AURORA, ILL. — Taking a trip to Aurora University, the Concordia University Chicago (CUC) men's volleyball team took on two different opponents. First, they took on an Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) opponent in Aurora University and then took on University of California-Santa Cruz (UCSC). The Cougars fell in both matches, first 3-1 against Aurora and then 3-0 to UCSC.

Game One vs. Aurora

Inside the Box Score:

• Tyler Holubek (New Lenox, Ill.) led the way on the offense with a total of 16 kills

• Picking up some big numbers, Andrej Moller (Naperville, Ill.) led the total blocks category with six and Elijah Mosher (Clayton, Ohio) led in assists with 42

• Blake Rosen (Aldie, Va.) kept the ball off the Cougar court with 14 digs

Coming out hot to start the match, the Cougars took an early lead of 6-4. They then went on a three-point run thanks to Holubek and Moller kills and a block from Moller and David Vales (Oak Forest, Ill.). The Cougars continued to hold the Spartans down as they took their lead to 15-10. This was largely in part from kills from Holubek, Luke Vozenilek (Westmont, Ill.), and Colby Campbell (Brookfield, Ill.). With another three-run streak, Vales picked up a kill and back-to-back blocks from Moller and Vozenilek would make it 19-12. Finally to finish off the Spartans in set one, the Cougars went on another big rally with Christopher Livesay (Medinah, Ill.) joining the action with a service ace. The Cougars would take set one from the Spartans with a score of 25-14.

The Spartans came back roaring in the second set as they quickly went up 3-1. Two kills from Holubek would allow the Cougars to tie up 4-4. However, Aurora went on a four-point run and took their lead to 8-4. A kill from Vozenilek would break up the Spartans advance, but they continued to a lead of 12-6. After this, CUC began to chip away at Aurora's lead. Kills from Mosher, Moller, and Holubek would bring the Cougars within three with a score of 15-12. After this, Aurora would end up taking a huge jump in their stride and take set two with a score of 25-17.

Set three seemed to be another even start as both teams went to battle. Aurora went on a quick sweep of points and began to lead 11-4. After using Aurora's mistakes to their advantage, the Cougars were able to chip back to 13-12. A Vozenilek kill would help to tie up the game at 14 a piece. The Spartans and Cougars would continue to ping pong back and forth with points until Aurora ran away with the third set 25-22.

With Aurora up in front, CUC had to find a way to stay in it. They took the lead 3-2 after a kill from Campbell. The Spartans would take back the lead, but the Cougars swooped in with Holubek and Moller kills to make it 7-6 in their favor. After this point, Aurora would end up taking the lead and staying there for the remainder of set four. A couple of more kills from the Cougars would bring them within reaching distance of the Spartans, but not close enough. Aurora took set four with a score of 25-21 and took the match 3-1 over the Cougars.

Game Two vs. University of California-Santa Cruz

Inside the Box Score:

• Leading the offense was Van Gaetto (Darien, Ill.) with five kills. Jose Padron (Rockford, Ill.) and Vladimir Erickson (Batavia, Ill.) both followed right behind him with four kills

• Mosher had a career-high five service aces

• Rosen, again, led the dig category with 14

UCSC came into this match as an extremely tough opponent for the Cougars.The Banana Slugs would quickly go up 5-3 to start set one. However, the Cougars would find a time to tie it up after a Holubek kill to 5-5. Taking the lead, a full front row block from Vozenilek, Campbell, and Mosher made the score 7-6. However, UCSC would begin to pull away slowly to a score of 15-13. After this, they went on a five-point run to make it 20-13. Vozenilek and Campbell would try to stop the Banana Slugs, but ultimately fell in set one 25-15.

Going up quickly 6-3, UCSC meant business when starting set two. Coming back into action, a kill from Padron and service ace from Mosher would help take the lead for the Cougars 9-8. Gaetto then picked up a kill and Dionte Garcia (Aurora, Colo.) grabbed himself a service ace to bring their lead to 14-12. The Banana Slugs then took the lead back to 16-14. UCSC then started to run away with the second set win. Padron and Erickson both supplied kills of their own to try and end the threat, but would fall 25-21 in set two.

This became an exciting third set for the Cougars in a do or die moment. They would take the lead after service aces from Padron and Mosher and a kill from Gaetto 4-3. UCSC took back the lead and found themselves ahead 14-9. Tavarus Davis-Williams (Fox Lake, Ill.) would find a kill for himself and try and help the Cougars chip away at the lead 15-12. Both teams began to trade points with one another until UCSC was leading 20-17. This is when the Banana Slugs truly began running away with the game. Matthew Lams (Brookfield, Ill.) would try to bring some momentum back for the Cougars, but would ultimately be too late as they fell 25-19 in set three. The Cougars fell to the Banana Slugs with a score of 3-0.

The Cougars will be finishing up their NACC play at home this week as they host the Milwaukee School of Engineering on Tuesday at 7 p.m. and Edgewood College on Thursday at 7 p.m. Coverage for all of our sports can be found at cucougars.com/coverage.