River Forest, Ill. - That's a wrap on the 2025 Concordia University Chicago (CUC) Cougars men's volleyball season. Head Coach Greg Manos rounded out his third season with the Cougars where he led the team through a fantastic season. The team had their second Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) tournament appearance under the direction of Manos. Let's look back at the year.
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Season Recap
The Cougars kicked off their season January 10th in Ohio, where they competed in the Wittenburg Kickoff Classic. While the team put up huge fights against Thiel College, Wittenberg University, and Roanoke College, they were unable to grab a win. The Cougars then had a home opener where they hosted the Concordia Chicago Tri. The team played both North Park University and Westminster College. The team fought hard against North Park, but fell in four sets. However, on the same day, the Cougars grabbed their first win of the season over Westminster where they took the game in three sets.
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In the next couple of weeks, the Cougars had six more non-conference games before heading into NACC play. In order, the Cougars played the University of Olivet, Illinois Wesleyan University, Calvin University, Adrian College, and in their Maroon and Gold Tri, they hosted University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, and Roosevelt University. In these six games, the team went 3-3, picking up wins over Olivet, Adrian, and Roosevelt.
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Opening NACC play, the Cougars had four tough games on the docket. Rotating between hosting and being on the road, the Cougars took on Rockford University, Milwaukee School of Engineering, Benedictine University, and Concordia University Wisconsin. After picking up their first conference win over Rockford, the Cougars fell in the following three.
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During spring break, the Cougars competed in one last tri hosted by UW-Stevens Point. The Cougars took on Viterbo University and UW-Stevens Point once again. The team split on the day, picking up a win over Viterbo.
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Diving back into conference play, the Cougars travelled to Edgewood College, where they took one set, but ultimately fell in four sets. The Cougars then hosted three straight conference games at home against the #10 ranked Aurora University, St. Norbert College, and Wisconsin Lutheran College. The Cougars fell to Aurora but grabbed wins over St. Norbert and Wisconsin Lutheran 3-2 and 3-1, respectively.
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For one final non-conference game in the season, the Cougars hosted Greenville University on senior day. The seniors on the team led the Cougars to a fantastic sweep, winning 3-0.
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Back into conference play, the Cougars had just four more NACC games to go in the regular season. Before heading into the final stretch of the regular season, the Cougars were on a five game losing streak in NACC play so the team knew they needed a turnaround, and quick. The Cougars rounded out the regular season taking on Illinois Institute of Technology, Lakeland University, Dominican University, and Marian University. The Cougars took wins over Illinois Tech, Lakeland, and Division Street Rivals, the Dominican Stars which turned out to be a much needed six game win streak. The last home game of the season was against down the street rivals, where it was an electric night. The game went to five sets, where the largest point differentiation was only six points. The fifth set even went into extra points, but the Cougars prevailed after coming back from a five point deficit, and came back to win 18-16. The final game of the regular season was against Marian, where the Cougars fell 3-1, but with a 6-5 conference record, the team clinched a spot in the NACC tournament.
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In the first round of NACC play, the Cougars took on the #2 seeded Milwaukee School of Engineering. The Cougars put up a big fight, but after only being able to grab a singular set win, the Cougars fell 3-1.
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The Cougars finished their season with an overall record of 12-15, and a conference record of 6-6 under the direction of Coach Manos. Manos' leadership has brought the program to new heights where in just three years as head coach at CUC he has had two conference appearances and has already pushed his way to the top as the winningest head coach in program history.
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NACC Players of the Week
In the same week, the Cougars swept the offensive and defensive weekly awards for the NACC. Elijah Mosher (Clayton, Ohio) picked up offensive player of the week after picking up his 2,000th career assist and moved him to fourth overall in NACC men's volleyball assists. Leon Gudzovski (Des Plaines, Ill.) picked up defensive player of the week after a combined 10 blocks in just two games. This placed Gudzovski first in blocks per set in the NACC.
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Record Breaks
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Van Gaetto (Darien, Ill.) put his name at the top of the history books with the most individual career digs. He finished the season with a total of 518 career digs. Gaetto also broke the single season record for digs and single season record for digs per set.Â
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Mosher continues on a successful path with the Cougars where he broke the single season record for assists as well as the single season record for assists per set.Â
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Post Season Honors
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Three members of the team earned postseason accolades from the NACC, Tyler Holubek (New Lenox, Ill.), Mosher and Alexander Ford (Skokie, Ill.).Â
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Holubek picked up NACC All-Conference First Team after leading the offensive charge with 323 total kills on the season. Holubek finished first in the NACC in total points, second in total kills and kills per set, and 15th in digs.
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Mosher picked up his first NACC accolade as NACC All-Conference Second Team with an impressive 1,002 total assists. Mosher averaged 9.63 assists per set, breaking CUC records in the process. Mosher finished first in the NACC in total assists, second in assists per set, and sixth in digs and digs per set.
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Ford also picked up his first NACC accolade as NACC All-Conference Honorable Mention. Ford led at the net for the Cougars with a team-high 80 total blocks. Ford finished seventh in the NACC in total blocks, eighth in blocks per set, and 21st in hitting percentage.
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Graduating Seniors
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The Cougars graduate seniors Sean Beckman (Hoffman Estates, Ill.), Gaetto, and graduate assistant Daniel Coates. The Cougars are very thankful for everything these three have contributed to the program. Although Gaetto will graduate with his undergrad, he will return as a graduate student for another year with the team.
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Impactful Returners
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With the team being so young, the Cougars will welcome back everyone on the roster with the exception of the seniors. Stella, Hoffman, Mosher, Ford, and Gudzvoski will play crucial roles for the Cougars in years to come. Stella added 181 (2.06 per set) kills, 92 digs, and 41 blocks contributing on both the offensive and defensive ends. Hoffman had the second most kills in the season with 215 (2.22 per set), 198 digs, and 35 blocks. Mosher had 1,002 total assists on the season (9.63 per set), second most season digs with 262, 72 kils, and 45 blocks, proving he is a huge asset to the team. Ford and Gudzovski had 164 and 112 kills, and 80 and 74 blocks, where the two had the first and second most blocks on the season for the Cougars. The Cougar team will look forward to growing as a unit, and keep on a successful path in the seasons to come.Â
Statistical Leaders
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Kills - Tyler Holubek, 323 (4.09 per set)
Assists - Elijah Mosher, 1002 (9.63 per set)
Digs - Van Gaetto, 289 (2.78 per set)
Blocks - Alexander Ford, 80
Service aces - Jackson Stella, 26
Season Highlights
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The Cougars will be back in the Spring of 2026 to continue growing on a momentous season. While the team heads into summer break, you can still find coverage for all things CUC men's volleyball at cucougars.com/coverage.
