Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Sept. 5, 2017 - Following a 2-1 weekend at the Concordia Invitational Volleyball Tournament, the Concordia-Chicago Cougars were home at the friendly confines of Geiseman Gymnasium this evening to play in front of their fans. The Cougars were challenged by a pair of local opponents in North Park University and North Central College, with CUC splitting the matches to finish the evening at 3-2 heading into four matches this weekend.

The early match came against North Park University, and CUC avenged a four-set loss at North Park last year by toppling the Vikings 3-1 this time around (23-25, 25-20, 25-22, 25-21). In set one, Julia Spitelli continued her fine play from the weekend, racking up five quick kills, but the Vikings stayed close and scored four of the last five points to steal the opening set.

Spitelli continued to sizzle in set two as she connected on all five of her kill attempts. The Cougar defense also came up strong, limiting the Vikings to just three kills while forcing them into nine errors. The final one came as Spitelli and Nicoletta Crowley blocked a Vikings' hitting attempt for the final point, allowing CUC to even the match 1-1.

In set three, Austin Thompson stepped up into the attack as she knocked down four kills in seven tries, helping CUC to a .294 attack in the set. The Cougars kept driving in the fourth set with Jaylynn Johnson powering down four kills. The team also added four aces in the final set, two by Jennifer Livesay, and the hitting and serving were too much for North Park to overcome as CUC celebrated its third win of the young season.

Spitelli was outstanding with 17 kills and a .481 attack. Johnson added 11 kills while setter Crowley dished out 42 assists.

One win in the books, the Cougars looked to make it a 2-2 Tuesday as they prepared to face North Central College. It appeared as if CUC would feed off the energy of the North Park win as they edged the Cardinals 25-23 in set one. This time, it was Thompson that came out with the fast start, netting seven kills in 15 tries. The defense was sturdy with libero Elise Sombke recording seven of the Cougars' 19 digs.

The Cougars went in quest of their fifth straight set victory of the evening, but the Cardinals won 25-19 and stole the momentum for the match in the process. North Central stepped up its serving with five aces, including one on set point, and Cara Howell led the visitors with six kills in eight tries, Shelby Spitz kept CUC in the battle with two kills and two blocks, but the two teams headed to set three, tied at a set apiece.

In set three, momentum belonged irreversibly to the visitors. North Central hit .481 (16-3-27), led by a torrid Rachel Elshoff with nine kills in 12 tries. The Cardinals added 10 kills and a .267 in set four while CUC showed signs of fatigue, and North Central wrapped up their four-set victory (23-25, 25-19, 25-19, 25-14).

Thompson led the Cougars with 11 kills and Johnson 10, but the Cougars hit just .105 collectively while the Cardinals managed .269. 

"Against North Park, we came through with the attitude that we needed in order to control most of that match," said CUC head coach Troy Campbell. "In the North Central match, we did not serve as aggressively, and our serve receiving let down too. Also give North Central credit, they made some plays and did not let us do some of the things we had wanted to do."

Campbell was happy with the team's 3-2 record after these first five matches. "We've seen some quality teams, and it's good to see that early on when we can find out some things about ourselves and where we need to go from here."

The Cougars will travel to northern Wisconsin on Friday and Saturday for four matches in the Northland College Tournament.