .074 for the Bulldogs.  Katie Dettmer pounded a team-high 12 kills to pace Midland University offensively.  Wewel had the nine kills to go along with one solo and five assisted blocks.  Mackenzie Scheef and Megan Hoesing chipped in with seven kills apiece, while Kaylie Heberly and Jill Swartz combined for 37 set assists for the Warriors. 

Chelsea Vaudt had a match-high 14 kills for Concordia.  Sloan Brandon added a double-double of 10 kills and 11 digs.  Szalawiga finished with seven kills and 15 digs, while Nico Ethofer had a match-high 18 digs for Concordia defensively.  Alexa Hopping had 20 set assists, and Kaylie Mellema handed out 12 assists for the Bulldogs. 

Concordia travels to Nebraska Wesleyan on October 23.  The JV match is scheduled for 3 pm with the varsity match to follow at 4:30 in Lincoln.