RIVER FOREST, Ill. – After opening the season with four straight wins, the Concordia University Chicago Men's Volleyball team returns to the floor after a near two week layoff. CUC will play their first ever conference matches this weekend when they take on Marian University on Friday night and Lakeland University on Saturday afternoon. CUC will also play a single non-conference contest against Loras College after taking on Lakeland on Saturday.
 
About the Cougars: The Cougars come into the weekend looking to continue their four game winning streak. CUC dropped just four sets over the four matches at Trine. Nick Capers was the highlight offensively for the Cougars. The freshman from Alsip, Ill. was named NACC Athlete of the Week after his 57 kills over the opening four matches. He totaled 65 total points on the weekend which included eight aces. Capers currently ranks 25^th in the nation in kills per set (3.56). Matthew Geiser also had a big opening weekend for CUC. He ranks ninth nationally in aces per set (0.875) and 15^th in assists per set (9.19). Geiser recorded 147 assists over the four opening matches to go along with 14 aces. As a team CUC recorded 62 aces in the four matches.
 
About the Sabres: The Marian University Sabres come into Friday night's matchup looking for their first win of the season. They have faced four top ten ranked opponents through their first six games. Jon Smallpage is the top threat offensively for Marian. The senior ranks 21^st nationally in aces per set (0.714) and 16^th in kills per set (3.71). Senior Joey Dittman handles the setting for the Sabres. He has recorded 156 assists on the year. Libero Cullen LIberski leads the team with 73 digs on the year.
 
About the Muskies: The Lakeland University Muskies enter the weekend 3-2 overall and 1-0 at home. Most recently they dropped a four set match to third ranked Carthage College on the road. Lakeland features a very balanced offensive attack, with four players averaging over 2.17 kills per set. Matt Misheck leads the team with 45 kills on the year, while Desmond Williams is hitting .429 so far on the young season. Addison Mertler leads the team with 100 assists on the year while J.T. Levitt has 47 digs.
 
About the Duhawks: The Loras College Duhawks come into the weekend 7-1 overall with their lone loss coming to Augustana last time out. In their seven wins this season Loras has dropped just two sets. Leo, Peters leads the team offensively with 96 kills on the season. Jake Chudzik is close behind with 73 kills this year. Alfredo Lopez ranks seventh nationally in assists per set (9.81). Loras also features a strong block up front that ranks fifth nationally with a 2.33 blocks per set average.
 
Up Next: The Cougars will continue their long road trip next week when they head to nationally ranked North Central College on Tuesday night. They will then resume NACC play a week from tonight at Concordia University Wisconsin.