Oct. 25, 2014 - The Concordia-Chicago volleyball team closed out the 2014 season this evening with a home match against Alverno College. The two teams battled neck-and-neck most of the night, but the Cougars' inability to close out a couple of the sets cost them dearly as the Inferno previaled in four sets (26-24, 21-25, 28-26, 25-19).

Both teams hit well in the first set. Alverno was led by Cali Trepp's five kills while Kaylyn Anderson (East Chicago, IN/Whiting) powered out six kills in 11 attempts (.455). Anderson's solo block gave the Cougars a 24-22 lead, but the Inferno raged back to take the next four points. A block by Emily Ortner and Jessica Wewers provided the final point as CUC went to the bench looking to regroup for set two.

The Cougars did indeed regroup as they squeezed out a close four-point win to even the match. Anderson and Trepp were again the hitting leaders for their respective teams, but Anderson gave CUC the edge with six kills in eight attempts. Leading 23-20, Brittany Schuld's (Chicago, IL/Walther Lutheran) ace got the Cougars to the brink, and Anderson's kill finished the set.

In set three, the Cougars let slip away a couple of golden opportunities. Trailing 21-20, kills by Austin Thompson (Morris, IL/Morris Community) and Mary Arredia (Franklin Park, IL/West Leyden) and an ace by Thompson gave CUC a 23-21 lead. The Cougars faced game point situations twice but were unable to seal the deal, and the Inferno took advantage the second time by scoring the final three points to take a stunning victory and a 2-1 lead in the match.

Alverno took control of set four at the midway point. With CUC leading 9-8, the visitors reeled off five straight point to take a lead they would not relinquish. Moments later, a 5-0 run gave Alverno a 22-13 lead, and they would close out the match shortly afterwards.

Ortner and Trepp led Alverno with 14 and 13 kills respectively. For CUC, Anderson had 24 kills and a .288 attack percentage while Arredia added 14 kills. Career-high marks went to Courtney Kugath (Belvidere, IL/H.S.) with 43 assists and Hannah Johnson (Chesapeake, VA/Hickory) with 27 digs. Senior Meghan O'Hara (Sheffield Village, OH/Lutheran West) played her final match with the Cougars and was strong at the net with six block assists.

The Cougars finished with a 5-24 record, 2-9 in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference.