Saturday, November 21
7:00 p.m. - Gangelhoff Center - St. Paul, Minn.
No. 1 seed #1 Concordia University (34-0) vs. No. 7 seed #20 Metro State (26-7)
BOX SCORE - MATCH PHOTOS - PRESS CONFERENCE VIDEO
RECAP: ST. PAUL, Minn. - The #1-ranked and top seed Concordia University volleyball is the champion of the Central Region Volleyball Tournament. The Golden Bears defeated No. 7 seed #20 Metro State (25-23, 25-17, 25-15) in front of a home crowd of 1,222 on Saturday evening. Concordia goes to the Elite Eight with a record of 34-0 and has won 71 consecutive matches. Metro State ends their 2009 campaign with a record of 26-7.
Concordia was led by senior Sadie Kessler who ended the match with 14 kills while hitting .583 percent on the match (14-0-24). Senior setter Maggie McNamara recorded 39 set assists to add to her NCAA leading number of assists.
Metro State started the match out very strong while Concordia took the first set 25-23. The teams traded scores as Bri Morley of Metro State recorded 11 kills hitting at .194 percent. Senior setter Gabe Curtis ended her career second all time in career assists at Metro State with 3,331 career assists. The Golden Bears emerged from a late-set timeout to regain a lead and set up for the win.
Megan Carlson and Cassie Haag contributed to the scoring attack for Concordia as both of them recorded 10 kills in the match. Metro State countered Concordia's aggressive attack with a great blocking game and forced Concordia to spread their kills around throughout the team. Senior Amy Watanabe recorded 18 digs in the match and accounted for a strong passing game by Metro State.
Concordia advanced to the Elite 8 of the NCAA Tournament with their third straight Central Region Championship.
2009 Central Region All-Tournament Team
Amy Watanabe, Metro State
Gabe Curtis, Metro State
Bri Morley, Metro State
Julie Causseaux, Metro State
Alyssa Nelson, Minnesota Duluth
Rachel Jacobson, Minnesota Duluth
Jennifer Hefner, Wayne State College
Cassie Haag, Concordia University
Maggie McNamara, Concordia University
Mary Slinger, Concordia University
Sadie Kessler, Concordia University
Megan Carlson, Concordia University
CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY PRESS CONFERENCE
Concordia University Match Notes: This is the seventh consecutive appearance for the No. 1 Concordia University Golden Bears in the NCAA Tournament under head coach Brady Starkey ... The Golden Bears are the two-time defending Division II National Champions ... CU defeated Metro State earlier this season in three straight sets (25-9, 25-14, 25-16) ... This is the first time since 2003 that the Golden Bears will not be matched up against Minnesota Duluth in the region championship game ... The Golden Bears have now won 71 consecutive matches ... CU finished the season with a 20-0 NSIC record, claiming its seventh straight NSIC title ... The Golden Bears have won 52 consecutive NSIC games ... Brady Starkey holds a 118-2 record in NSIC games ... Maggie McNamara holds the NCAA Division II record with 7,178 career assists ... Mary Slinger owns the most digs in school history with 2,278 ... The Golden Bears have won four Central Region Titles in six years ... Concordia University currently holds a 14 game winning streak in the NCAA Tournament ... Concordia advances to their seventh straight Central Region Championship game ... The Golden Bears have won three consecutive Central Region Championships.
Metro State Match Notes: This was No. 20 Metro State's 10th consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament ... This was Metro State's 17th appearance in the NCAA Tournament ... Metro State is 0-2 against Concordia all-time ... Metro State is 1-12 all-time against teams ranked No. 1 in the nation, that win coming against West Texas A&M in 2002 ... The Roadrunners are 9-17 in NCAA Tournament play ... Metro State's ranking of 20th in the NCAA Division II AVCA top-25 is their second time being ranked since Sept. 5, 2005 ... Gabrielle Curtis now ranks second in Metro State Volleyball history with 3,331 career assists ... Metro State won its fifth RMAC Tournament in 10 years ... The Roadrunners are now 2-1 against the SMSU Mustangs ... Metro State has won 13 of its past 14 matches ... Their past three wins have come against AVCA top-15 teams ... Metro State is 4-5 against teams ranked in the Division II AVCA top-25 this season ... Metro State is 1-7 all-time against UMD ... Metro State is 1-5 against the Bulldogs in neutral sites ... Yesterdays win over SMSU was their first win in the NCAA Tournament since they swept UC-Colorado Springs in 2007.
CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY QUOTES
Head Coach Brady Starkey:
Opening Statement: “I'd like to congratulate Metro on a great season. They are probably one of the toughest teams that we have played all season in terms of the things they did to offset some of our stuff. They served the best out of any team that we faced all year. Congrats to Debbie and all of her girls, they were a very good team. I'd like to say that I couldn't be more proud. Our girls get out there and compete every night. Its fun to watch them. There is never a night that they take off. They come with a lot of energy and enthusiasm. That is what they do and that is who they are. This has been a fun season to watch.
On not making errors: "They did a lot to try stop our freshman middle (Cassie Haag). That really opened up a lot for Sadie. We realized that really quick and early."
