Oct. 5, 2011 - The Concordia volleyball team began a string of five straight home matches this evening with their toughest challenge of the season to date - a match with the University of Chicago who entered play with an 18-2 record and a 16th place ranking in the most recent NCAA Division III poll. The Cougars could not slow down the Maroons who rolled to their 19th victory by winning in three sets (25-15, 25-13, 25-17).

Chicago took control of the match midway through set one. The Maroons hit a solid .370 with 13 kills in the opening set, and they maintained a balanced attack the entire evening. None of the MAroons recorded more than seven kills, but they would finish the match with a fine .291 hitting percentage.

Concordia gave a good effort and stayed close for a while behind the hitting of Sarah Potter (New Haven, IN/Woodlan) with 11 kills and Claire Mackey (Shelton, NE/Heartland Lutheran) with six kills. But the Cougars' hitting fell off after an opening set in which they recorded 10 kills and a .222 attack percentage; they would manage just 14 kills and an .095 in sets two and three.

The Cougars (7-11) return to action on Friday when they host a tri-match. Concordia will battle Northern Athletics Conference rival Marian University at 3:00 and North Park University at 7:00.