CHICAGO --- The Concordia University Chicago women's volleyball team opened Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) play on Wednesday night, traveling to the south side of Chicago to take on the Illinois Tech Scarlet Hawks. It was a closely fought battle all night, but the Scarlet Hawks were able to go on a late run in the decisive fifth set to down CUC 3-2.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Grace Heywood (Northbrook, Ill.) recorded a double-double, finishing with a match-high 16 kills to go along with 17 digs.
• Julia Beers (Mishawaka, Ind.) and Brooke Christensen (Blaine, Minn.) each recorded double-digit digs.
• Isabelle Vernengo (Plainfield, Ind.) recorded 35 assists.

CUC jumped out to an early lead in set one, getting back-to-back kills from Heywood to build the lead to 7-3. IIT closed the gap for a short bit, but CUC was able to extend the lead back to 14-9 with an ace from Heywood. The Scarlet Hawks were able to get back into the set, forcing a CUC timeout with the score 20-19 CUC. With Sophie Kovachevich (Huntley, Ill.) serving, CUC was able to score three straight points to open some breathing room. The Cougars then closed out the 25-21 opening set win on a Katie Stonich (Sadieville, Ky.) kill.

Stonich with the big swing!!! CUC takes the opening set 25-21. https://t.co/DtI3aYQ2eb pic.twitter.com/oI4dd9w4vO

— CUC Women's Volleyball (@cuc_volleyball) September 15, 2022

Illinois Tech regained all of the momentum in set two. The Scarlet Hawks used a large run to open up a 20-7 lead that they would not relinquish. IIT took set two 25-15. IIT then took a 2-1 overall lead by taking set three 25-20. The Cougars led late in the set, but IIT was able to close on an 8-2 run to take the lead.

The Cougars came out firing in set four, scoring the first three points of the set with Beers serving. The CUC lead stayed at four until the Cougars were able to go on a 7-0 run with Beers serving again. Stonich and Lili Hunt (Greenfield, Ind.) came up with a big block to help power the run. CUC never looked back, getting kills from Hunt and Heywood to close out set four 25-15.

To set five we go!!!!! Heywood with the kill to finish set four!

Watch the finish: https://t.co/0EE3IarFW7 pic.twitter.com/5TQcjqmVMW

— CUC Women's Volleyball (@cuc_volleyball) September 15, 2022

In the final set, the two sides traded points throughout the early goings. CUC was finally able to grab a lead at 8-7 on a Heywood kill. Unfortunately for CUC, IIT was able to get on a late 3-0 run to turn the set around and down the Cougars 15-12 in set five, giving the Scarlet Hawks the 3-2 win.

The Cougars will continue the long season-opening road swing on Friday evening when the team travels to Lake Forest to take on the Foresters. Opening serve is set for 7:00pm. Links to coverage can be found at cucougars.com/coverage.