Oct. 2, 2015 - Concordia-Chicago's 2015 Homecoming Weekend started off on a winning note tonight as the Cougar volleyball team took down the Milwaukee School of Engineering Raiders tonight by a score of 3-1 (25-22, 25-20, 14-25, 25-20).

The Cougars came out in front of a good Homecoming crowd tonight with a ton of energy from the opening serve. MSOE countered with a very strong attack themselves in the first set. It would be a back and forth affair in the set with the Cougars trailing 21-19 when they scored five straight points with Jackie Bartnicki (Chicago, IL/Guerin Prep) serving. Austin Thompson (Morris, IL/Morris Community H.S.) had three kills among the last six Cougar points and finished with eight kills in the first set. The last kill was off a powerful swing that excited the Cougar faithful as it gave CUC the opening set victory.

The second set saw the Cougars come out carrying the momentum from the first-set victory. They never trailed MSOE in the set. Emily Marcus (Chesterton, IN/H.S. would get involved in the action with her defensive play leading the way with 12 digs through two sets for the home side. The Cougar offense was in full swing as well during the second set, finishing with 16 kills and just three attack errors.

MSOE took advantage of multiple Cougar errors in set three to avoid the sweep and keep themselves in the match, snatching back some of the momentum heading into set four.

A fired up head coach Troy Campbell could be seen on the Cougar sideline keeping his team's heads up and in the game, and it proved to be exactly what they needed. The Cougars ran off six straight points to start the set, forcing an MSOE timeout. The Cougars led by as many as seven points in the set, but MSOE would not quit. The Raiders would get it as close as 15-14 in the set before the Cougars took control of the match for good, sealing the Homecoming opening weekend victory.

Thompson was the story of the night for the Cougars; she would finish with 25 kills on the evening. She credited her setter Nicoletta Crowley (Romeoville, IL/H.S.), saying that "she did a great job. The sets were right where I needed them, and her ability to set the middle at crucial times was big tonight."

Coach Campbell attributed some of the Cougars' energy to the crowd that came out to support the team tonight. However, in talking about the game, he would say "it was pretty textbook in the first two games, Austin with her 25 kills, and our hustle defense playing fantastic as well." He would also compliment Crowley, saying that "I was proud of what she did tonight. She has adjusted so well into our system and is still growing."

The Cougars (7-10, 2-1 NACC) head to Concordia Wisconsin tomorrow afternoon to face the Falcons. First serve is scheduled for 12 p.m.