On Metro's aggressive blocking: "When we play teams they are going to try to take away something from us. One of the things we do a good job of is realizing what they are trying to take away and we go elsewhere. That's when you're going to have one of those games like Sadie did tonight and hits like .600 or .500 like she did tonight. Teams try to take away Sadie and that leaves a lot of opportunity for Palkert or Haag. Its kind of pick your poison with us. We can hopefully catch on quick and then we get to make the adjustments."
On Metro State's game: "We kind of knew what they were going to do. A lot of teams that play us decide that the best thing to do is to serve us as aggressively as possible. They were making a lot of serves really tough. They were making it difficult for us to receive. Usually what we try to do is weather the storm. If a team can keep that up most of the night it is going to be a difficult night for us. I thought that as the match went on they might have missed a couple because they were too aggressive. But we were able to start passing a little better and that helped us get in a rhythm."
On moving forward: "Once you get to the regional anybody can win because our region is so tough and everyone is so talented. It looks like right now we're going to play Indianapolis and I think they've only lost one game on the season. Its just one of those things that we try not to focus on what other teams are doing and focus on what we're doing and we're doing our things well. Then we just get out there and play and do our thing. Hopefully that is enough. That is how we've always worked it."
Senior setter Maggie McNamara
On passing: "They served really aggressive and attacked. It took all of us a while to settle down and when we finally did we were able to get in a flow."
On breaking point of the match: "I think when they made a push in the first game we kept pushing back. I think that determined a lot in this game."
Senior outside hitter Sadie Kessler
On not making errors: "I like not making them. I'd have to give a lot of credit to Mags (setter Maggie McNamara) She gave me a lot of one on ones. I get to see the block and get up there and take an aggressive swing."
METRO STATE QUOTES
Head Coach Debbie Hendricks:
Opening statement: "I was really pleased with the way we came out and competed in that first game. We played phenomenal defense. We served tough and we knew coming into this match we were going to have to be very aggressive to be close in this match. In the first game we had some opportunities and we just didn't capitalize there in the end. In the second and third game we didn't make some of the defensive adjustments that we need to make in order to win the match. I was really pleased with our heart and grit to compete in this match. Concordia is just a phenomenal team and we wish them the best of luck in the tournament. Tonight they were the better team for sure."
On aggressive blocking: "We knew we really had to be aggressive on the defensive side of the ball. I think we did a pretty nice job of having a strong presence at the net. We would have like to have been on there side of the net a little more. I think it is one of those things you have to do to try slow Concordia down. If we succeeded at our blocking game we were hoping to channel some of that progress to the other aspects of our game. Once we channeled we still weren't able to make the plays when we needed them. A lot of that is just because these are some amazing hitters. They see the floor very well and put the ball exactly where they want to. They can be very hard to stop."
On strong finish: "I think we were very fortunate to just peak at the right time. Some of that had to do with the work, we started really strong but we needed to be tested. There was a part of our conference schedule by some teams who really got after it and we really weren't prepared for it. At the time it was demoralizing, it forced us to get in the trenches together and decide where we wanted to be at the end. We were able started to grow and we created a lot of trust, and depth and purpose in what we were doing. I think that was reflective on the end of the season. We peaked at just the right time of the season. I think it was a team effort, especially today. We all had a commitment to each other and what we were trying to do. There is an awful lot of heart in this group of players and coaches. I think that is probably why it went the way it did."
On lighter side, game of rock-paper-scissors in pre-game warm-up: "Basically playing team rock paper scissors. We've had a lot of arguments about how to go about playing the game. I actually stole it from a friend. The teams are trying to advance to the opposite side by winning each individual game. What we found really early on was it just relaxed us. They got to where if we didn't get enough time to get out there and play this game we were in trouble. I cut some of my speeches short to get them out there and play. It just relaxes us before warm-ups.
Junior libero Amy Watanabe
On her digging tonight: “To be honest I don't know how I got a couple of them. It was just practicing all year long. Tonight I tried not to watch their arms but watch the ball."
Senior setter Gabrielle Curtis
On becoming second all-time in assists at Metro State: “Well to be honest I did not know that. I don't know its bittersweet you know. You never know when its going to be your last game. I couldn't be more proud of this group of girls. I had no idea I'd ever get the chance to play my fifth year. I'm really happy to be where we are. Every team ends up ending their season with a loss except for the national champion. Losing to the number one team in the country with a team of sophomores. We had our middle missing this evening and our thoughts and prayers are with her and her husband. There is life beyond volleyball. Its amazing to be on a team with this much heart. There is no better feeling than playing with your best friends. This year was just a year of tremendous opportunity. The season was like a roller coaster ride. I had no idea we were going to get this far. I'm leaving this year with nothing but great memories from this team and our coach. It feels good."
On determination and playing loose: "I think our mentality was to take it point for point and play by play. Every huddle we were in were said we can't do any better than our best. You can't get overwhelmed especially with a team like Concordia because they are going to see that. You have to play like them if you want to keep up with them. When you look over to the other side of the net and they are calm and know what they are doing, that is what good teams are like. We were watching them the other night and they could be down by nine but if you look at their faces its like they're winning. A championship team doesn't get crossed up."
MATCH PHOTOS (link will direct you to CU's Flickr page)
