MONMOUTH, Ore. – The Western Oregon women's volleyball team dropped a four-set decision (25-17, 19-25, 17-25, 21-25) to Concordia on Tuesday night in the only league match played in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.
 
Western Oregon was led by sophomore outside hitter Amanda Short who fell one kill shy of her career best with 17 kills (6e, 35 att, .314). The Wolves (9-15, 6-11 GNAC) got 13.0 points from senior Paige Orth who posted 11 kills, five digs and four blocks. Mariella Vandenkooy had 11 kills and one block assist.
 
Sophomore setter Maddie Mehciz had 44 assists, a career-high four service aces, seven digs and three blocks. Christie Colasurdo led three defensive players with 18 digs while Libber Hoene had nine digs and a pair of aces.
 
For the Cavaliers (14-11, 10-7 GNAC), Lindsey Dorsey had 15 kills and just one error to post a .452 hitting percentage. Colby Barnette added 12 kills and Brianna Hogan hit .500 with 11 kills. Michele Brown aided with 47 assists while libero Allie Spear was the only CU with double-figure digs, with 12.
 
After surrendering an early 3-2 lead, Western Oregon seized control scoring 11 of the next 12 rallies. Short had five of her game-high six kills during the scoring spree. A kill by Sydney Blankinship pushed the Wolves' lead to 18-8 before Concordia scored five straight points. Vandenkooy finished the CU run with a kill before a Bettinson kill and Cavalier error sealed the first set win for WOU, 25-17. The Wolves dominated the opening game offensively outhitting Concordia by 400 points (.538-.138).
 
It didn't take long for Concordia to make adjustments at the net, as they blocked three early attempts in the second set to a 5-3 lead. More solid play at the net extended the led to 15-10 for the Cavaliers. Down by five later in the game, Western Oregon rallied for four consecutive points on Short and Orth kills coupled with a Hoene service ace. The Wolves would again cut the CU lead to one, 21-20, before three straight kills from Brenna Huwe and a WOU attack error evened the match with a 25-19 Cavaliers' win.
 
Tough serving and more of the CU big block put the Wolves behind early in the third game, 6-2. Mehciz turned the tables with back-to-back aces during a 4-0 run to push WOU ahead in the game, 10-8. The Wolves led 16-15 before Concordia went on 3-0 and 5-0 runs to build a set point. Short erased one with a kill, but a hitting error on the next rally closed the game for CU, 25-17.
 
Game four was the most even of the match with 11 ties and four lead changes. The momentum of the set swung toward the visitors after going on a 3-0 run to break a 16-all stalemate. Western Oregon would get within two points on three different occasions, but Hogan's kill through the block ended the match with CU taking the set 25-21.
 
Up next, the Wolves remain at home to face Montana State Billings (7-19, 5-11 GNAC) on Thursday at 7 p.m. The Yellowjackets and Wolves played to a full five sets, with MSUB winning on their home court in the first meeting on Oct. 15. Thursday is Senior Night for Western Oregon volleyball in celebration of the team's two seniors – Paige Orth and Christie Colasurdo.