PLYMOUTH, WIS. — With just a couple of competitions left before the end of the 2023 regular season, the Concordia University Chicago (CUC) women's volleyball took a trip up north to Lakeland University (LU). In this Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) matchup, the Cougars were defeated by the Muskies 3-0.
 

Inside the Box Score:

• Grace Heywood (Northbrook, Ill.) led in the offensive category with six kills

• Eve Dicken (St. Louis, Mo.) would lead in two separate sections, aces and blocks with two apiece

• On the defensive side, Shaira Marin (Rio Grande, Puerto Rico) had seven digs

Set One

These two competitors would start off on an equal playing ground, as both traded points back and forth to 5-4 Lakeland. However, the Muskies would take advantage of some Cougar mistakes to take the lead even further 12-5. Dicken picked up a kill to try and stop the Muskies, but they continued on their rally. 

With the score at 18-7, the Muskies continued to string points together. Akasia Brown (Addison, Ill.) and Isabelle Vernengo (Plainfield, Ind.) delivered a big block up front, followed by a Heywood kill to make it 20-10 LU. Dicken and Lili Hunt (Greenfield, Ind.) would be able to find the court, but it would be too late for the Cougar comeback, as they fell in set one 25-14.

Set Two

The Muskies continued their hot start and took a quick lead of 7-2 in set two. The Cougars would be unable to find holes in the Muskies defense, as LU took their score to 14-3. Dicken and Hunt would get two blocks on the Lakeland offense, trying to chip away at the score 17-5.

The Cougars would start their own rally, as Brown picked up a kill and Dicken had two service aces at 22-9. However, the energy could not carry them to a win in set two, as they lost 25-11.

Set Three

Just like the two previous sets, Lakeland began to pull ahead at 8-1. Heywood picked up a kill for herself, but the Muskies continued to pile it on 14-3. Vernengo and Hunt tied together some action for themselves, as well as Heywood kills and service aces, to cut the lead to 15-7.

The Cougars would then use the duo of Brown and Brooke Christensen (Blaine, Minn.) to continue the fight 18-10. However, Lakeland put set three away with a final score of 25-10.

The Cougars would lose to the Muskies with a final score of 3-0.

With one final NACC regular season game to play, the Cougars will travel to the Illinois Institute of Technology on Tuesday for a 7 p.m. game. Coverage for all of our sports can be found at cucougars.com/coverage.