MVNU (39-5) got off to great start in the first game as sophomore middle hitter Stephanie Zollars pounded two kills and senior middle hitter Shena Beheler (left), junior outside hitter Audrey Hickinbotham, and sophomore outside hitter Courtney Springer each smashed a kill to give the Lady Cougars an early 10-4 lead.

The Eagles (29-5), who were ranked third in the final NAIA poll, began to chip away at the lead as they served up five aces and rallied to knot the match at 16-16. From there, Concordia used a 14-4 run to close the game for a 30-20 victory.

The second game went back and forth with 10 ties and two lead changes with the score knotted at 14-14. Then, the Eagles moved in front and built a 24-21 advantage. However, two kills by freshman middle hitter Jackie Albrecht, a kill by Beheler, and an ace by Springer gave MVNU a 25-24 advantage as the Lady Cougars refused to give up.

That would be the final lead of the game for MVNU, though, as Concordia registered four kills and an ace down the stretch to come away with a 30-26 victory.

With their backs against the wall, MVNU continued to battle as the Lady Cougars jumped out to a quick 5-1 lead in the third game as Beheler pounded two kills and combined with Zollars and sophomore setter Kaylin Austen on a pair of blocks.

After the Eagles pulled within 6-5, MVNU pushed its lead back to 13-8 as Springer led the way with two kills and Beheler and Albrecht each added one kill apiece.

With the Lady Cougars still holding a 15-10 advantage, Concordia used an 11-5 run to move in front 21-20 as the Eagles ripped seven kills during that span.

However, once again, MVNU refused to go quietly as Beheler and Albrecht each smashed kills to help knot the score at 24-24.

After Concordia built a 27-24 advantage, the Lady Cougars got two kills from Beheler and a kill from Albrecht to pull within 28-27, but a pass by the Eagles fell in for a point and they posted a block to close out the game 30-27 and give Concordia the match.

“We played really well in this match,” said MVNU head coach Paul Swanson. “(Concordia) is a very good team and we gave them a good battle, especially in the second and third games. We played with a lot of energy and excitement and failed to give in without a fight. I was extremely pleased with our effort in this match.”

Beheler led the Lady Cougars with 13 kills and six blocks, while senior libero Tiffany Milburn (right) posted 15 digs as the duo closed out their illustrious careers. Albrecht and Springer both pounded nine kills apiece with Springer tallying 12 digs. Austen handed out 27 assists to go with 10 digs, and Zollars and Hickinbotham both finished with three kills each.

“Although we are disappointed that we did not win a match (at the NAIA National Tournament), we definitely played some very good teams well,” said Swanson of his team which had a pair of five-game losses in addition to the match against Concordia as MVNU finished pool play 0-3. “When you get to this level of tournament, the other teams will make you pay for your mistakes. We can be proud of the way that we represented ourselves, our school, and our conference.”

“Making it to the NAIA National Tournament for the first time was a tremendous accomplishment for this team,” said Swanson. “From the beginning of the season until now, we improved so much and even overachieved at times. This was a special team made up of a group of special players and I have really enjoyed spending this year with them.”

The Lady Cougars finish the year by tying the school record for fewest losses in a season with their 39-5 mark. The team also was ranked 13th in the final NAIA poll - the highest ranking in the program’s history - and won its seventh conference title to go with the program’s first NAIA Region IX Tournament title.