Volleyball carries eight-match home win streak into Saturday tilt

SEWARD, Neb. – The Concordia University volleyball team will carry streaks of three-straight wins overall and eight-consecutive home victories into Saturday morning’s contest with visiting Mount Marty College. The Bulldogs enter the weekend fresh off their first win over rival Doane since 2007 and are receiving votes in the national poll. Saturday’s action begins with a junior varsity match at 9:30 a.m. followed by the varsity at 11 a.m.

MATCH INFO
Saturday, Sept. 20
11 a.m. – Concordia (9-4, 1-1 GPAC) vs. Mount Marty (4-7, 0-1 GPAC)
Site: Seward, Neb.
Arena: Walz Arena
Webcast: Concordia Sports Network
Play-By-Play: Frank Greene 

TEAM LEADERS
Concordia
Head Coach: Scott Mattera (36-39, 3rd year)
Kills: Claire White – 139 (3.02/game)
Assists: Alayna Kavanaugh – 439 (9.76/game)
Digs: Carli Smith – 158 (3.51/game)
Blocks: Taylor Workman – 32 (0.84/game)
Aces: Claire White – 22 (0.48/game) 

Mount Marty
Head Coach: Candice Climer (29-78, 4th year)
Kills: Sierra Kloth – 117 (2.93/game)
Assists: Caitlyn Illg – 237 (7.18/game)
Digs: BreAnne Theege – 176 (4.51/game)
Blocks: Jena Peters – 29 (0.74/game)
Aces: Laura Groseth – 11 (0.32/game) 

Fast start
Since the 2005 Bulldogs ran off 18-straight wins to begin the season, the best 13-match start for a Concordia volleyball team has been a 9-4 mark, accomplished three times (2007, 2013, 2014). In just three seasons at the helm, Scott Mattera has overseen two of those 9-4 starts, including one last season when the program enjoyed its first winning season since 2007. The team’s steady improvement has been noticed by coaches nationally as Concordia continues to receive votes in the NAIA top 25 poll.

Efficiency on the attack
Last season Concordia ranked a respectable 74th among 222 NAIA volleyball program with a .199 hitting percentage. That figure has rocketed up to .236 in 2014, placing the Bulldogs 17th nationally in hitting percentage. Sophomore setter Alayna Kavanaugh has distributed the ball well to a stable of Bulldogs hitters. Sophomore Taylor Workman sports a sparkling .438 hitting percentage on 153 swings. Concordia also has lofty numbers from its two other middles – Annie Friesen (.383) and Mariah Schamp (.338). Among GPAC schools, only Northwestern (.277) and Nebraska Wesleyan (.248) have higher team hitting percentages. 

Skains’ career day
Sophomore Tiegen Skains emerged as one of the heroes of the win at Doane on Wednesday. Skains put down a career high 10 kills to help the Bulldogs secure the four-set victory over the Tigers. She hit .280 on the night, delivering several powerful swings that gave Doane blockers/defenders little chance to react. The native of Colorado Springs has already surpassed her kill total of 56 from her freshman season. She has 67 this season in 43 games.

Career high kill totals
Mariah Schamp – 24 (8/24/2013 – Mount Vernon Nazarene)
Claire White – 21 (8/30/2013 – Ozarks; 8/31/2013 – Ottawa)
Paige Getz – 15 (10/23/2013 – Nebraska Wesleyan; 11/2/2013 – Dakota Wesleyan)
Taylor Workman – 15 (8/30/2013 – Hope International)
Tiegen Skains – 10 (9/17/2014 – Doane)
Annie Friesen – 7 (9/13/2014 – Peru State)

Scouting Mount Marty
After back-to-back six-win seasons in 2011 and 2012, the Lancers improved considerably in 2013 with 13 victories. This season the Lancers are 4-7 with wins over York College, Presentation College, Waldorf College and the University of Sioux Falls. Head coach Candice Climer has both of her honorable mention all-conference selections back from last season in sophomore middle hitter Allison Cross and senior setter Caitlyn Illg. The Bulldogs have won each of the last six meetings with Mount Marty, including both of last year’s contests in straight sets.