MOORHEAD, Minn. – The Gustavus volleyball team traveled to Concordia on Friday night and fell to the Cobbers 3-1. With the loss the Gusties fall to 12-13 overall and 5-3 in the MIAC while the Cobbers move to 6-17 overall and 3-5 in the conference.
In the first set, the Gusties got off to a hot start, jumping out to an early lead they didn’t look back upon. The Gusties had 16 kills and just two errors to hit .636 in the first set as they took a decisive 25-14 victory.
Set two started out in Gustavus’s favor as they jumped out to a 10-4 lead before the Cobbers responded, taking over the middle part of the set and taking a 22-20 lead. The Gusties responded, forcing extra points, but Concordia eventually prevailed 30-28.
The Cobbers got out to a 7-4 lead to start set three and they continued to build on it throughout the set. They took a 24-17 lead and looked to have the set in hand, but Gustavus gave them a fight late, scoring three straight points, before a Concordia kill ended the set.
The fourth and final set played the most even of any in the match with neither team holding more than a two-point lead until Concordia led 22-19 late. Three straight kills from Sarah Elliott (Fy., Lombard, Ill.) evened things at 22 before the Cobbers got three straight points to take the set and the match.
Kate Holtan (Jr., Rochester) continued her strong run notching 20 kills and hitting .680, while Elliott added 10. Rhyan Herrmann (Fy., Brownton) and Gemma Robey (So., Minneapolis) also had strong matches with nine kills apiece. Nora Lehmkuhl (Fy., Northfield) led the Gusties with 34 set assists, while Mitaya Johnson (Sr., Kasson) added 16.
The Gusties are next in action tomorrow when they take on Saint Benedict at 3 p.m.