River Forest, Ill. - Concordia University Chicago's women's volleyball team faced off against conference foe Lakeland University and Mount Mary University. In the first match the Cougars took on Lakeland University in a NACC matchup. Both teams were fighting for conference standing but unfortunately for CUC, the Muskies came out to play and took the match 3-0 (25-22, 25-19, 25-17) handing the Cougars their third conference loss. In the second match of the day the Cougars went up against Mount Mary University, and dominated play from the opening serve winning in three sets (25-13, 25-15, 25-9).

The first match of the day was against NACC opponent Lakeland University. Fighting for a higher conference standing, both teams traded punches early into the first set. The score sat at 6-6 before Lakeland put the pressure on the Cougars and climbed to a 10-6 lead. 

Staying composed, CUC shook off the rust and did not let the Muskies take control of the game. The lead disappeared and the Cougars saw themselves tied at 13-13. A long rally ended with a Julia Spitelli kill, and was followed up by an ace by Jennifer Lifesay to give CUC the lead 15-13. 

All the way until the end the lead changed hands multiple times. With the score standing at 23-22 in favor of Lakeland, the Cougars took a needed timeout to recuperate. One play later the Muskies made it 24-22 and CUC decided to take their second timeout. Set one ended with a  Muskies kill and a score of 25-22.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

With Lakeland taking the first set, the Cougars were looking to steal set two and even up the match. The Muskies started off serving first, jumping out to a 4-1 lead. CUC kept hanging around by three points and the score eventually was 11-8. Needing to find an answer and quick, the Cougars called a timeout after a couple of mishaps and the score being 13-9. 

After the timeout CUC was still struggling to catch up and found themselves dug in a 19-12 hole with time running out in the second set. Despite a trio of late kills by Elise Sombke, Alexa Lomantini, and Spitelli, the Cougars  were still fighting a slight deficit. Then Jalynn Johnson faked out the defense and earned herself a kill as well helping the Cougars cut the lead to 21-19, thus forcing the Muskies to take a timeout. 

Following the Muskies timeout they came out firing and reeled back in the momentum springing to a 25-19 set two win, and suddenly the Cougars were in survival mode. 

Set three started with Cougars serving, but Lakeland fired up for three straight points to take a 3-0 lead. The Cougars kept it within three and shortly the score was 10-7. Concordia-Chicago was forced into another timeout due to great play by the Muskies with the score at 15-10. CUC was searching for a much needed spark to battle back in three consecutive sets. Austin Thompson came out of the timeout with a kill, but the Muskies once again weathered the storm and took an 18-11 lead forcing the Cougars to spend their final timeout of set three. 

Similar to the first timeout, the Cougars came out with a kill, but this time it was by Livesay. Even though the Cougars hung tough coming out of the timeout it was too little too late for CUC to make a comeback. Three straight kills by Lakeland put the dagger into the Cougars and the Muskies took the match sweeping the Cougars 3-0. 

Key performers in the first match included Shannon Stamp and Livesay, who both recorded eight kills along with Nicoletta Crowley adding twenty-seven assists. 

Coming into the next match against Mount Mary University, CUC was looking to come out of the day with a win. 

Starting off the first set of the match, CUC earned the first three points and looked ready to roll. Rolling through the first set, the Cougars took a 11-6 lead off of consecutive kills by Stamp and Shelby Spitz. The push by CUC led Mount Mary University to take a timeout. Following the timeout the Cougars increased their lead to 19-11 and forced Mount Mary to take their second timeout.  Continuing their dominance in set one, Concordia-Chicago breezed to a 25-13 win. 

Moving along to set two, the Cougars looked to keep their rhythm. They did just that while benefiting off of early Mount Mary mistakes and jumping to an early 4-1 lead. An ace by Stamp made it 10-4 and no signs of the CUC attack slowing down. Concordia-Chicago went on a  7-2 run to make it 17-6 late in the second set. Errors plagued Mount Mary and CUC took full advantage in a 25-15 set two win. 

Fast forwarding into set three, the Cougars held a strong 2-0 lead and were looking to close out Mount Mary in three sets. Right out of the gate in set three CUC sprung to a 7-3 lead after a Lomantini kill. Errors by Mount Mary once again hurt their chances at a comeback. Concordia-Chicago forced Mount Mary into a timeout while leading 14-6. 

Everybody was getting involved for the Cougars in set three and a kill by Samantha Houser made the score 19-7. Mount Mary ran out of time and opportunities to win and the Cougars took set three 25-9 to sweep their second match of the day. 

Key performers for CUC in the second match included Spitelli with nine kills, Lomantini with four kills, and Kelly Gootee with seventeen assists.

The Cougars (16-8, 3-3 NACC) look to add to their win total when they face off against MSOE next Friday at home at 7:00 p.m.