Box Score

MADISON, Wis. – Edgewood College head volleyball coach Paul Schlomer knows his team needs to begin playing with postseason intensity as the team enters the stretch run. He's likely pleased with what he saw on Friday night as the Eagles swept a solid Concordia University Chicago squad by scores of 29-27, 25-23, 25-23. The victory clinched a spot in the Northern Athletics Conference Tournament.

Edgewood College (14-9, 7-3 NAC) had to play catch up in the first set, falling behind 6-1 early on. The Eagles then trailed 21-17, before putting together a 6-0 on the strength of four kills by Jessica Martin and two more from Mallory Palmer. Concordia University Chicago (10-13, 5-4 NAC) held off the Eagles on four sets points, but finally libero Sam Himmelspach made her only kill of the night a big one by putting down the final point for a 29-27 Eagle win.

Edgewood College rallied in the second set as well bouncing back from an 18-16 deficit with four straight points, in part by Kristin Manske and Lindsey Swansby. The Cougars would tie the set again at 21, but a block by Swansby and Sarah Schuchhardt followed by a Palmer kill would put the Eagles back in front. Aryn Wellnitz finished off the set with a kill.

In the third set, the Eagles watched Concordia Chicago rally back from an 8-4 deficit and eventually take the lead at 22-21. At that point, Palmer and Swansby recorded back-to-back kills to force a Cougar timeout. After a kill by CUC's Sarah Potter tied the match at 23, Schuchhardt delivered a kill and the Cougars Claire Mackey hit the ball long to end the match.

Palmer led the Eagles with 14 kills and added 10 digs for her 14th double-double of the season. Martin was the other Eagle in double figures with 12 kills. Himmelspach piled up a match-high 23 digs, while Swansby had 42 assists. The Eagles hit .181 for the match compared to just .130 for the Cougars.

With the win the Eagles move a match and a half ahead of the Cougars for fourth place in the NAC standings and moved closer to clinching a first round home match in the NAC Tournament. Next Tuesday, Edgewood College will celebrate Senior Night with a conference match against Concordia University Wisconsin. The Eagles and Falcons will bet underway at 7:00 p.m.