Aug. 31, 2012 - Day one of the 2012 Concordia Invitational Volleyball Tournament in Austin, Texas resulted in a split of two three-set matches for Concordia University Chicago. The Cougars lost the first match 25-16, 25-18, 25-16 to Concordia University Ann Arbor but roared back to sweep the Falcons of Concordia University Wisconsin by scores of 25-6, 25-22 and 25-19. The win over CUW was the Cougars' first for new head coach Alison Shepp.

Leading 8-3 in the first set against the Falcons, Bianca Gordon's (Milwaukee, WI/Milwaukee Lutheran) kill triggered a 12-point run by the Cougars. Sarah James (Riverside, IL/Riverside-Brookfield) served up four aces during the run, and Sarah Brendel's (Hazelwood, MO/Hazelwood West) two kills accounted for the 11th and 12th points of the run to put the Cougars in firm control.

Senior Claire Mackey (Sheldon, NE/Heartland Lutheran) paced the attack with nine kills and a .312 hitting percentage. Gordon, Brendel and freshman Kristin Allen (Green Valley, IL/Illini Central) added eight kills apiece with Gordon recording a .462 attack and Brendel a .389. The Cougars hit a collective .298 for the match on 39 kills in 84 attempts.

In the Ann Arbor match, 23 hitting errors plagued the Cougars. Mackey again led the way with nine kills, but the Cougars were unable to dig out of the early hole against the well-seasoned Cardinals who were playing their 11th match of the season.

The Cougars will play host team Concordia University Austin on Saturday morning before returning home.