Box Score TURLOCK, Calif. - On day one of the D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase Concordia overcame eight service aces by Western Oregon, and fourteen service errors of their own, to close out the Wolves in four sets by scores of 22-25, 25-19, 23-25, 8-25.
The win moves Concordia-Irvine to 6-0 on the season while Western Oregon falls to 0-4.
Concordia-Irvine held a distinct advantage in most offensive categories with edges in kills (58-36), assists (49-33), total blocks (5-3) and hitting percentage (.249-.071). WOU held a slight edge in digs (89-80) and bested the Eagles in service aces (8-2).
The teams played even early in the first set, but saw a 12-10 advantage for the Wolves wiped away when the Eagles ran off four points in a row to take a 14-12 lead. Despite WOU pulling within a point at 23-22, CUI closed it out with a kill and a block for a 25-22 score.
Set two saw the Eagles open a 9-4 lead when WOU notched a 6-0 run to open a 10-9 advantage. CUI would retake a slim lead at 17-16 before the Wolves reeled off five successive points on their way to the 25-19 win.
The third frame was a set of multiple-point runs.The scoreboard see-sawed through the first half of the set with WOU taking a slim 15-13 but Concordia-Irvine seized momentum with five straight points in a stretch where they won nine of 12 rallies to lead 22-18. The Wolves responded with a three-point WOU retort, but the Eagles responded every time the Wolves tried to tie it up to take a close set, 25-23.
There was little doubt that the Eagles wanted to close out the match in four sets, rocketing out to a 10-1 lead. CUI kept their foot on the gas pedal and took the set and match going away, 25-8. The Eagles were a perfect 9-of-9 on side out rallies and hit a monstrous .405 for the set. In total, the match saw 25 ties and 11 lead changes.
Day two of the D2 West Region Showcase will start with Concordia facing off against Chico State. Chico State won their first match of the Showcase, beating Alaska-Fairbanks 3-0. First serve is set for 10:00 a.m.
