River Forest, Ill. – The Concordia University Chicago (CUC) men's volleyball team (7-7, 2-1 NACC) hosted Cal Lutheran (15-6, 0-0 SCIAC) and Wabash (8-12, 0-0 NCAC) in the Concordia Chicago Tri on Saturday. The Cougars started the day against the Kingsmen, dropping that match 3-1, then finished the day against the Little Giants, winning 3-2.
Game One
Inside the Box Score
- Elijah Mosher (Clayton, Ohio) had another good game setting up the Cougars offense with 35 assists.
- Tyler Holubek (New Lenox, Ill.) led the team with 18 kills and also added eight digs.
- Luke Vozenilek (Westmont, Ill.) led the Cougars with nine digs while also putting down 13 kills.
The first set was as back and forth as it could get with 12 ties total. After trading points to start the set, the Kingsmen started to stretch the gap a bit, eventually leading 10-7. The Cougars quickly answered that with a three point run to tie it.
The teams traded points again, until it was tied at 20-20. After that the Kingsmen would take the lead and not look back. The Cougars were able to fight to keep the set going, but lost 23-25.
Set two started the same, with points going back and forth, until the Cougars broke through with a four point run to take a 10-6 lead. The run was started by this kill from Vozenilek.
That opening would be all the Cougars needed as they eventually stretched the lead to as many as seven points and later took the set 25-21.
The Cougars came out firing in the third set as they jumped out ahead 6-2. Holubek kept the pressure on as he put down this kill.
However, the Kingsmen crept back in and eventually tied it at 12-12. Unfortunately for the Cougars, they got stuck in rotation and found themselves behind 13-22. This kill from Vozenilek would keep CUC alive, but they would lose the set 16-25.
Fighting to keep the match going, the Cougars started strong taking an 8-4 lead.
However, like the third set, the Kingsmen were able to get the Cougars stuck in a rotation, taking a 17-11 lead. Once they were able to break out of that rotation, CUC was able to scrap for a few points, including this one off the Holubek kill.
The Cougars would not have enough to force the fifth set, and lost 18-25.
Game Two
Inside the Box Score
- Elijah Mosher (Clayton, Ohio) set a new career high with 50 assists for the Cougars.
- Tyler Holubek (New Lenox, Ill.) put down 21 kills to lead the team.
- Dionte Garcia (Aurora, Colo.) led with 13 digs and four service aces.
A rematch from last weekend's five set match, the Little Giants returned trying to even the match-up. The set was tight throughout, with the biggest lead being only three points when the Little Giants led 7-4. However, the Cougars tied it at 8-8, then took the lead with this Garcia ace.
Wabash was able to build back up to a three point lead at 18-15, but CUC responded with a kill from Holubek followed by this ace from
Jose Padron (Rockford, Ill.).
The set was tight down the stretch, with the Cougars tying it at 24-24 off this kill from Padron.
Although, the Cougars were unable to keep the momentum, and the Little Giants took set one 26-24.
Needing to bounce back in the second set, CUC came out firing and eventually went on a six point run behind back-to-back aces from Garcia to take a 12-6 lead.
The Cougars kept the foot on the gas, only giving up back-to-back points twice after the Garcia serving run. The Cougars took the second set 25-17.
The Cougars never trailed in the third set, and this block from Holubek is what first opened it up.
Wabash fought to keep things close early, but CUC would eventually pull ahead by five at 12-7, and keep that gap throughout the set. The Cougars closed out the set 25-20 on this kill from Holubek.
Looking to keep things alive, Wabash came out strong in the fourth set, jumping ahead 7-3. The Cougars chipped away at the lead until they eventually tied it at 15-15.
The Cougars were then able to take their first lead of the set and looked to be in a spot to end the match in four. However, the Little Giants were able to respond, tying it at 21-21, and then running away with it from there and taking the set 25-21.
With the race to 15 on, the Cougars came out firing with this ace from
Colby Campbell (Brookfield, Ill.).
After Wabash tied it at 3-3, CUC went on a five point run to take an 8-3 lead and gain all momentum. That deficit would be too much for the Little Giants to overcome as the Cougars took the set 15-11 and the match 3-2.
The Cougars are back in action as they host the Maroon and Gold Tri on Wednesday, with first serve against Augustana coming at 2:30 p.m. Coverage for that and all CUC men's volleyball games can be found at cucougars.com
