RIVER FOREST, Ill. – The Falcons went toe to toe with the third-ranked Stars of Dominican on Friday night in a battle of two teams unbeaten in NACC play. The Falcons put up a valiant fight but fell short with the Stars taking the match, 18-25, 25-19, 21-25, 25-21, 15-11. The loss sends Concordia to 4-5 overall and 2-1 in NACC play.

The Falcons threw the first punch on Friday and jumped out to an early 5-1 lead behind the serve of junior Andy Ellingham (Burlington, Wis.). An attacking error pushed the lead up to 12-5 for the Falcons. The Stars did not fade away into the darkness and won the next five points and then tied the set at 15. With the set tied at 18, the Falcons won the next seven points to claim the set at 25-18. The first set was the first set that the Falcons have taken from the Stars in program history. 

The Stars flipped the script in the second set and took an early 6-2 lead. The serve of senior James Althoff (Kenosha, Wis.) stormed the Falcons back to a 7-6 lead. A kill from James Althoff gave the Falcons a 19-18 lead, but the Stars secured the next seven points to secure the set.

The Blue and White responded with a strong performance in set three. Trailing 6-9, the Falcons bounded back behind the serve of Andy Ellingham and an attacking error gave the Falcons a 10-9 lead. A block from Spencer Herman and freshman Lucas Beres (Germantown, Wis.) helped the Falcons secure the third set and push the lead to 2-1.

CUW led for a majority for the fourth set on Friday night. Dominican errors pushed the Concordia lead to 13-10 and 14-11. The Stars flexed their muscles and took the next five points and never returned the lead to tie the match with a 25-21 victory.

Concordia took another early lead in the fifth set and kills from sophomore Spencer Herman (Appleton, Wis.) and James Althoff gave CUW two-point leads at 2-0 and 3-1. With the Falcons lead 5-4, the Stars stormed back with a 4-0 run. A kill from James Althoff cut the deficit to 8-9, but Dominican pulled away to win 15-10.

James Althoff led the flock with 13 kills and six service aces. Spencer Herman and freshman Kellen Gonzales both notched 11 kills.

Freshman Logan Kebisek (Brookfield, Wis.) fed the Concordia attack with 35 assists in the loss.

Lucas Beres was a part of five blocks and James Althoff and senior Ryan Hoefs (Greendale, Wis.) led the flock with eight digs.

The Blue and White broke a school record with 10 aces in a five-set match. James Althoff tied his own record with six service aces in a five-set match.

The Falcons look to get back in the win column on Tuesday night at Maranatha Baptist.