AURORA, ILL - Playing in their ninth contest on the road this season, the Concordia University Chicago (CUC) men's volleyball (6-13, 1-5) team took the floor against the Spartans of Aurora University. Looking to break a four-game losing streak, CUC lost in three sets against the Spartans.
-Inside the Box Score
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Freshman Jackson Stella (Hoffman Estates, Ill.) totaled 12 kills on the night, which led the team.
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Looking to help the Cougars, Elijah Mosher (Clayton, Ohio) tallied 23 assists across 3 sets of play.
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Senior David Vales (Oak Forest, Ill.) led the team in digs with 11.
-How it Happened
First Set
Aurora used the momentum from two separate 4-0 runs to pull away from the Cougars, with the first taking place at the start of the first set. The Cougars eventually cut the lead down to three when the Spartans went on their second run of the set, going up 14-7. Stella had a kill later in the set to cut the score 17-14, but it was not enough.
Vales had a late kill to cut the score to 24-17, but the Spartans had already built a seven-point lead. The Cougars would go on to lose the set 25-17
Second Set
The Spartans started out to an early lead, but the Cougars quickly brought it back to within three points when Sean Beckman (Hoffman Estates, Ill.) found an early dig and a kill for CUC to make the score 7-5
The Cougars cut the deficit to two points before Aurora went on another 3-0 run. Sophomore Van Gaetto (Darien, Ill.) stopped the rally with a tremendous dig to keep the score at 17-13. The Cougars went on to lose the set 25-22
Third Set
The Cougars came out of the break ready to go for the third set, keeping up with the Spartan attack. A kill from Freshman Leon Gudzovski (Des Plaines, Ill.) eventually put the Cougars up by one point, at a score of 7-6.
The Cougars continued to push the Spartans, finding themselves in a 20-20 tie at the tail end of the set. However, a 3-0 run from the Spartans had the Cougars on the ropes. The Cougars fought but ended up dropping the third set by a score of 25-22. Aurora won the contest 3-0.
-Up Next
The Cougars travel to De Pere, Wisconsin, for a contest against the Green Knights of St. Norbert College on Saturday, March 16, at 12 pm. Coverage can be found at cucougars.com.
