Sept. 25, 2013 - The North Park University Vikings unleashed a powerful hitting attack on the Concordia Cougars in tonight's volleyball match on Chicago's north side. The Vikings hit .351 in keeping the Cougars on the defense for much of the evening and swept the match by scores of 25-17, 25-16 and 25-23.
In set one, Meghan O'Hara's (Sheffield Village, OH/Lutheran West) kill tied the score at 11-11, but North Park's Shelby Switzer recorded four straight kills that touched off an 8-0 run and let the Vikings pull away to the opening set victory.
The Vikings' attack was even more lethal in set two. Switzer (7 kills), Neisha Bolian (5) and Hayley Brake (4) combined to hit .625 while the Cougars hit just .167 on seven kills.
Trailing 18-11 in the third set, the Cougars rallied with the hopes of extending the match. Bianca Gordon's (Milwaukee, WI/Milwaukee Lutheran) kill gave Concordia the serve. Ally Avila (Aurora, IL/Metea Valley) then served the next three points, one coming on a key kill from Kristin Allen (Green Valley, IL/Illini Central). The Cougars eventually caught the Vikings at 20-20 and then took the lead as Lisa Koller (Indianapolis, IN/Indianapolis Lutheran) hammered one into North Park's court.
Koller's final kill moments later gave the Cougars a 23-22 lead, but the Vikings came back to take the final three points, match point coming on a service ace by Sa'Vone Williams.
Gordon's six kills led the Cougars' attack while Allen, Koller and Katie Hannon (Chicago, IL/Queen of Peace) had five each. Switzer's 16 kills led all players while Bolian added 14.
Concordia (3-10) will have some time off before resuming play on Friday, Oct. 4 when they host Concordia University Wisconsin.
