Volleyball completes 2-2 road trip in California

IRVINE, Calif. – After testing its mettle against the No. 2 team in the NAIA, the Concordia University volleyball team ended its California road trip with an 18-25, 25-18, 26-24, 25-17 win over Hope International behind a big performance from sophomore middle Taylor Workman. The Bulldogs completed play in The Golden State with two wins in four tries and are now 3-2 overall.

In the final match for Concordia at the Asics/Wyndham Labor Day Tournament, Workman pounded down 15 kills on 21 swings from the middle in one of the best efforts of her career. She had already racked up 13 kills after two sets in leading the victory over Hope International.

“After struggling with our middle connections in the first match, it was really clicking in this match,” Mattera said. “Taylor was basically unstoppable and (Mariah) Schamp and Annie (Friesen) both had big contributions as well.”

The huge effort from Concordia’s middles included six kills and four blocks from Schamp and three kills and two blocks from Friesen. They were the driving force, along with Workman, for an attack that hit .219 as a team to drop Hope International to 1-4.

After having a long wait between matches on the day, Mattera liked the way his team responded in closing out the weekend.

“Hope International is a much better team than their record last year would indicate and we knew we were in for a fight after having seen them play earlier in the day,” Mattera said. “We had a long layoff in a hot and humid gym between matches so I was worried with how we would come out.

“We played pretty lackadaisical in the first game and got what we deserved against a fired up team playing really disciplined volleyball. We came back so strong though in game 2. Game three was up and down and we went down 24-22, but refocused on our blocking and came back to win. That type of mature finishing and fighting back is something we've been looking for.”

Claire White finished with 12 kills while Alayna Kavanaugh dished out 38 assists in the win. Hope International was led by the 12 kills of Mikayla Derieg.

Facing perhaps its most difficult test all season, the Bulldogs appeared up for the challenge – at least in the early going. Concordia trailed just 19-18 late in the first set before Jessica Israel and the Eagles ran off the next four points to gain control. Israel (match-high 13 kills) and company proved too powerful. Concordia-Irvine hit a scorching .432 to improve to 8-0 (seven wins in straight sets) at the time.

“We looked very good at times playing against an absolute power house,” Mattera said. “We pushed them early in the match and early again in the third but eventually their size and experience took over. I'm very happy that we made them earn their points. We only had 14 attack errors in three games and that includes their six blocks. That shows how clean we generally played but to get to that level.

“We can't give up 49 kills and a .432 efficiency to them. Their attackers are just so experienced with their shot selection. It was a great learning experience for us and we're going to use it as such.”

For Concordia, White fueled the attack with a team-best 10 kills on 24 swings. Workman put up four kills and four blocks as part of her big day. Tiegen Skains contributed seven kills.

“Claire had a nice match attacking wise and Tiegen had some really solid swings,” Mattera said. “They clearly focused on taking away our middles and that really hurt us as normally our speed there gives teams fits.  When we aren't diverse we aren't great.  Part of that was choices, part of that was timing part of that was ball control, and part of that was them taking things away from us.”

The Bulldogs remain on the road next weekend for the Hastings College Classic, Sept. 5-6. Mattera’s squad will play two matches on both days. Included in another four-match weekend is a clash with No. 14 Oklahoma Baptist on the first day of the event.