Chicago, Ill. – Finding themselves right in the middle of the playoff picture as the conference season enters the final week, the Concordia University Chicago Cougars (11-12, 6-4 NACC) headed to the south side of Chicago to take on the Illinois Tech Scarlet Hawks (4-16, 1-9 NACC) tonight. The Cougars were clicking on all cylinders, taking the match in straight sets.
 
In set one, the Cougars jumped out to a quick 6-1 lead with Courtney Luciano serving. Shannon Stamp aided in the opening run with two kills. IIT battled back through to tie up the set midway through. They then were able to take the lead at 21-20 late in the set. CUC didn't panic though, getting a kill by Jennifer Livesay to tie the set at 21. The Cougars took the lead for good on an IIT error and a Jaylynn Johnson kill, taking set one 25-23.
 

VB: Cougars take set one 25-23!!! Jaylynn Johnson and @shannon_stamp lead with three kills each! #RestoreTheRoar pic.twitter.com/zwLwtiIkBr

— CUC Athletics (@CUChicagoSports) October 17, 2018

Set two started closely played in the early points. The Cougars opened up some breathing room as the attack of Stamp, Johnson and Julia Spitelli got going. CUC blew the set wide open with a 10-3 run, which included three aces by Nicoletta Crowley. The Cougars continued to keep the gas on the floor, using kills by Spitelli and Johnson to build the lead to as large as 23-8. CUC easily put the final touches on the set, taking it 25-11.

VB: Cougars take set two 25-11!!! They now lead the match 2-0 as we head to set three! pic.twitter.com/OP3YmQB0bs

— CUC Athletics (@CUChicagoSports) October 17, 2018

Concordia was able to continue the momentum into set three. With Livesay serving, the Cougars opened the set on a 7-0 run with kills by Caroline Gibbons, Johnson and Stamp. CUC continued to add onto the lead as the offense continued to click, building the lead to 15-7 which forced an IIT timeout. The Cougars continued to cruise, using a Gibbons block to help extend the lead to 21-12. CUC put the finishing touches on the match with a Gibbons and Shelby Spitz block to take set three 25-14.

That's a Cougar WINNER!!! @cuc_volleyball DOMINATES their way to a three set sweep!!!! #RestoreTheRoar pic.twitter.com/9ANQIp7fRt

— CUC Athletics (@CUChicagoSports) October 17, 2018

CUC hit .298 as a team on the night while limiting IIT to just a .033 hitting percentage. Spitelli led CUC on the night with 11 kills followed by Johnson with ten. Crowley finished with 31 assists on the night while Elise Sombke finished with a game high 23 digs.
 
The Cougars will continue to push to the post season with matches on the road Friday and Saturday. They will first take on Marian on Friday night before heading to Lakeland on Saturday.