Oct. 16, 2015 -  In a match that featured two teams battling for position in the NACC tournament, it was the Lakeland Muskies who would take down the Concordia-Chicago Cougars by a score of 3-0 (25-22, 25-19, 25-18).

Tonight's match in Geiseman Gymnasium featured an energy and intensity that seemed to be at a season's peak.A postseason feel was in the air, as both teams would fight hard, with there being multiple long runs of play before a point would be scored. The first set started off with a bang. Austin Thompson (Morris, IL/Morris Community) and Emily Marcus (Chesterton, IN/H.S.) hammered home kills that staked the Cougars to the early 11-7 lead. Unfortunately, CUC's momentum would be answered back with a long eight-point run by the Muskies, forcing a Cougar timeout. The Cougars did not quit in the set, stealing back the momentum and the lead on Raven Burns' (Shorewood, IL/Minooka) kill for a 22-21 lead. However, Lakeland came out of the timeout and scored the final four points of the set to take it 25-22.

As they have all season, the Cougars came out strong in the second set. Nicoletta Crowley (Romeoville, IL/H.S.) served three straight points to extend the early Cougar lead out to 7-1. Lakeland again came out of the ensuing timeout and go on the offensive, Coupled with multiple Cougar attack errors, the Muskies came all the way back for a 15-10 lead.  CUC gave it their all but would never get any closer than within two points, and they dropped the second set by a 25-19 score.

The third set saw Lakeland ride the momentum to the three-set sweep. They jumped out to a 9-3 lead before Concordia could regroup. The Cougars would not fall any farther behind in the set but wouldn't be able to muster up enough offense to sustain a long enough run to catch the Muskies.

"We came out with great energy and intensity, and that's what we need to be able to make the next step as a program," said CUC head coach Troy Campbell after the match. "We played hard and I am proud of the team. Now we need to regroup and get ready for another big match tomorrow."

The Cougars (8-13, 3-4 NACC) will need extremely short memories of tonight's match, as they will be back in action on their home floor Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m. against Marian University.