Concordia (St. Paul) was the highest ranked team at No. 3 in the eight-team NCAA Division II volleyball tournament in Seattle this past week.
Concordia (St. Paul) loses in NCAA Division II title game in volleyball
The Golden Bears won the first set, but lost the next three to West Texas A&M of Canyon, Texas. Concordia was trying to win its 10th national title.
December 4, 2022 at 5:24AM
But the Golden Bears' quest for a 10th national title ended Saturday.
West Texas A&M defeated Concordia 23-25, 25-23, 25-20, 28-26 in the championship match. The No. 9 Lady Buffs (33-4) won their third national title and avenged a 3-0 loss in the 2009 final to Concordia.
Four players for the Golden Bears (31-6) reached double figures in kills. Jasmine Mulvihill had 20, Emma Schmidt 13, Katie Mattson 12 and Makenna Berger 10.
Schmidt led Concordia, now 9-2 in title matches, with 18 digs. Setter Teagan Starkey had 63 assists.
Kayla Elliott led West Texas A&M, which ended its season with 26 straight wins, with 17 kills, Abi Nash has 15 and Torrey Miller 14.
Miller's last kill gave the Lady Buffs a 27-26 lead in the fourth set when they hit .326 and, on match points, they got a double block.
How tight was this match? There were 19 lead changes and 42 ties. Concordia had more kills (67-62), more digs (63-56) and more aces (6-5).
But the Lady Buffs of Canyon, Texas, had the higher hitting percentage, .307 to .261, and more blocks (12-7).
Mulvihill, Schmidt and Starkey of the Golden Bears were named to the all-tournament team.
Two offensive linemen from Lakeville, Bryce Benhart and Riley Mahlman, are standouts for Big Ten rivals of Minnesota.
