Sept. 21, 2013 - The first three weeks of the 2013 season have been a rocky road for the Concordia-Chicago volleyball team. But the team's first home matches of the year, four of them over the two days of the Concordia Volleyball Fall Invitational, gave good reason for optimism in the upcoming weeks. The Cougars raised their level of play and took two victories over Purdue University Calumet and Maranatha Baptist Bible College.

Wheaton College provided the first test of the weekend and withstood a late challenge from the home team to prevail 25-13, 25-16 and 27-25. Sophomore Kristin Allen (Green Valley, IL/Illini Central) turned in her finest effort of the season to date as she recorded 11 kills and a .308 attack, but Wheaton received an outstanding effort by Maddie McGinnis (17 kills, .483).

Purdue Calumet provided the next opposition, and the Peregrines took the first set by a 25-22 score. But the Cougars clawed back to take the next three sets by 25-19, 25-16 and 28-26. Concordia knocked down a season-high 45 kills with tremendous balance. Allen led the way with 12, and she was backed by Katie Hannon (Chicago, IL/Queen of Peace) with nine, Bianca Gordon (Milwaukee, WI/Milwaukee Lutheran) with eight, and Lisa Koller (Indianapolis, IN/Indianapolis Lutheran) with seven. The Cougars' blocking game was also in top form with 12 points on blocks led by Gordon's eight (1-7).

The Cougars' momentum carried over into Saturday morning when they took on their former conference rival Maranatha Baptist. Although each set of this match was played close to the vest, the Cougars emerged with the sweep by scores of 25-22, 25-21 and 25-21. Gordon was nearly unstoppable in the middle as she riddled the Crusaders' defense with 16 kills and a .467 attack. Three more Cougars followed Gordon in recording double-digit kills - Allen with 11, and Hannon and Koller with 10 each. Setter Jenna Boggs (South Beloit, IL/Hononegah) handed out a season-high 41 assists.

The final match of the weekend pitted Concordia against North Central College, also winners of two of their first three matches over the weekend. The Cardinals had the better of play in this match, winning by scores of 25-17, 25-20 and 25-20. Gordon led the Cougars with 10 kills and a .529 attack.

Concordia (2-9) will return to Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play on Tuesday when they host Rockford University.