Condors Finish Strong at Mideast Qualifier

The CVC Condors traveled to Columbus, OH to participate in the Mideast qualifier the weekend of March 27-29, 2009. The Condors began the tournament slowly dropping three matches on the opening day of the tournament. The girls settled down and rallied in the second and third day of the tournament. The team's play improved as the tournament went along.

The Condors began day three of the tournament facing the Hoosiers 14 Regional Team in the first round of the single elimination portion of the tournament. Naomi Burke gave the Condors an early lead with a 7-0 service run. During the run, she had two (2) aces and Sara Przybyla and Chelsea Owensby each recorded one (1) kill. Maddie Chervenak followed Burke service run with a 4-0 run of her own to put the Condors ahead 20-5. Back-to back kills by Jordan Lawson and a service ace by Przybyla put the first set away 25-11. Owensby paced the Condors to an 8-1 lead in set two with a 7-0 service run of her own. The run included two (2) aces and one (1) kill by Lexi White-Torruellas. Mallory Baldwin (1 ace) extended the Condors lead to 24-11 with a 7-0 service run of her own. The Condors won the second set 25-13 and won the match 2-0.

The Condors defeated the St. Louis Angels 26-24, 16-25, 15-7 to advance to the third round of play. The first set went back and forth and the Angels led 24-22 when Burke began her serve. She won two points and assisted on White-Torruellas’ kill to give the Condors a 25-24 lead. The Condors took the next point for the 26-24 win. Allison Kupiec lead the Condors attack with three (3) kills and Owensby provided six (6) assists. The second set was all Angels as they forced a third and deciding set with a 25-16 win. Becca Pierce (1 kill) and Taylor Latimer (2 kills) paced the offense in defeat. Burke paced the attack once again in third and deciding set. Her 6-0 run with two (2) aces gave the Condors a 9-4 lead. Fine defensive play by Alli Cable and Chervenak extended the lead to 14-6 before a kill by Jordan Lawson sealed the match with the 15-7 win.

The Condors swept two sets from Circle City 25-15, 25-22 to reach the finals of the Platinum Division. Chervenak (2 aces) provided the team with a 9-0 service run for a 14-3 lead. Cable provided three (3) digs and Lawson two (2) kills as the Condors won handily 25-15. The second set was closer throughout. Burke’s 4-0 service run gave the Condors a 10-8 lead. Kupiec and White-Torruellas each added kills to give the Condors a 23-20 lead; on the way to the 25-22 win and a sweep of the match.

The Condors tournament came to an end in the finals of the Platinum Division with a 25-12, 25-21 loss to Columbus Volleyball Academy. Columbus went on a run to finish off the first set 25-12. The Condors led 13-11 in the second set behind fine play from Przybyla (2 kills) and Kupiec (1 kill). Columbus responded with a run and led 20-19 before a kill by Przybyla tied the set at 20. A kill by Pierce pulled the Condors within 23-21 before Columbus won the set and the match with a 25-21 win.

The Condors began the second day of the tournament winning two out of three games from the Spirit 25-19, 25-23, 17-25. Chervenak's 5-0 service run gave the Condors a 20-14 lead in the first game. Lawson led the net play with one (1) kill and one (1) block. The Spirit cut the lead to 20-17 before a 3-0 service run by Burke put the Condors ahead 24-18 on their way to the 25-19 win. Kupiec paced the Condors offense in the second game with five (5) kills all assisted by Owensby. White-Torruellas rallied the team from a 23-21 deficit with a 4-0 service run for the 25-23 win. The Condors started quickly in the third game. Service aces by White-Torruellas, Lawson and Burke provided CVC with an 11-6 lead. An ace and kill by Pierce gave the Condors a 16-15 lead; however the Spirit rallied for a 25-17 win.

CVC dropped three games to Legacy 25-17, 28-26, 25-8 to finish day two with a 2-4 pool record. Game two was a see-saw affair with Lawson (4 kills) pacing the Condors to a 16-8 lead. Legacy pulled within 16-15 before Lawson's kill and Kupiec's ace expanded the lead to 20-15. Legacy stormed back to take a 25-24 lead before Przybyla's block and Lawson's kill put the Condors ahead 26-28. Legacy ran off a 3-0 string for a 28-26 win. Game three was all Legacy as they won easily 25-8.