MEQUON, Wis. - The Concordia University Wisconsin women's volleyball team (8-7, 1-2 NACC) fell to the reigning NACC champion Edgewood Eagles (13-4, 3-0 NACC) 3-1 (22-25, 25-15, 20-25, 18-25) on Saturday afternoon at the R. John Buuck Field House.
In the first set, Concordia Wisconsin and Edgewood kept it close, trading points back and forth. The Falcons' offense eventually created separation, going on a 4-0 run with two kills from freshman Bailey Bonde (Seymour, Ind.) to take a 13-9 lead.
However, the Eagles battled back, and the teams went back and forth again until Edgewood went on a 4-1 run to secure the first set, 25-22. The Falcons recorded 12 kills in the first frame.
In the second set, Concordia Wisconsin grabbed an early 3-0 lead, capped by a kill from freshman Natalie Nickolai (Sheboygan Falls, Wis.) to cap off the run.
When the Eagles started to fight back, the Falcons responded by scoring eight unanswered points, turning a 6-6 tie into a 14-6 lead. Senior Emily Dickmann (Grafton, Wis.) contributed two kills, two assists and one ace in the run.
Concordia Wisconsin remained in the driver's seat throughout the set, going on two separate 3-0 runs within the frame to secure the victory, 25-15, and tie the match at one set apiece.
In the third set, Edgewood scored three straight points to take an early advantage, but the Falcons answered back, going on a 6-0 run to grab a 7-4 lead.
The Eagles found their way back and went on a 5-0 run to take control of the set. Despite cutting their deficit to four points, the Falcons were unable to regain the lead, falling 25-20. Sophomore Kirsten Krause (Pocatello, Idaho) recorded four of CUW's 10 kills in the set.
In the final set, Concordia Wisconsin jumped out to an early 5-3 lead, but Edgewood then went on a 6-0 run to take a 9-5 advantage. Dickmann tied the set up at 10 with a service ace, one of two aces on the day.
It was a back and forth battle once more, but the Eagles went on a 10-2 run late in the set to secure the 25-18 victory and clinch the match.
Krause led the Falcons with 11 kills, while Bonde added a career-high 10 kills and five blocks. Dickmann earned 28 assists in the match, along with a season-high seven kills. Nickolai led CUW with a career-high 15 digs.
Concordia Wisconsin will travel to Aurora, Illinois to face Aurora on Oct. 8 at 6 p.m. CST.
