BEREA, OHIO. — Traveling out of state for the weekend, the Concordia University Chicago (CUC) men's volleyball team competed in the Baldwin Wallace Tri. They faced off first against the host, Baldwin Wallace, and then a neutral opponent in Medaille. Ultimately, they fell in both matches to both the Yellow Jackets and Mavericks, both with scores of 3-2.

Game One vs. Baldwin Wallace

Inside The Box Score:

• Luke Vozenilek (Westmont, Ill.) had a season-high 21 kills and six blocks

• Continuing his assistance for the Cougars, Elijah Mosher (Clayton, Ohio) totaled 36 assists

• Vozenilek led the way in the digs category with 13, Blake Rosen (Aldie, Va.) followed right behind with 10

From the beginning of their game against the Yellow Jackets, it was clear that it would be a fierce match up. After kills from Vozenilek and David Vales (Oak Forest, Ill.), the Cougars were ahead with a score of 8-7. The Yellow Jackets began to pull away to a score of 13-10. However, the Cougars went on a rally and, courtesy of Vozenilek and Tyler Holubek (New Lenox, Ill.) kills, led 15-13. The battle continued between these non-conference opponents and the Yellow Jackets found room to lead 21-18. Mosher and Vozenilek helped the Cougars get within two of a first set win, but ultimately fell 25-23.

The Cougars started to find fire for a win as they capitalized off of some early Yellow Jacket errors. Leading 5-1, Colby Campbell (Brookfield, Ill.), Vozenilek, and Holubek helped to really bring the Cougars ahead 8-4. Dionte Garcia (Aurora, Colo.) and Holubek both provided service aces for the Cougars to bring them even further ahead 13-5. A couple of kills from Campbell, Vozenilek, and Holubek brought the Cougars to a set two victory 25-20.

Each set brought more and more action for both teams. Campbell and Mosher both brought up some incredible blocks to start set three. The points peppered back and forth between the two teams up until a score of 18-18. As the Yellow Jackets found some court and started leading 24-21, the Cougars fought back to 24-23. However, Baldwin Wallace finished it off with a Cougar miscue and won the set 25-23.


Lighting a fire for the Cougars, they came out in set four with a lot of energy. With the Yellow Jackets leading 10-8, the Cougars went on a five point streak. This was capitalized by kills and blocks from Vozenilek, Mosher, and Andrej Moller (Naperville, Ill.). Campbell joined the party as he came in for a kill and Garcia supplied another service ace, winning it for the Cougars 25-16. 

With a dominating fourth set, it seemed the Cougars were ready to secure the win. However, Baldwin Wallace found their strength and started to rally their points. Vozenilek tried to bring the momentum back for the Cougars, but the Yellow Jackets finished off the fifth set with a score of 15-13. CUC fell in the first match of the day to Baldwin Wallace with a score of 3-2.

Game Two vs. Medaille

Inside The Box Score:

• Holubek led the offense in game two with a career-high 25 kills for the senior

• Campbell had five blocks to add to his impressive total

• Rosen led in digs with 10 and Mosher led in assists with 36

Starting off hot in set one, Vladimir Erickson (Batavia, Ill.) had a major kill and Jose Padron (Rockford, Ill.) provided two service aces to bring the Cougars up 4-0. Leading 10-4, Erickson and Padron supplied a block before a huge rally of points for the Cougars. With an eight point surge, multiple Cougars helped bring the score to 18-7. A small burst of points from the Mavericks proved too late as Vales and the rest of the Cougars pulled away for the win. CUC took set one with a score of 25-13.

With the momentum behind them, the Cougars found a huge stride in set two and gained a lead of 7-5. After a ping pong of points, Holubek provided back-to-back kills to pull away to 15-10. Padron supplied a service ace before Holubek came back with another huge kill to add to his total. Campbell and Vales helped finish off the second set with a CUC win of 25-16.

Medaille began to find their stride as they took advantage of CUC mistakes. Holubek and Padron both produced some impressive numbers in set three. However, it would be too late as the Mavericks took set three with a score of 25-19. Moving into set four, Medaille took off running as they had a six point rally mid-set. Campbell and Van Gaetto (Darien, Ill.) both tried to help the rest of the Cougar offense, but it again was not enough to take the lead. The Cougars were defeated in set four 25-19.

In the final showdown of this match, the Cougars started off strong with a kill from Padron. Vales and Holubek both helped the offense take the lead, as well as a Christopher Livesay (Medinah, Ill.) service ace, coming to 5-3. However, the Mavericks took the lead and went on a spew of points and took the final set 15-10. The Cougars fell in game two with a score of 3-2.

The Cougars will be back in action February 17th as they travel to Lakeland for a 7 p.m. start. Coverage for all of our sports can be found at cucougars.com/coverage.