Concordia University has three-peated as NCAA Division II National Champions.  With a 3-0 win over West Texas A&M on Saturday evening, 1,869 screaming fans celebrated a third consecutive NCAA title for the Golden Bears.  CU completes a perfect 37-0 season and continues their NCAA-record 74 match win streak.  This is the first time that any Division I or II program has won three straight national trophies.

The Golden Bears took the match in straight sets, the 32nd time out of 37 season matches that CU won without giving up a set.  Freshman middle hitter Cassie Haag (Plymouth, Minn.) led the team with 13 kills and four blocks.  Maggie McNamara(S, Sr., Zumbrota, Minn.) added 38 assists to wrap up her four-time All-American career with an NCAA record 7,341 assists.  Senior Mary Slinger (L, Faribault, Minn.) completes her career as CU’s all-time digs leader with 2,349 digs, adding 20 to her career total in tonight’s Championship match.

West Texas A&M had a massive defensive effort that held the Golden Bears to their second lowest hitting average of the season, .174.  But Concordia countered with a defensive front that once again featured a tremendous blocking front.  CU got countless touches on the Lady Buff attacks and whenever a hit DID manage to get past the net, the Slinger-led defense stepped in to save the day.  West Texas was held to only 26 kills in the match with a .037 hitting average.  This was the first time the Lady Buffs were swept this season.

The Golden Bears had five players named to the 2009 NCAA Championship All-Tournament Team, Maggie McNamara, Mary Slinger, Sadie Kessler, Emily Palkertand Megan Carlson.

–Courtesy CUSP Athletics