Cougar Volleyball Splits First Day at Wheaton Tournament
Sept. 23, 2011 - The old sports adage states that it is very difficult for one team to defeat another three times in the same season. However, the Concordia Cougar volleyball team disproved that notion at least for tonight by defeating Aurora University 25-19, 25-15, 24-26, 25-13 in action at the Wheaton College Invitational.
Except for a stretch late in set three, the Cougars had the better of play from start to finish. Solid hitting told part of the story as Sarah Potter (New Haven, IN/Woodlan H.S.) led the attack with 15 kills. Claire Mackey (Shelton, NE/Heartland Lutheran) recorded 12 kills and a .407 attack, and Bianca Gordon (Milwaukee, WI/Milwaukee Lutheran) added nine kills and a .471.
The Cougars' blocking provided the remainder of the winning equation. Gordon had a hand in six blocks including two solos while Potter added one solo and four block assists. Allison Sapiro (Milwaukee, WI/Milwaukee Lutheran) chipped in with four block assists.
Also of note, freshman Savanna Ashbaugh (Waverly, IL/H.S.) handed out 19 assists and aided the defense with a season-high 16 digs. The latter stat was second only to libero Maryl Pinotti (Evergreen Park, IL/H.S.) who had 22 digs.
The win over Aurora salvaged a 1-1 day for Concordia who lost the early match to St. Norbert College in three sets (25-19, 25-15, 25-22). The Cougars were hampered by a slow start to the match in which problems in passing and setting prevented the hitters from getting quality kill attempts. Potter led the Cougars with 14 kills.
The Cougars (6-7) return to action Saturday morning when they play host Wheaton at 10 a.m. and Dominican University at 12:30.
