AUSTIN, Texas – For the first time in 13 years, the Concordia University Texas volleyball team will compete in the American Southwest Conference (ASC) Tournament, which begins on Thursday afternoon in Richardson. The Tornados, which earned the No. 6 seed, will face third-seeded East Texas Baptist in the first match of the double-elimination event at 12 p.m.
Concordia Texas (12-19) won its final two ASC matches to clinch the postseason berth. The Tornados enter the tournament having won three of its last four contests, while the Tigers (27-8) have earned wins in nine of their last 11 matches.
Six Concordia players garnered ASC postseason honors, including junior Brooke Stitt who was named Newcomer of the Year. Sophomore Katie Baker and senior Emma Clifford picked up third-team All-ASC honors, while Stitt, Zoë Allen, Alissa Johnson and Alison Pringle received honorable mention laurels.
Baker leads the squad with 315 points, 272 kills (2.43/set) and 326 digs (2.91/set), while Clifford paces the team with a .259 hitting percentage and 74 total blocks (0.64/set).
East Texas Baptist has swept the Tornados in each of the two meetings this season. Thursday's match also marks the first time the two squads have met in the league's postseason tournament. The winner of the match will advance to face No. 2 Mary Hardin-Baylor at 5 p.m. on Thursday, while the loser will play in an elimination contest at 12 p.m. the following day.
Concordia, which is making its third appearance in the ASC Tournament and first since 2000, won the event's championship in 1999. The following season, the Tornados advanced to the championship match.
- CTX -
