RIVER FOREST, ILL. – In their first home game of the season, the Concordia University Chicago women's volleyball team (3-2, 0-0) hosted Lake Forest College (3-1, 0-0) in a nonconference matchup. In what proved to be a tight contest, the Cougars' offense ultimately prevailed as they defeated the Foresters 3-2.
Inside the Box Score:
- Grace Heywood (Northbrook, Ill.) was dominant on the offensive end all night long. The fifth year senior recorded 22 kills, a new season high.
- Isabelle Vernengo (Plainfield, Ind.) also played a major role in the victory amounting 44 assists, 16 digs, and seven service aces.
First Set
Both teams came out of the gates highly energized as the Cougars and Foresters exchanged point for point. The first kill of the evening was delivered off the hand of CUC sophomore,
Kate Foley (Milwaukee, Wis.), to even the score 2-2.
Lake Forest began to pull away towards the end of the set after a service ace from Riley Stapley to give the Foresters the 19-15 lead.
CUC did not back down. The Cougars clawed their way back to force another tie 20-20. However, Lake Forest flexed their muscles, going on a run of their own, as they ended up taking set one 25-21.
Second Set
Almost identical to the first, it was a back-and-forth affair as neither team had more than a two-point advantage through the middle of the second set. That all changed as the maroon and gold took a 15-12 lead off a Forester ball handling error.
Despite the CUC momentum, Lake Forest responded in a major way going up 22-19.
Eve Dicken (St. Louis, Mo.) stopped the bleeding for the Cougars as she recorded her fourth kill of the night tying the score 23-23, forcing a Forester timeout.
Concordia took set two 26-24 off a colossal block from outside hitter,
Akasia Brown (Addison, Ill.), notching things up at one set apiece.
Third Set
Offense was not hard to come by as Heywood continued to be a force. The fifth-year senior tallied kill number 13, all while pulling the Cougars within one.
Momentum quickly shifted after a service ace from Lake Forest, making first-year head coach,
Andrew Palmer, use a timeout as the Cougars trailed 16-13.
CUC came out of the timeout red hot going on an 8-2 run. However, the Cougars' offensive explosion would not be enough as Lake Forest stole set three 27-25.
Fourth Set
CUC struck first in the fourth set after a service ace from Vernengo. Lake Forest responded with a 4-1 run giving them a 4-2 lead.
The Cougars' defensive struggles continued as the Foresters grew their lead 14-10. Brown supplied some much-needed offense after her kill allowed CUC to retake the lead 18-17.
The Cougars took the lead and never looked back. The maroon and gold won set four 25-22 sending the match to one final set.
Fifth Set
Set five could not have started off any better as the Cougars jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead. Vernengo recorded three service aces in the four-point stretch.
The Foresters' attempted comeback ultimately fell short as they dropped the set 15-12. CUC won the match 3-2 as Heywood recorded the game winning kill, her 22nd of the night.
What's to Come:
With nearly a week off, the Cougars will return to their home court to take on Wisconsin Lutheran College at 7:00 p.m. for the first conference matchup of the season. The theme for the game will be Hawaiian Night, so make sure to come support the Cougars. For all things CUC women's volleyball, check out the athletics website at cucougars.com.
