RIVER FOREST, ILL. - The Concordia University Chicago Cougars (5-8, 0-1) took on the Lakeland Muskies (3-7, 0-0). After five sets of competitive play, the Cougars defended their home court and took the win 3-2.
Inside the Box Score:
Set One
A battle of true tenacity. The Cougars started out with an attack error, but quickly made up for it with a Hoffman kill making the score tied 2-2. It became a fight as each team wanted to keep the game interesting, exchanging points, as well as a few service errors. The Muskies eventually began to pull away, forcing a Cougar timeout leaving the score at 19-16. After a second timeout from the Cougars, they began to come back.
An ace from Mosher forced the Muskies into their first timeout, where the score was 23-21 in the Muskies favor. Coming out of the timeout, service error from the Muskies, followed by a Timothy Johnson (Indianapolis, Ind.) kill forces the Muskies to take their second timeout of the set where the score was tied up yet again, making it 24-24.
The Muskies come out of the timeout with back to back kills, taking the first set 26-24.
Set Two
Both teams came out with the same intensity they did from the first set. The Muskies slowly pull away after a series of kills forcing the Cougars to use their first timeout, making the score 8-4. The Cougars answered with a kill of their own from Johnson.
Another round of point exchanges occurred until the Muskies, again, going on a three point swing, causing the Cougars to use their second timeout of the set, where the score was now 18-11. The Cougars attempt to kill the deficit, but the Muskies stay strong, taking the second set 25-15.
Set Three
An exchange of kills took up a large portion of the third set until the Cougars were able to go on 3 point run of their own, where the score was 9-7 in favor of the Cougars. However, an attack error from the Cougars would be the start of what would turn into a five point run, making the score 14-10, this time in favor of the Muskies. A kill from Stella, followed by a block from Ayaaz Arif (Bolingbrook, Ill.) and Hoffman, as well as an ace from Johnson, ties the score again, 17-17.
After an exchange of two point runs, the Cougars pull away after a long third set. The final score of the third set was 26-24, Cougars.
Set Four
Both teams continued the exchanging of points. A Leon Gudzovski (Des Plaines, Ill.) kill keeps the Cougars tied up 4-4.
The Muskies answer with a block followed by a service ace which would pull them ahead by two. The Cougars and the Muskies both prove their grit as with each kill given, it is answered right back from the opposing team. Trailing by three, the Cougars compiled a kill from Stella, followed by errors from the Muskies, allowing the Cougars to chip away at the point deficit.
After what seemed to be the whole set of back and forth, the Cougars pulled ahead, taking the win 25-23. Each team has two sets a piece moving into the fifth set.
Set Five
The Muskies come out strong as they quickly pull off a 6-3 lead, forcing the Cougars into a timeout. The timeout was proven beneficial as they answered with three points, making the score tied at 6-6. Cougars pulled off a 4-0 scoring run pulling them ahead by two, where the score was 14-12. The Cougars managed to keep their lead, accomplishing a major comeback. The final score was 16-14.
The Cougars will be back in action February 27th on their homecourt at 7:00 pm for some conference play against Benedictine University. The theme for the game is Dig Pink night, so come out wearing pink to show your support. Coverage for all of our sports can be found at cucougars.com/coverage.
