ST. PAUL, Minn. – The St. Catherine University volleyball team rallied to claim the third set and pushed Concordia College to extra points in the fourth before falling 3-1 (15-25, 9-25, 25-23, 27-29) Friday evening at Butler Center. The Wildcats moved to 2-10 overall and 0-1 in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) play.
Maddie Newton and Marta Haugen led the Wildcats offensively with 10 kills apiece. Newton also recorded 20 digs and two service aces, while Maneeje Mostaghimi matched her with 20 digs. Quinlynn Parish and Addison Vandereide contributed seven kills each, with Parish hitting a team-best .333.
After dropping the opening two sets, the Wildcats responded with a determined third-set performance. Trailing 20-15, St. Kate's battled back to even the score at 23-23. Consecutive points, including a kill from Vandereide, sealed a 25-23 victory and kept the Wildcats in the match.
The fourth set featured a back-and-forth battle as St. Kate's built a 23-20 advantage before Concordia rallied. The Wildcats fought off multiple late challenges, tying the score at 27-27 on a Parish kill, but the Cobbers secured the final two points to take the set 29-27 and clinch the match.
Addison Preuss directed the Wildcats' offense with 20 assists, while Lauren Dallas added 11. Alivia Hanover chipped in five kills and a solo block. St. Kate's finished with 43 kills, 61 digs and four service aces.
The Wildcats are on the road Saturday facing Gustavus Adolphus College at St. Peter High School at 5 pm. They return to Butler Center on Friday, October 2 hosting the Hamline University Pipers at 7 pm.
