BOX SCORE

Austin, Texas - Senior Kalynn White recorded a double-double and classmate Kevyn Jackson led the Tornados in digs in their final home match as collegians, but the Concordia University Texas volleyball team suffered a 3-0 setback by set scores of 25-22, 28-26 and 25-19 to Texas Lutheran on Thursday, Oct. 20 at the CTX Field House. With the loss, the Tornados were eliminated from playoff contention.

The first set was a back-and-forth battle that featured 12 ties and five lead changes. Neither team led by more than two points until Sofia Klepper set up Manda Martin for a kill which made it 24-21 in favor of the Bulldogs. After White registered a kill to trim the deficit to two, Sami Springfield put the set away by finishing a pass from Martin.

Texas Lutheran (13-13, ASC 9-5), which clinched the final playoff spot in the ASC West Division with the victory, scored the first seven points and eight of the first nine in the second set. Three players combined for six kills during that span. Shortly following a timeout taken by seventh-year head coach April Birdsong with her team trailing 18-12, the Tornados scored six unanswered to go ahead by a 23-22 score on a Springfield attacking error. However, the Bulldogs recovered and took advantage of two Tornado service errors down to the stretch to come away with the 28-26 set victory, which was capped by a Springfield kill.

The Bulldogs recorded the first two points and never fell behind in the third set to complete the sweep on the road despite being challenged throughout by the hosts. A kill by Stacy Manship on a set by Samantha Ladewig tied the score for the fourth time at 8-all, but the Bulldogs rattled off four straight points with Martin contributing an assist and two service aces to force the Tornados to take a timeout. Concordia came within two points on two occasions the rest of the way on kills by White and Clifford, but that was as close as it would get. A kill by Marcia Sagebiel on match point gave the Bulldogs the 25-19 set win and the ASC victory.

Concordia got a 15-kill, 12-dig performance from White in her final home match. The senior also hit at a .412 clip by committing just one error on 34 total attacks. Jackson, a three-year captain, added a team-leading 19 digs, while setters Bianca Martinez and Ladewig contributed 17 assists and four digs apiece.

Texas Lutheran, which has clinched the third seed out of the West Division for the upcoming ASC Tournament, was led by Martin's double-double performance of 34 assists and 22 digs. She also recorded five service aces. Springfield and Sagebiel finished with 13 and 122 kills, respectively, while Davina Hurst posted 14 digs.

Notes: Concordia recognized seniors Kevyn Jackson and Kalynn White, who are both four-year letterwinners, prior to the match during a pregame ceremony … Both players are ranked on several top-10 lists and have received ASC recognition for their efforts on the field and in the classroom … Concordia has been eliminated from playoff contention, but the squad can still record its first winning season since 2000 if it can triumph in three of its four matches at the Southwestern Invitational next weekend.
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Texas Lutheran (13-13, ASC 9-5) def. Concordia (13-13, ASC 9-9), 3-0 (25-22, 28-26, 25-19)