CHICAGO, Ill. – The Concordia University Chicago (CUC) men's volleyball team took a short trip to face a tough NCAA Division II opponent in Roosevelt University. The Cougars showed their talent and grit in the thrilling five set match, but were just edged out, 3-2.
 
Inside the Box Score:
Grayson Arn (Beloit, Wis.) recorded a career-high 38 assists while also adding a team-high nine digs.
Jackson Stella (Hoffman Estates, Ill.) led the squad with 16 kills, 19.5 points, four blocks, two assists, and three digs.
Alexander Ford (Skokie, Ill.) and Wyatt Anzenberger-Shea (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) led the team with five blocks and eight kills each.
Tyler Holubek (New Lenox, Ill.) secured 12 kills, 15.5 points, two assists, two aces, three blocks, and four digs.
 
Here's What Happened
Set One
The Cougars struck first with a kill from Holubek. Stella followed that up with a solo block and a kill, for a 3-1 lead. The Lakers then went on a 4-0 run to take the lead. Anzenberger-Shea helped the Cougars tie the set up at 6-6. Each time Roosevelt tried to pull away, CUC always answered back, keeping the set tied, 12-12. The Lakers then went on a 7-2 run. However, kills from Anzenberger-Shea and Holubek spurred a 5-0 run for the Cougars to tie the set back up at 19-19. Roosevelt scored one more point before the Cougars closed out the set with kills from Ford and service aces from Holubek. Tyrise Armstrong (Grayslake, Ill.) laid down the final kill to take the first set 25-20. The Cougars led the match 1-0.
 
Set Two
The Cougars got off to a slow start in set two, falling behind 8-1. A kill from Anzenberger-Shea and a block from Holubek and Ford added to CUC's total, but the Lakers kept a firm lead. The teams battled back-and-forth, but the Cougars could only come within four, 13-9. The Lakers added four points to their lead before Armstrong stopped the run with a kill. Holubek, Arn, Ford, and Stella all secured points for CUC, but Roosevelt took the set 25-16, tying the match, 1-1.
 
Set Three
Once again, the Lakers took an early lead, 4-0. The Cougars battled back quickly and a kill from Tate Johnson (Plainfield, Ill.) put the Cougars within one. After trading the next few points, a kill from Ford and block by Stella, Ford, and Arn tied the set at 7-7. The Lakers went on a 4-1 run, but a few errors and a service ace from Arn kept the Cougars even with the Lakers at 11-11. The teams continued to stay evenly match until Stella made back-to-back kills, followed by a kill from Arn and a block from Anzenberger-Shea and Stella to give the Cougars a 21-18 lead. Two more kills from Stella and two blocks gave the set to the Cougars, 25-22. CUC took a 2-1 lead.
 
Set Four
A block by Anzenberger-Shea and Holubek put the Cougars on the board first, but the Lakers were able to answer back. The teams traded points until the Lakers were able to pull out to an 11-8 lead. Kills from Stella and Holubek kept it close before Roosevelt went on a 4-0 run to lead 18-11. A block from Stella and Ford ended Roosevelt's run, but the Lakers were able to keep a healthy lead. Stella and Anzenberger-Shea battled for more points, but the Cougars couldn't overcome the deficit and fell 25-16. The match was tied 2-2.
 
Set Five
Stella kicked off the scoring from the Cougars as well as Anzenberger-Shea. A service ace from Stella gave CUC a 5-4 lead. The Lakers answered back with four straight points, taking the lead, 8-5. Kills from Anzenberger-Shea and Ford, along with an error from the Lakers put the Cougars within two, 10-8. However, Roosevelt swept the final five points of the set, taking it 15-8, and defeating the Cougars, 3-2.
 
What's Next
The Cougars begin Northern Athletic Collegiate Conference (NACC) play on Thursday, February 19. CUC will travel to Rockford, Ill. to face Rockford University at 7:00 pm. Coverage for all things CUC men's volleyball can be found at cucougars.com/coverage.