Wheaton, Ill. - The Concordia University Chicago (CUC) Cougars women's volleyball team was back in Wheaton for day two of the Marilyn Scribner Invitational. With two games on the docket, the Cougars would first take on the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Pointers at 10:00 AM and then the Wheaton College Thunder at 3:00 PM. In game one, the Cougars fell 3-0 to the Pointers and after five sets of play in game two, fell to the Thunder 3-2.
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Game One
Inside the Box Score:
- Beatriz Goncalves (Belo Horizonte, Brazil) led the Cougar offense with seven kills, and Neva Foster (Parker, Colo.) followed closely behind with six of her own.
- Eva Fitzgerald (Houston, Texas) led in assists and digs with 15 and six respectively.
- Ava Quevedo (Colorado Springs, Colo.) was a force at the net where she had three blocks.
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Here's What Happened
Set One
The Cougars started out slow in the first set where the Pointers found an early 12-4 lead over the Cougars. The Cougars called a timeout to settle and regroup which followed up with a great run of plays. Goncalves had a quick kill followed by a McKayla LeVoy (Kankakee, Ill.) ace that changed the momentum of the set to favor the Cougars. The sudden surge of Cougar energy was quickly matched by the Pointers and again, they found their groove, and regained a seven point lead where the score was 18-11 before heading into another timeout. The efforts of Lili Hunt (Greenfield, Ind.), Indiah Day (Merrillville, Ind.), Foster, and Goncalves with kills would not be enough for the Cougars to comeback, and the Pointers would take set one 25-16. After one set of play, the Pointers led 1-0.Â
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Set Two
The Cougars were on the board for set two thanks to a monster block by Rachel Livesay (Medinah, Ill.). The teams would go on a run of exchanging point-for-point featuring a kill by Goncalves, but after the Pointers scored four-consecutive unanswered points, the Cougars called their first timeout of the set where the score was 12-7, favoring the Pointers. Out of timeout the Cougars would attempt to take advantage of errors made by the Pointers gaining two back-to-back points but the Pointers would take over and gain a 16-9 lead, forcing the Cougars into another timeout. Following the timeout, the Quevedo and Foster would get a pair of kills and LeVoy would have a fantastic block, but the Pointer lead would prove too far to comeback. The Pointers took set two 25-15 and led 2-0.
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Set Three
The Cougars took charge in set three where an ace by Quevedo and kills by Goncalves would solidify a 7-3 lead, forcing the Pointers to take an early timeout in the set. Kills by Kate Foley, Goncalves, and block by LeVoy, would keep the Cougars in the lead, but the Cougars called a timeout to refresh before heading into the final stretch of the set. Out of timeout the Cougars led 15-11. The teams would exchange point-for-point where aces by Bethany Roethel would maintain the Cougar lead at 19-15. The Pointers quickly pulled the momentum to favor their side and went on 3-0 run to come within one point. To settle and regroup, the Cougars called a timeout, but still led 19-18. The teams found themselves at a tied 21, where a pair of blocks by the Pointers would pull them into the lead for the first time in the set at 23-21. The Cougars would attempt to comeback, but unfortunately the lead would remain with the Pointers and they would take set three 25-22. After three sets of play, the Pointers took the game 3-0.
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The Cougars had a few hours off before heading back into game two of the day to take on the Wheaton College Thunder.
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Game Two
Inside the Box Score:
- Day led the offense in game two with 13 kills, the lone Cougar to reach double digits.
- Adler had 18 assists and 12 digs, while Fitzgerald had 15 assists and a massive six aces.
- Rosemary Brenner (Frankenmuth, Mich.) tied Adler for the most digs with 12.
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Here's What Happened
Set One
The Thunder compiled a series of kills and aces to take an early 5-0 lead over the Cougars forcing them into their first timeout of the game. Hoping to work off of a service error by the Thunder, Livesay served an ace, followed closely by Day with a kill, but the Thunder force continued on. With the score at 21-5 favoring the Thunder, Foster and Goncalves tried to begin a comeback with kills but the deficit was too large and the Cougars fell in set one 25-7.
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Set Two
In a complete change of momentum the Cougars opened set two with determination. Three kills by Day, service ace for Fitzgerald, and a block by Goncalves and LeVoy brought the Cougars into a 7-1 lead forcing the Thunder into timeout. Out of timeout, Fitzgerald served three consecutive aces to increase the lead 10-1. The Thunder slowly started to chip at the deficit but a kill by Goncalves as well as a block by Goncalves and Quevedo kept the Cougars ahead with the score at 16-11. The Thunder brought themselves within two, so to rest a regroup the Cougars called for a timeout where the score was 16-14. Out of timeout, back-to-back kills by Foster and Quevedo were enough for the Thunder to follow in the Cougar footsteps and call for a timeout of their own. Entering the final stretch of set two, the score was 18-14 favoring the Cougars. With just seven points to go for the Cougars, the Thunder would try for a comeback but the momentum remained in favor of the Cougars and they took set two 25-17. Heading into set three, each team had one set win under their belt.
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Set Three
The team exchanged point-for-point early in the set until the Thunder pulled a 6-2 lead forcing the Cougars into their first timeout of the set. Ace by LeVoy and solo block by Quevedo would pull the Cougars back into tie at 7 apiece. The Thunder would find they were able to pull back into a small lead once again and it wasn't until the score was 16-13 favoring the Thunder that the Cougars would take their second timeout of the set. Another kill for LeVoy and duo block by Quevedo and Foster pulled the Cougars within one at 18-17, but the Thunder offense roared. Only allowing the Cougars one more point in the set, the Thunder took set three 25-18. The Thunder now led 2-1 heading into set four.
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Set Four
The Cougars came with high energy in set four where Day, and LeVoy led the offense with each obtaining kills as well as the two coming together as one for a block to form a comfortable 6-2 Cougar lead. Quevedo and LeVoy would continue to lead for the Cougars with kills, blocks, and aces, to increase the lead to 13-5. After a 9-4 run favoring the Thunder, the Cougars took a timeout to settle nerves, but still maintaining a decent lead, the score was 17-14 favoring the Cougars. Out of timeout, efforts of LeVoy and Quevedo, as well as back-to-back blocks by Quevedo increased the Cougar lead 21-17. The Thunder, realizing the set was at stake, took a timeout. Out of timeout, the point differentiation remained and the Cougars took set four 25-21. Heading into the fifth and final set, each team had two set wins.
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Set Five
Day set the tone for set five with a huge kill for the Cougars. The teams matched point-for-point until the Thunder seemed to have a shift in their favor so the Cougars took a timeout. Only leading by one, the Thunder were up 5-4. Out of timeout Goncalves grabbed a kill but the Thunder were the first to eight initiating the switching of sides. The Cougars trailed with the score at 8-5, but a kill for Foster would make it a two-point game at 8-6. The Cougars trailed by as much as five, but Hunt and LeVoy came in with crucial kills to bring the Cougars within two where the score was 13-11, the Thunder. The Thunder took this shift in momentum as an opportunity to call for a timeout. The Cougars tried to claw back but the Thunder took set three 15-12, and the game 3-2.
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What's Next
The Cougars will have a handful of days off before heading into another on the road match September 17 against Eureka College with first serve set for 6:00 PM. Coverage for all things CUC women's volleyball can be found at cucougars.com/coverage.Â
