Box Score

ST. PAUL, Minn.  – The Northern State University volleyball team (14-14, 6-13 overall) committed just six attack errors in the entire match, forcing the opposition into eight in just the second set alone. But it wasn't enough as they dropped a 3-0 decision to the NSIC Champions, top-ranked Concordia University (25-4, 19-0 NSIC). It was a tightly played match, however, with the Wolves dropping the sets 20-25, 24-26, 17-25.

While the third set was the most decisive, an eight point win for the three-time defending NCAA champions, it was also the closest. Northern and Concordia played to six ties and three lead changes in the deciding set before the Golden Bears went on a late run to seal the match.

In all, the Wolves and Golden Bears had 15 total ties and four lead changes throughout the evening.

The Wolves were paced by outstanding play from Konefesi Vaisigano and Jordan Schaffer who each terminated 11 kills. Vaisigano was error-free in 25 attempts, hitting .440 for the night while also registering eight digs. Schaffer hit .312 for the night and had seven digs for the Wolves.

Megan Gilbraith was the leading setter on the evening for NSU, who hit .264 as a team in 106 swings, with Gilbraith delivering 19 assists while Sam Nygaard contributed 10 assists.

At the net, the Wolves went toe-to-toe with the champs, getting as many blocks (4.0) as the Golden Bears while forcing them to commit nearly three times as many attack errors (17) as Northern (6).

Concordia clinched the NSIC Championship outright with the victory, their eighth consecutive conference title. They were led by their middle hitters, Cassie Haag and Emily Palkert, who offensively combined for 32 kills, with Haag providing a match-high 17. Megan Carlson led the defense with 18 digs while adding nine kills while Amanda Konetchy set the CU attack to a .328 pace with her 51 assists.

The Wolves close out their Northern Sun slate tomorrow evening when they travel to St. Cloud State.