BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Hitting the road for the first time this season, the Concordia University Chicago men's volleyball team made the trip south to Bloomington for two matches at Illinois Wesleyan on Saturday afternoon. The matches were as competitive as they come, but unfortunately, CUC was on the wrong side of both five-set matches today, falling to Adrian and host Illinois Wesleyan 3-2.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORES

• Luke Vozenilek (Westmont, Ill.) recorded double-doubles in both matches, leading the way offensively with 35 kills on the day while picking up 22 digs.
• Tyler Holubek (New Lenox, Ill.) also recorded double-doubles in both matches, finishing with 75 assists and 28 digs.
• Christopher Livesay (Medinah, Ill.) recorded 31 digs in the two matches.

Match one vs. Adrian
In the opening match against Adrian, the first set would set the tone for the day. The set went back and forth throughout, featuring 13 tie scores and four lead changes. The opening set of the day also required extra points to decide a winner. The Cougars found a way to come out on top 31-29. Vozenilek gave CUC a 30-29 lead with a kill, and an Adrian attack error sealed the opening set victory.

The second set was much like the first, featuring over ten tie scores. CUC gained momentum in the latter part of the set with a Holubek ace that gave CUC an 18-17 lead which forced an Adrian timeout. However, Adrian was able to march their way back, scoring the final three points of the set to take set two 25-22.

Set three contained five lead changes. With Matthew Lams (Brookfield, Ill.) serving, the Cougars grabbed a lead midway through the set. An Erickberto Perez (Melrose Park, Ill.) and Holubek block along with kills by Vozenilek, Perez, and David Vales (Oak Forest, Ill.) all powered the 6-0 run for CUC that took the Cougars from trailing to a 18-13 lead. Adrian fought their way back, but the Cougars were able to get a late kill from Lams to help seal the 25-23 set three victory.

The Bulldogs got things going in set four. Adrian jumped out quickly to a 12-7 lead forcing a CUC timeout. The Cougars were unable to fight much closer in the set, falling in the fourth 25-16.
Set five was closely fought from the start. The two sides went back and forth throughout nearly the whole set. It wasn't until a late 4-0 run from the Bulldogs that a winner was decided. Adrian took set five 15-11 to take the match 3-2.
 
Match two vs. Illinois Wesleyan
After a short break, the Cougars came out strong against the host school Illinois Wesleyan. The first set was full of runs between the Cougars and Titans. Trailing 18-15 the Cougars put their best run of the set together. A Vales kill started a 7-0 run for CUC. Four different players recorded an ace for the Cougars during the run. Virgilio Rodriguez (Cicero, Ill.) also recorded an ace during the run. The Titans were unable to get back into the set, with the Cougars closing it out 25-19 on a solo block from Vozenilek.

Set two was closely fought from start to finish. Neither team was able to formulate much of a run throughout the set. The Titans finally grabbed the momentum late in set two with a 4-0 run. CUC climbed back within 24-23 on a Perez and Vales block, but a ball handling error gave IWU set two 25-23.

Set three was the best offensive set for CUC, where they hit .379 with 16 kills. The Cougars jumped out quickly to a 9-3 lead forcing a Titan timeout. CUC continued to add onto that lead, building it to 12-4. Illinois Wesleyan was able to cut the Cougar lead to just one on multiple occasions late in the set, but CUC was able to thwart off the Titans 25-22 with Vales putting the finishing touches with a kill. Vonzenilek, Holubek, and Rodriguez all recorded four or more kills in the set as CUC made just five errors.

In set four Illinois Wesleyan used an early 10-1 run to grab a 14-5 lead. They did not let CUC back into the set, taking set four 25-15.

Facing their second fifth set of the day the Cougars didn't back down early. CUC and IWU had eight ties in the fifth set, last being tied at 10-10 before the Titans were able to rip off a 5-0 run to take the match 3-2.

The Cougars (0-3, 0-0 NACC) will return to action on Friday, February 4 when they head on the road to take on Olivet (Mich.). Opening serve is set for 7:00 pm (ET). You can find all the links to live coverage at cucougars.com/coverage.