(Sept. 8, 2007 - Defiance, OH) -- Concordia head volleyball coach Dan Kirchhoff was hoping that his team could bring home some hardware from at least one of the three tournaments the Cards have played in, but the first day has left the Cards 1-5 thus far. But the second day has been much kinder as Concordia has finished with a 4-2 mark after sweeping on Saturday in the Defiance Invitational after taking Wilmington College in four sets and Wayneburg College in straight sets. Middle hitter Erin Walczak (Sr. - DeWitt, Mich.) was named to the All-Tournament team after finishing the four games with an average of 9.2 kills, 2 aces, 4.2 digs, 1.5 blocks and 3.8 block assists.

The Cards, who dropped the first two games of the tournament, came back strong to open Saturday's contests as they dropped Wilmington College in four sets 30-19, 28-30, 30-18, 30-24. Concordia absolutely dominated net play as a quartet of Cards combined for 65 of the team's 70 kills for the match. Samantha Cuppen (Jr. - Port Huron, Mich.) lead the way with 21, followed by 19 from Erica Manning (Jr. - St. Johns, Mich.), 14 from Walczak and 11 from Amanda Taylor (Jr. - Loves Park, Ill.).

While the foursome were playing above the net, setter Lindsay Trumitch (Jr. - Riverview, Mich.) was methodical with her sets as she registered 52 assists for the match. As important as the offense was, the defense kept stifling any Wilmington attack as libero Ashley Zair (So. - West Bloomfield, Mich.) continues her stellar second season as she lead the way with 26 digs. Cuppen and Trumitch had 16 and 13 digs, respectively.

Picking up the first win of the tourney motivated the Cards as the steamrolled their final opponent in Waynesburg College in straight sets 30-17, 31-29, 30-19.

Cuppen and Walczak combined for 23 kills with Taylor and Shawna Dorton (Jr. - Lincoln Park, Mich.) each adding eight. Trumitch finished with 32 assists while Zair had 12 digs for Concordia.

While Kirchhoff may be disappointed he hasn't brought home a tournament trophy, he can rest easier knowing that his team is vastly improved from the team he inherited last season. Only three weeks into this season, the team is only two wins behind last year's total of seven and the Cards didn't win their fifth match until Oct. 21.

The Cardinals will return to action on Tuesday when they travel to Ursuline College for a nonconference matchup.