Fond Du Lac, Wis.—With their first berth the NACC playoffs just a single win away, the Concordia University Chicago volleyball team took to the floor for a tough road test at Marian University tonight. The Sabres battled to take set one from the Cougars, but CUC roared back to take the next three sets. With the win, the Cougars clinched their first postseason berth since 2011.
"I am really proud of what we were able to accomplish for the first time in my time here," remarked head coach
Troy Campbell. "Now it's time for us to finish our hard work by making some noise in the playoffs."
In set one, the Cougars jumped out to an early 6-2 lead with a
Nicoletta Crowley and
Shannon Stamp block. Marian worked their way back though to tie the set at 12. Marian grabbed a slight advantage in the middle points, but CUC battled to tie the set up at 18. The Sabres looked to pull away, but a
Julia Spitelli kill helped to tie the set at 23. Unfortunately for the Cougars Marian was able to take the final two points to take set one 25-23.
In set two, the Cougars were able to grab an early lead once again, but Marian quickly battled back. CUC trailed 14-13 when they rattled off quick 4-0 run that was powered by a Crowley and
Caroline Gibbons block. The Cougars were able to continue to build the advantage getting a kill and an ace by Crowley and an ace by
Courtney Luciano to build the lead to 22-16. Marian wouldn't go quietly, but CUC was able to pull through with a kill by
Jennifer Livesay and a Crowley, Stamp block to take set two 25-21.
CUC jumped out quickly in set three with a 5-0 run with
Elise Sombke serving. Sombke recorded two aces during the run along with a Stamp kill. The Cougars built the lead to 11-5, but Marian was able to answer and then swing momentum their way, taking a 22-18 lead. CUC stood up to the challenge, getting a kill from Crowley and two kills by
Jaylynn Johnson to pull back within one. Marian was able to reach set point at 24-22, but the Cougars continued to battle. A Livesay kill got CUC within one and two kills by Johnson swung the momentum back to CUC. Spitelli was able to close out the intense set 27-25 with a big kill.
In set four it was Marian who built up the early 5-2 lead. CUC was able to swing things in their favor with a 4-0 run to take a 10-9 lead with
Julia Beers serving. The Cougars slowly built up an advantage, getting kills by Johnson and Stamp to make it 18-12 CUC. Marian was able to make one final run to pull within 23-22 late, but a kill by Spitelli ended the run as CUC secured their spot in the post season with a 25-23 set four win.
Johnson and Spitelli both finished with ten kills on the night. Crowley finished with 28 assists while Sombke finished with 20 digs. CUC was able to limit Marian to just a .101 hitting percentage on the night.
The Cougars will now try to give themselves home court advantage in the opening round of the NACC playoffs. They need to beat Lakeland tomorrow along with one Wisconsin Lutheran loss for that to happen.
