RIVER FOREST, Ill. --- Following the festivities of Homecoming Week, the Concordia University Chicago women's volleyball team (7-12, 2-5 NACC) returned to action Tuesday night against the North Central University Cardinals (12-4, 4-1 CCIW). The non-conference opponents challenged CUC from the start, as the Cougars fell 3-0.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Grace Heywood led CUC with seven kills in the match.
• Lili Hunt led the Cougars at the net with three block assists and one solo block.
• Libero Isabelle Vernengo picked up 11 assists and eight digs.

 
The Cougars came out in Set 1 energized and aggressive. Lili Hunt and Eve Dicken combined for an early block assist to give CUC and early 2-1 lead. They combined again for another stuff at the net a few points later making it 3-2 CUC. North Central's Kendra Battle proved to be the focal point of the Cardinals' offense. She picked up five kills in the first half of the match and ended with eight on the night. CUC called a timeout after a 7-2 North Central scoring run, giving the Cardinals a 17-14 lead. North Central rolled on through the remainder of the set on an 8-1 scoring run and won 25-15
 

Cougs take an early lead in Set 1! pic.twitter.com/MEP2KANCKD

— CUC Women's Volleyball (@cuc_volleyball) October 12, 2022

 
CUC remained competitive with North Central in the early stages of Set 2. Grace Heywood and Katie Stonich led the CUC offense, but struggled to rack up kills against a tough Cardinals' defense. Down 12-6, the Cougars kept their foot in the door. A Cardinal service error followed by Dicken's first kill of the night led to a four-point CUC run. A few points later, North Central ran away on a ten-point run to close the set 25-12.
 

Great recoveries from the blocks! Cougars trail by 4 in Set 2! pic.twitter.com/srytEPyG5L

— CUC Women's Volleyball (@cuc_volleyball) October 12, 2022

 
The Cardinals opened Set 3 on a 5-0 scoring run. Maddi Barickman picked up two service aces during the run, before Hunt gave CUC their first point on her first kill of the set. Despite the explosive start from North Central, CUC rallied to tie the set at 16-16. Hunt's solo block electrified Geiseman Gymnasium and helped the crowd get back into the match.
 

Hunt is helping the Cougars rally in Set 3! pic.twitter.com/VAlxrboxjn

— CUC Women's Volleyball (@cuc_volleyball) October 12, 2022

 
North Central won the next three points and forced a CUC timeout. Down 19-16, the Cougars took risks and played with their backs against the wall. Their effort was too little too late, as North Central won 25-19 and the match 3-0.
 
The Cougars return to action again Friday, October 14 against conference opponent Milwaukee School of Engineering. The match is scheduled for a 7 p.m. start from the Kern Center. Coverage of the match can be found at cucougars.com/coverage.