Dixie State volleyball riding 3-game winning streak after win over Concordia

Written by Darren Cole
September 28, 2015
Dixie State University vs. Concordia University, St. George, Utah, Sept. 28, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News

ST. GEORGE – The Dixie State volleyball gave a rude welcome to the newcomers of the Pacific West Conference. The Concordia University Eagles from Irvine, Calif., went down in four sets, 25-21, 26-24, 23-25, 25-23.

dsulogo“Concordia has been playing very well,” said DSU head coach Robyn Felder. “Both teams were playing their third game in six days, so we knew that we would have to maintain our focus to overcome fatigue.”

Neither team enjoyed big swings of momentum the entire match. In the first set the largest lead for either team was four. The Eagles enjoyed the early lead 11-7 on Hannah Andrews’ kill. The Red Storm would even it quickly at 12 apiece. The eight-point swing was complete when Kailey Frei nailed a kill to put Dixie State up 21-17. Brette Anderson closed the set in emphatic fashion with her kill across the middle.

Brette Anderson (10) and Makenzi Bird-Murphey (17), Dixie State University vs. Concordia University, St. George, Utah, Sept. 28, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Brette Anderson (10) and Makenzi Bird-Murphey (17), Dixie State University vs. Concordia University, St. George, Utah, Sept. 28, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News

The close play continued in the second set when neither team would lead by more than three. Things looked ominous for the Storm when Rachel Flynn nailed a powerful kill to put the Eagles at game point, 24-23. After a service error gave DSU side out, Concordia had an error on attack and Taylor Duryea closed out the set with a service ace.

“Our offense is getting quicker,” said Dixie State outside hitter Lindsay Jones. “At the beginning of the year, we were still adjusting to each other. But Kailey (Frei) is getting to know each of the hitters. Our attacks are faster as a result.”

After intermission, the Eagles came out with determination. In short order, the CU lead was 10-5. Dixie State climbed slowly back into it and pulled even at 12-12. The Eagles responded with a 6-2 run and led 18-14 on libero Taylor Dennison’s service ace. The Storm would tie the match at 20-20 on Makenzi Bird-Murphey’s kill and again at 23 on a service ace by Duryea. Concordia took their final timeout of the set and came back to score the last two points of the set.

“We wanted to be out in three,” said Bird-Murphey, one of the team captains. “But I told our girls not to hang their heads. We were the better team and we would get the next set.”

Both teams played even through the first part of the fourth set. Then the Eagles edged out slightly, holding a 2-3 point lead. Dixie State finally pulled even at 19 on a kill by Duryea. Bird-Murphey gave the Storm its first lead since 7-6 with a kill off a nice set from Frei.

Dixie State University vs. Concordia University, St. George, Utah, Sept. 28, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Dixie State University vs. Concordia University, St. George, Utah, Sept. 28, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News

“Kailey (Frei) is such a great weapon to have,” said Bird-Murphey. “She not only sets the ball well, but has great size. So she can block and attack as well.”

Dixie State led 20-19. Both teams continued to play well, but Dixie was finally able to finish. Gianna Kioa’s kill ended the set and the match.

Duryea led the Storm with 11 kills. Lindsay Jones also had double figure kills with 10. Bird-Murphey, Brette Anderson and Gianna Kioa had nine, eight and six kills respectively. Frei led the team with 39 assists. Libero Alex Anderson had 31 digs. J Condie also had double figure digs with 14.

For the Eagles, Flynn had 20 kills and 17 digs. K Auten had 10 kills and two blocks. Dennison led the Eagles with 43 digs. L Grove had 28 assists.

Concordia falls to 6-8 overall and 2-2 in the PacWest. The Storm improve to 6-7 and are riding a three-game winning streak. They are 3-2 in the PacWest. They will host the Azusa Pacific Cougars on Saturday at noon in the Student Activities Center (Old Gym).

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Twitter: @oldschoolag

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2015, all rights reserved.

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Darren Cole recently returned to sportswriting after a 20-plus year hiatus. While pursuing other studies, he developed an early passion for sports writing as a senior writer and sports editor for the Ricks College Scroll in 1988-89. Darren has spent the last 20 years writing legal memorandi and appellate briefs. In addition to his legal career, he has also taught legal and criminal justice courses at the university level for nine years as an adjunct professor. Darren is married to wife Lisa, has two sons and is a confessed sports junkie.

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