Box Score ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The Warriors start conference play strong on the road strong with a hard fought 3-1 victory over the persistent Cardinals.

The Warriors came out strong in the first set with a 4-0 run followed by a strong defensive performance only allowing the Cardinals two points. Tech then put together five-straight points to force Concordia into a timeout leading 9-2. After the timeout, the Warriors strung together three more points extending their run to eight for a 12-3 lead. The two teams went back-and-forth with points before the Cardinals put a 4-0 run together to get back within four of the Warriors. A kill by Taylor Paul from classmate Andrea Schriver stopped the run to give Warriors control of the serve. Neither team strung together more than a point until the Orange and Black scored four consecutive to force a timeout with a 21-13 lead. The Warriors did not let up and came out of the timeout to score two more and extend their run to six before the Cardinals made a stop. Concordia answered with a 5-0 run forcing Tech to take a timeout with the Cardinals creeping closer at 23-18. The Warriors came out and scored the next point followed by a stop to win the first set 25-19.

The second set started as a back-and-forth battle until the Cardinals gained control for three straight points for a 5-2 lead. Tech fought back to tie the set at six and then seven before Concordia kept them from taking the lead by scoring two points in a row. A block by Havilyn Cummings tied the set at nine that the Cardinals answered with a 3-0 run to take a 12-9 lead. The Warriors were down 14-10 when they strung together three points to get within one (14-13). Each team scored a point before the Cardinals scored two in a row and Tech took a timeout to slow their momentum. The Warriors came out of the timeout and went on a 3-0 run to tie the set at 17. Tech tied the set at 18, 19 and 20 before finally taking the 21-20 lead with a kill by Cummings, forcing the Cardinals into a timeout. Out of the timeout, Tech scored two more to extend their lead to 23-20. Concordia was unable to score more than one point and the Warriors finished the set with kills from Cummings and Olivia Niekamp to take a 2-0 lead.

Concordia came out fighting in the third set scoring the first three point before a block by Cummings and Paul stymied their momentum. The two teams began trading points until the Cardinals strung together four straight forcing Tech into a timeout. Out of the timeout, Concordia scored two more points before the Warriors could make a stop and get within six (13-7). Tech put together a 3-0 run to cut Concordia's lead to five before the Cardinals went on a 5-0 run to lead 21-11. The Warriors responded with three straight points only to be answered by two from the Cardinals. The Warriors had a stop with Concordia leading 24-15 and scored three points before the Cardinals scored to win the third set 2-1.

The Cardinals scored the first point of the fourth set before Tech tied the set up at one and then two before taking a 3-2 lead. Concordia answered with a 3-0 run to lead 5-3, but the Warriors kept fighting and tied the set once again at five. The Cardinals strung three points together to lead 8-5 before Tech stole the momentum with a kill by Calista Helinski to send the Warriors on a 5-0 run to take a 10-8 lead, forcing the Cardinals to take a timeout. The two teams start trading points until Concordia scores three in a row to tie the set at 12. The Warriors only respond with one opening the door for the Cardinals to take the lead 14-13 and again at 15-14. Tech took back the lead with a 3-0 run only to be answered by two 2-0 runs by the Cardinals to take a 20-19 lead, forcing the Warriors to take a timeout. Points for both teams followed by two straight for Tech resulted in a 22-22 tie and Concordia taking a timeout. Tech scored the first point out of the timeout and did not allow the Cardinals to build momentum and the Warriors won the fourth set 25-23 and their first conference match 3-1.

Tech was led by Niekamp with 12 kills followed by Cummings with eight and Paul making her college debut with eight kills as well. Genna Karbowski recorded a double-double with 24 assists and 12 digs while freshman setter Schriver earned 18 assists and seven digs. There were three other Warriors in double-digit digs with Jacey Blust leading the pack with 30 followed by Madysn Cardinal with 16 and Katrina Reynolds with 13. Cummings led the Orange and Black with six blocks.

The Warriors are back in action on Saturday with another conference match at Lawrence Tech at 1 p.m.