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Tigers hand Concord first loss of season

Photo by James Nix

Mount Pleasant's Katelyn Cline (6) and Bailey Schadler (7) celebrate a point over Concord Tuesday night in Mount Pleasant.

By Steve Winzenread | Independent Tribune

Published: September 15, 2009

MOUNT PLEASANT — Sometimes one team just needs a win more than the other.

Or maybe that had nothing to do with it.

Whatever the case, the Mount Pleasant volleyball team handed Concord its first loss of the season on Tuesday night.

Two of the top South Piedmont Conference teams went at it for four games, with the Tigers prevailing 25-21, 19-25, 25-21, 25-23.

Tigers coach Michelle Barrett was certain about one thing: The return of Samantha Kuenzli sparked her team.

"This is her first time getting back on the floor," Barrett said. "We had a little extra commotion and excitement, getting a senior back who has worked so hard to rehab (from injury)."

The Tigers (6-3, 4-1) jumped to a 5-0 lead behind the serving of Bailey Schadler. But Concord (9-1, 4-1) rallied to lead 12-10.

The opening game turned when Jocelyn Parnell served for four points in a row and a 15-12 lead, and Schadler added two more points as Mount Pleasant went up 18-13.

The Spiders showed their grit in game two, scoring nine of the final 11 points to win on a kill by Heather Wilson.

Concord was ahead 13-8 and 15-12 in game three before being outscored 13-6 the rest of the way.

The Spiders scored three consecutive points to trail 24-21 before Parnell closed the door with a kill.

Neither team led by more than three points in decisive game four. Concord was up 23-22, but the Tigers scored the last three points, the final two on aces by Katelyn Cline, giving the Tigers a win they badly needed to stay in the SPC running.

"That's huge for us," Barrett said. "Just a very exciting match for our girls to play, period, just good volleyball, period.

In the win, Rebecca Love had 8 digs, 11 kills and 5 block assists; Parnell 12 kills and 7 total blocks (4 solo); Kuenzli 15 assists; Schadler 10 assists and Katie Suther 6 kills.

"Everybody did their job," Barrett said. "Everybody stayed up. It was a good match for us. We touched a lot of balls; we were smart; we were aggressive."

Mount Pleasant already has a league loss to Hickory Ridge, which is unbeaten in the SPC.

Concord plays at Hickory Ridge on Thursday as the Spiders continue a challenging week.

For the Spiders, Wilson had 4 aces, 22 kills and 10 assists; Katie Beecher 15 kills; Ellie Cochran 12 assists and Tara Trahey 4 aces and 6 kills.

"Hard-fought at both ends," said CHS coach Leanne Havely. "We'll be ready for them when we see them again. We don't give up. Everybody has to lose sometime. It's not over."

Mount Pleasant won the junior varsity match 21-25, 25-15, 25-14.

For the Tigers (7-2, 4-1), Kathryn Eudy had 7 aces and 14 assists, Kendall Ross 5 kills and Samantha Schueneman served for eight points in a row in game three.