GEORGETOWN, Texas – The Southwestern University Pirates volleyball team defeated the Concordia Tornados in four sets, winning 25-16, 23-25, 25-17, 25-18 to improve to 5-4 on the season.

Southwestern utilized a balanced attack and strong serve game to keep Concordia off balance, getting two Pirates with 11 kills and a third with nine.  The Pirates also doubled the Tornados in aces at 8-4.

Head Coach Don Flora and First Year Outside Hitter Emma White discuss the @SUPiratesVB team's 3-1 victory over Concordia Texas: pic.twitter.com/uxgUeo45HP

— Southwestern Pirates (@SUPirates) September 14, 2019

• First year Riley Brantley and sophomore Lauren Crabtree led the way with 11 kills each. Brantley was efficient with a .259 hitting percentage, showcasing chemistry with first year setter Katelyn Whitehead on low, quick sets to catch Concordia flat-footed.
  
  Brantley also took advantage of the Pirates' serve game, stuffing a few uncontrolled Concordia digs back at them. She also led the team with five block assists.
  
  
• Crabtree struggled to place some of her attacks (seven errors) but was overpowering at times, memorably knocking Concordia libero Emma Reed to the floor with the power of one kill. She also displayed her all-around game, finishing with 11 digs and two block assists to go with her 11 kills.
  
  
• Both teams started sloppy with the serve, combining for eight errors in the first set. Southwestern overcame the early struggles with brilliant passing, getting 16 kills on 37 attacks with only two errors for a .378 hitting percentage.
  
  
• As good as they were in the first set, the Pirates were equally inefficient in the second, hitting .040 with 11 errors to give Concordia its lone set of the match.
  
  
• First year Emma White set the tone in the fourth set with her serving, opening with three consecutive aces and four overall to give the Pirates an early 8-0 lead.

Southwestern will return to action on Monday, Sep. 16, hosting East Texas Baptist University at 6:00 p.m. They open conference next weekend in Shreveport, La. with matches against Schreiner, Centenary, Dallas, and Colorado College.