Oct. 5, 2012 - The first night of a weekend road swing to Wisconsin did not work out well for the Concordia Cougar volleyball team. The Cougars lost to Marian University by scores of 12-25, 18-25 and 16-25.
Concordia looked to even up the season series between Marian and themselves after the Sabres had defeated the Cougars Sept. 21 at the Ripon College Tournament. However, Marian got off to a fast start in set one behind a sharp hitting attack. Anna Smit led the hosts with six kills in seven attempts to lead a .526 attack (,526). The Sabres jumped out to a 5-1 lead and never looked back in claiming the 25-12 win. Cheryl Robaczewski (Schiller Park, IL/East Leyden) recorded three kills and a .400 to lead the Cougars in the opening set.
In set two, Bianca Gordon (Milwaukee, WI/Milwaukee Lutheran) and Claire Mackey (Shelton, NE/Heartland Lutheran) looked to spark the attack with three kills each but, overall, Concordia had 10 hitting errors and was unable to establish any consistency. Marian's Smit enjoyed another big set with four kills (.667), and the Sabres scored five points on blocks to take the set and go up 2-0 in the match.
Behind three kills by Kristin Allen (Green Valley, IL/Illini Central), the Cougars grabbed a 6-2 lead in set three. A string of hitting errors allowed the Sabres to score seven straight points and take the lead. However, Concordia kept battling and tied the set at 11-11. But a kill by Kathryn Braunling triggered a 4-0 run and gave Marian the lead for good.
Marian finished with a .358 attack for the might, led by Smit's 11 kills and .588. Concordia was led by Mackey's seven kills and Allen's six, but the Cougars were guilty of 26 errors against 25 kills.
Concordia (4-12, 2-5 NAC) will return to the court on Saturday afternoon at Lakeland College.
