March 13, 2019 - Concordia-Chicago played host to the #5 ranked Benedictine Eagles in the teams' second matchup of the year. In the first matchup, Benedictine swept CUC in three sets despite a full-team effort. In tonight's matchup, it was more of the same. Although they put up a valiant fight, the young Cougars would fall 3-0 (16-25, 23-25, 18-25).
 
Inside the Box Score
Skylar Versendaal recorded eight kills to lead the Cougars.
Ryan Felbinger marked his return to the lineup with five kills and a team-leading four blocks.
Trent Weber paced the Cougar attack with 19 assists.
 
Opening up the match as the underdogs, CUC were hanging tough with the nationally-ranked Eagles. The Cougars evened it up at 6-6 and then 8-8 early in the first set before handing the lead right back over to Benedictine.  Following a timeout, Matthew Geiser blasted one past the defense to make it 11-9 and build some momentum for the Concordia-Chicago attack. Unfortunately, that is the closest the Cougars would get in the first set. They would drop set one 25-16.
 
Set two began similar to the first. CUC received and took punches but trailed by a couple of points at a time. Concordia-Chicago was not helping themselves against the visitors, as mishaps and blunders kept them from breaking through with the lead. Tides started to turn moments later, with the Eagles making mental mistakes, and CUC soon tied it up at 11 after a Felbinger spike. Felbinger and Anthony Galindo would give the Cougars the 13-12 lead following an emphatic block of a BU attack. The set would be grit and grind for the rest of the way, and Concordia-Chicago found their best shot to win while trailing 24-23 and serving. Unfortunately, they would lose set two 25-23.
 
Battling to stay afloat, the Cougars once again dug a hole for themselves early and trailed 12-5. Things did not get better for CUC and the Eagles started to put the nail in the coffin, with a score of 19-10.
 
Concordia-Chicago will play again at Geiseman Gymnasium tomorrow, March 14^th, at 7 p.m. when they host another conference foe in Aurora University..