GEORGETOWN, Texas – After an uncharacteristically shaky
start that saw service errors and miscommunication, Southwestern
reorganized and refocused to defeat Concordia-Texas 3-0. The
Pirates improve to 5-3 on the season while the Tornados fall to
0-5.
Southwestern started game one slow but built up steam to go up
16-9 to only let the Tornados close the gap and pull within one
22-21. A missed serve by Concordia gave SU the serve just two
points from the win and Audra Gentry put down the final ball just
inside the end line to take game one 25-21.
Game two saw a back and forth match with the score nearly tied,
9-8, until the Pirates were able to string together four straight
to go up 13-8. A quick set by Christina Nicholls (pictured) to
Thompson started another run that saw SU put together a 6-2 run to
go up by eight, 22-13. Southwestern earned their final two points
of the game on Tornado receiving errors to win 25-16.
Wasting no time in game three, SU went ahead 6-1 on strong
execution including a perfectly placed roll shot by Jill Wigington,
an ace by Ali Zein-Eldin and tough digs by Sam Lingamfelter. A
block from Nicholls and Taylor Wright gave the Pirates their 13th
point and was followed by a shot down the line by Rachel Thibodeau
to put Southwestern up by ten, 14-4. SU cruised the rest of the way
and the young Pirate bench closed out the game with a long rally to
win, 25-15.
The Pirates have a game break and then face Wiley College at 6:00
pm.