SCSU volleyball close season with loss

The Husky Volleyball team said goodbye to this season last Saturday against the No. 1 ranked and two-time defending champion Concordia-St. Paul.

The Golden Bears remained undefeated sweeping the Huskies in three straight sets 25-9, 25-10 and 25-10.

Concordia has not lost to an NSIC team since the 2007 season to MSU Moorhead in the NSIC tournament semifinals. The Golden Bears are 20-0 in the NSIC and 31-0 overall.

“You can’t just go into a game expecting to lose,” said head coach Patricia Gerchy. “I know it said all the time, but that it is why you play the game. You never know what could happen in the game of volleyball.

“No matter what, you have to try and find a way to win. You have to persevere and work hard from the beginning against any team.”

Concordia started strong in the first match never trailing against the Huskies.

With a 5-1 lead in the second set, Concordia’s senior setter Maggie McNamara became Division II’s all-time assists leader after setting up senior right side hitter Sadie Kessler.

McNamara, who only needed 20 set assists to reach the NCAA record, finished with 43 assists and 11 digs.

Erica Beacom, Kayla Tschida and Alecia Lunde led the Huskies with four kills a piece during Concordia’s tough defensive presence holding the Huskies to a -.041 hitting percentage. Concordia hit .433 with a total of 15 blocks and 55 digs defensively.

Sarah Madden and Stephanie Coxon each tallied six digs for the Huskies.

Freshman outside hitter Lauren Clipperly, who took setting duties for the Huskies since junior Kiersten Mormann sprained her ankle, had 14 set assists on the day. Tschida added two blocks for the Huskies.

“Good teams expose weaknesses,” Gerchy said. “Tonight we couldn’t get to our blocking assignments quick enough and they took advantage of that. We talked about their 31-set and where we have to be. We played hard defensively. The girls were diving to get every ball.”
 

The Huskies finished the season with 3-17 record in the NSIC and a 7-25 overall record placing 13th in the NSIC standings. Throughout the season, the Huskies had been plagued with injuries. At one point during the season, the Huskies were without five starters due injuries or ailments.

“You don’t want to use it as an excuse, but it happens,” Gerchy said. “Circumstances happen and you have use what you have. That’s the way it goes.”

Along with finishing the Husky season, three seniors said goodbye to playing volleyball under the University’s team. Alecia Lunde, Stephanie Coxon and Kristen Stott hugged and said thanks to teammates, coaches and fans after the game to wish a final farewell.

“It is sad to be done,” Lunde said. Lunde is the only senior to play all four years at St. Cloud State University. “I took a lot away from volleyball. The girls this year had to overcome a lot of adversity and a lot can be learned in tough times. I honestly can say I have no regrets.

“The thing I will miss most is the girls and the friendships we have made over the years.

During volleyball season, the team is your family and you have to count on them like a family.”