Sept. 3, 2011 - The Concordia-Chicago volleyball team bounced back from Friday night's loss to Concordia Austin and a Saturday morning loss to Concordia Ann Arbor to edge arch-rival Concordia Wisconsin in Saturday's final match of the Concordia Invitational Volleyball Tournament. This was the first of two meetings between the Cougars and Falcons; the second will take place Oct. 29 at Geiseman Gymnasium with that one counting for the Northern Athletics Conference standings.
The Cougars defeated the Falcons in a tense five-set thriller (25-17, 14-25, 25-17, 23-25, 15-12) after both teams had lost earlier in the day to CIVT champion Concordia Ann Arbor. Claire Mackey (Shelton, NE/Heartland Lutheran) racked up a career-high 20 kills (.351), and Sarah Potter (New Haven, IN/Woodlan) added 15 against a tough Falcons' front line that recorded 19 total points on blocks. Providing a boost to the offense was setter Savanna Ashbaugh (Waverly, IL/H.S.) who saw her first collegiate action in this match and handed out 28 assists. Combined with 24 assists from senior Briana Steffenhagen (Chicago, IL/DeLaSalle), the Cougar offense hummed to the tune of 59 kills and a .221 attack percentage.
In the loss to Ann Arbor (25-23, 27-29, 7-25, 21-25), the turning point of the match came late in set two after the Cougars had taken the first set. The Cougars served for game point twice and were denied both times. The Cardinals finnaly came through on their third try for game point, and the reversal of momentum fully revealed itself in set three. Leading 4-3, Ann Arbor's Ashley Hart served 17 consecutive points including six aces to take full control. The Cougars fought back in set four, but Ann Arbor used Hart's 17 kills and eight aces total to hold off the hosts.
Mackey led CUC with 11 kills, followed by Potter with eight and Bianca Gordon (Milwaukee, WI/Milwaukee Lutheran) with seven. Steffenhagen and Jenna Boogs (South Beloit, IL/Hononegah) each dished out 14 assists, and Maryl Pinotti (Evergreen Park, IL/H.S.) led the defensive effort with 13 digs.
Concordia-Chicago will play at Augustana College on Wednesday before competing in four matches at North Park College next weekend.
