NORTH MANCHESTER, IND. — Day two of the Manchester University Invitational brought a lot of success for the Concordia University Chicago (CUC) women's volleyball team. After coming off two losses yesterday, the Cougars were itching for an opportunity for victory. Facing Bluffton University and Franklin College, CUC was able to sweep the day with score of 3-0 and 3-2, respectively.
Game One: vs. Bluffton University 3-0 W
Inside the Box Score:
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Grace Heywood (Northbrook, Ill.) and Akasia Brown (Addison, Ill.) were partners in crime today on offense and both smacked down 12 kills
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Isabelle Vernengo (Plainfield, Ind.) had 34 assists and Shaira Marin (Rio Grande, Puerto Rico) was able to tack on 10 digs and four service aces
To start off game one, the Cougars jumped in front fairly quickly. Rachel Livesay (Medinah, Ill.) started off with a kill and service ace to help take the lead 4-2. A five-point rally then came for CUC, as Brown, Vernengo, and Heywood would record kills 9-4. The Bluffton Beavers would begin to make a rally of their own and close the gap 15-13. Eve Dicken (St. Louis, Mo.) would join in on the kill streak before the Beavers tied the game back up at 17-17.
A kill for Brown would bring the Cougars ahead, however it would be small as the Beavers took a 22-19 lead. The momentum then shifted in favor of CUC and they scored the next six points to win the set. In this run, Marin would secure three service aces and truly turn the tides for the Cougars 25-22.
Set two would be equal for the first couple of points until a score of 5-5. CUC would begin to jut out in front after kills from Livesay and Dicken 9-5. Brown would have three out of the next four kills that would take the score to 13-6 CUC. Bluffton was not easily slowed down, as they scored seven points in a row to tie the game up 13-13. A Brown kill and Livesay service ace would help to assist the Cougars in taking the lead back 19-15.
Bluffton would continue to try and take the momentum, but CUC kept them at a distance the rest of the set. The final bell of this set came from back-to-back kills from Livesay, and then Brown, to win set two 25-21.
The ball was clearly in the Cougars court as they crossed into set three. Heywood would really come alive and start to take control of the offense 5-1. Bluffton made it clear they were not going to fold easily, and took the score back at 6-5. CUC would take advantage of some Bluffton mistakes to lead themselves into a strong hold of set three.
Brown picked up back-to-back kills, then blocks from both Brown and Vernengo, brought the Cougars ahead 18-13. Livesay and Heywood held strong on the front row to keep the Beavers just out of reach for the remainder of the set. Dicken would get the final kill to win set three 25-20 and a final score of 3-0.
Game Two: vs. Franklin College 3-2 W
Inside the Box Score:
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Heywood continues to wear her offensive crown and led with 19 kills
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Vernengo put 48 assists up and five service aces
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Brown showed up in the front with five blocks and Marin picked up 18 digs
As these two opponents began to fight, it showed how evenly matched they were in skill. Franklin led with a score of 6-4 before CUC began answering back. Dicken picked up a kill and Heywood slid in a service ace to take the lead 7-6. The Grizzlies came back with a vengeance and a six-point rally to make the score 15-10. However, it would not be long for the Cougars bit back.
Vernengo would have three of the next five points off of service aces to make the score tied 18-18. These two would bounce points between one another, with Dicken and Livesay delivering kills. Brown would swoop in to take the lead for the Cougars 23-22. Two kills from Heywood solidified the set one win at 26-24.
The Grizzlies were not going to roll over and took a swift lead in set two 6-2. Heywood and Vernengo would start taking matters into their own hands with kills and service aces, but still trailed 11-7. Franklin continued to pull away and lengthen their score at 17-11. McKayla LeVoy (Kankakee, Ill.) would make her rotation in and make an immediate impact with Dicken to cut the score to 19-16. This duo would attempt to halt the Grizzlies, but their momentum had them winning set two 25-18.
Franklin took their momentum from the previous set to carry them into the next. Leading 5-2, the Cougars needed to make an immediate response to stay alive. Heywood would lead the offense, as CUC would take the lead back at 9-5. Levoy and Vernengo began to find the court, as well as stop the opposing offense with a Levoy-Dicken block, at 14-9. Franklin was not ready to be done and quickly tied the game back up at 15 apiece.
With the score evened, Kate Foley (Milwaukee, Wis.) joined in on the party to try and take the Cougars ahead. However, it would be too late as Franklin kept tacking on to their lead. They would take set three from the Cougars 25-22.
The Cougars walked into set four with their backs on the ropes, ready to fight to stay in this game. Franklin tried to continue their offense and led this set 6-2. But, CUC went on a staggering 10-point rally to change the tide in their favor. This included multiple kills, a Brown-Heywood block, and a Livesay service ace to make it 11-6.
Foley and Dicken entered the chat and kept up a healthy lead of 19-10. Franklin began trying to chip away at this lead and take this game over. But a formation of Heywood, Dicken, Vernengo, and Foley would keep the Grizzlies far from the win and take set four 25-20.
Set five was do or die time for both teams in this sudden death royale. Dicken would grab two service aces and a kill to make it 6-3 CUC. Franklin quickly took the lead back with a score of 7-3. As the Grizzlies continued to lead, the Cougars decided to dial it to eleven and take the game over. Heywood and Levoy both picked up kills to tie the game up 10-10.
But Vernengo would come in to lead the Cougars to victory, first with a kill and service ace, and then by assisting them in kills of their own. The Cougars won set five with a score of 15-13 and the game 3-2.
The Cougars will cross into heavy Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference action this week. They take on Benedictine University at their place on Thursday at 7 p.m. Coverage for all of our sports can be found at cucougars.com/coverage.
