Box Score PORTLAND, Ore. – Concordia recovered after losing the first set to win three straight sets to defeat Northwest University 3-1 (18-25, 25-19, 25-15, 25-14) on the opening night of Cascade Conference play.

Northwest U came out fast in the first set taking a 16-7 lead, a lead which they would maintain throughout the set. Concordia would close the gap to three, 18-15, but a kill by Rae Ann Haistings, a service ace by Amanda Waterman and another kill by Haistings would increase the Eagle lead to 22-16 as NU would win the set.

After NU took an early 6-4 lead, Concordia would outscore NU 7-3 to take an 11-9 lead. Six ties would follow as the teams would battle it out for the lead and it would be CU breaking the final tie at 17-all with a 3-0 run to take a 20-17 lead.  Kills by Kelsie Christensen and Lindsey Dorsey in addition to an NU attack error would end set two, 25-19, Concordia.

The third set would be tightly contested as Concordia would hold on to a 15-14 lead. The Cavaliers would then outscore Northwest 10-1 with four kills in the final 5 plays to earn the 25-15 win and go up 2-1 in sets.

Concordia would start fast in the final set racing out to an 11-3 lead which would prove difficult for the Eagles to recover. Nicole Barth and Lindsey Dorsey would put together back-to-back kills to build the Cav lead to 22-10 as Dorsey would close out the set and the match with a kill for a 25-14 set victory.

Northwest U's (6-5, 0-1 CCC) freshman Amanda Waterman continued her impressive start to her collegiate career with a match high 16 kills and 10 digs for her 4^th double-double of the young season. Leia Roy led NU with 18 digs and Christina Gleb had a team high 16 assists.

Concordia (RV, 4-4, 1-0 CCC) was led by Lindsey Dorsey and Brenna Huwe who tied for teams honors with 15 kills each. Dorsey hit .400 for the match and Huwe had a .333 hitting average. Jenessa Taylor had a match high 45 assists and teammate Shantal Gritsch had 22 digs for the Cavaliers.

Said NU head coach Steven Bain, "We obviously started strong but as the match unfolded, Concordia raised their level of play and we were unable to match their effort and intensity. Their defense also made some nice adjustments which frustrated our hitters which led to poor decisions on our side of the net. If we pay attention, we can learn from the experience and be a better team the next time we play."

Northwest U remains in Portland and will play Warner Pacific tomorrow night at 5 p.m. in another CCC contest.