Concordia University Chicago Athletics

River Forest, Ill. - The Concordia University Chicago (CUC) Cougars women's volleyball team opened up their home court for day one of the Concordia-Chicago invite. With two games on the schedule, the Cougars took on Knox College at 2:00 pm, followed up by Bethany Lutheran College at 6:00 pm. In game one, the Cougars took on a prosperous win of 3-1 against the Prairie Fire and were able to take on another well-deserved win from the Vikings 3-2.
 
Game One
Inside the Box Score

• Indiah Day (Merrillville, Ind.) led the Cougars' offense with 17 kills and 46 total attacks, also managing to contribute an assist, six digs and a block.
• Debanhi Moreno (Dallas, Texas) came in as a close second with nine kills and 32 total attacks, along with a dig.
• Harmonie Cooper (Chicago, Ill.) came to impress with eight kills and 15 total attacks, adding on two aces, six digs and two blocks.

 
Here's What Happened
Set One
The set would open with a kill from Day, putting the Cougars straight onto the scoreboard. The teams would rally before an error from the Prairie Fire would start off the Cougars' four-point run. An error from the Cougars would hand over the ball, but they're quick to get it back with another kill from Day. A kill from Cooper kept the Cougars in the lead by six. The Prairie Fire earned the ball back and stacked on three points for their team. After a three point run, a kill from Moreno gave the ball back to the Cougars. Another kill from Ava Quevedo (Colorado Springs, Colo.) would resume the Cougars' six point lead. The Cougars' broke 20 with blocks from Weronika Kurnat (Burbank, Ill.) and Quevedo. Another run benefitted the Prairie Fire, but attacks from Day and Moreno brought the ball back to the Cougars' side. Blocks from the Cougars and a final kill from Day would seal the set, the Cougars taking set one 25-20. The teams moved into the second set with the home team leading 1-0.
 
Set Two
An attack from Day would open up a place for the Cougars on the scoreboard. The teams would then trade points for a portion of the set, but the teams would eventually tie 7-7 after exchanging kills. A back-and-forth would persist through the set, both teams fighting for the top spot. The Prairie Fire would snatch the lead from under the Cougars' noses, building up a five point lead. The Cougars' attempted to eat away at their opponents' lead, but the Prairie Fire would surpass 20. A kill from Cooper would tie the teams up 23-23; the Prairie Fire would get to set point first, but the Cougars never gave up with 24 a piece. After some extra volleyball, the Prairie Fire would punch back, taking the second set 30-28, both teams heading into set three tied 1-1.
 
Set Three
The Prairie Fire would hit the scoreboard first to start off the set. Beatriz Goncalves (Belo Horizonte, Brazil) would retaliate, smacking down a kill and taking the ball back. The teams continued with a back-and-forth before an attack from Malainna Adler (Fenton, Mo.) and aces from Rosemary Brenner (Frankenmuth, Mich.) would put the Cougars up by four points. The gap jumped to six points as the Cougars continued to hammer down kills. The Prairie Fire proceeded to fall further behind, attacks from the Cougars giving them a 10-point disadvantage. The Prairie Fire's was burning out as the Cougars grabbed onto set point with a kill from Brynn Icenogle (Brentwood, Calif.). The Cougars would inevitably take the third set with a score of 25-11, going into the fourth set as leaders at 2-1.
 
Set Four
An error from the Prairie Fire would give the Cougars the first point of the set. The Prairie Fire would turn the tables, taking on a two point lead. Attacks from the Cougars would quickly bring the ball back onto their side of the net; kills from Cooper would put the Cougars up by five, leaving the Prairie Fire behind. Continuous aces from Cooper would slowly bury the opposing team. Errors from the Prairie Fire would benefit the Cougars by bringing them to set point first. A kill from Moreno would close things out, the Cougars taking the fourth and final set with 25-15, taking the first matchup of their invite 3-1.
 
The Cougars took a short break before going into game two of the day to take on Bethany Lutheran College at 6:00 pm.
 
Game Two
Inside the Box Score

• Day would lead another matchup with 16 kills and 51 total attacks, along with four digs and two blocks.
• Moreno would then come in with 11 kills and 33 total attacks, tacking on seven digs as well.
• Icenogle would also contribute eight kills and 25 total attacks, adding on three digs and two blocks.

 
Here's What Happened
Set One
The Vikings' first mistake earned the Cougars their first point of game two. The Cougars grabbed the lead quickly, building on a four-point advantage with an attack from Icenogle and an ace from Goncalves. The Cougars continued to deliver aces, but the Vikings pushed back, coming within two of the Cougars. The Vikings took on a brief lead before losing it to aces from Bethany Roethel (Westby, Wis.). Attacks from Kurnat and Rachel Livesay (Medinah, Ill.) got the Cougars past 20; errors from the Vikings gave the Cougars a six-point lead, a kill from Kurnat getting the Cougars to set point. A final kill from Quevedo would end the set at 25-17. The teams headed into the second set in the lead 1-0.
 
Set Two
The Vikings would tack on the first point of the set onto the scoreboard. The teams would exchange points throughout the beginning of the set, Livesay powering through some kills. The Vikings would then take on the lead, errors from the Cougars working in their favor. The Cougars would crawl back, however, going on a three-point run, coming within one. Kills from Quevedo and aces from Livesay would put the Cougars up by four. The Vikings effort would be for nothing as the Cougars continued to eat away at them, Moreno's kills ending the set at 25-20. The Cougars entered into the third set in the lead with 2-0.
 
Set Three
Day began set three with strong blocks, grabbing the first points for the Cougars at the net. The teams go into a rally, both struggling in getting successful plays. The Vikings did take on the lead, ahead by two. Both competitors battled for the lead, tying repeatedly. A precise attack from Icenogle and an ace from Adler helped bring the Cougars to the forefront. The Vikings were the first to break 20 as the Cougars switched places, trailing by a lengthy six points. Errors from the Cougars would bring the Vikings to set point. The Cougars don't let the ball drop, coming within two of the Vikings with some close blocks. The Vikings would eventually take the third set at 25-23. The fourth would welcome the two teams, the Cougars still leading 2-1.
 
Set Four
To start off the set, the Vikings would take on the first point. The teams traded attacks; the Vikings would go on a four-point run, but an error would end this quickly. The Cougars would keep up their fight, sending attacks to the Vikings, but the Vikings remained up by three. Kills from Kurnat and Day had put the Cougars within one, an error from the Vikings tying the teams up 12-12. The attacks kept going between the teams, tying them up multiple times. The Vikings would go on a three-point run, breaking 20. The Cougars came back with a vengeance, coming within one of their opponents with kills from Day and Kurnat, along with an ace from Adler. The Vikings would take the fourth set at 25-22, tying up with the Cougars 2-2 as the teams went into the final set of the night.
 
Set Five
An error began the set and gave the Cougars their first point. The teams moved slowly, taking in points from each other. The Cougars took on a lead, attacks from Day and an error from the Vikings pushing the Cougars up by three. The advantage from the Cougars led to the teams switching sides; the Cougars then relied on kills from Moreno and errors from the Vikings to give them a seven-point advantage. Day would finish out the night, sending a kill straight into the Vikings' side. The Cougars would take the fifth and final set at 15-7, putting another win under their belt for the night with 3-2.
 
What's Next
The Cougars will continue on their journey in the Concordia-Chicago Invite, where their next two games will be played tomorrow on Saturday, September 5th, against both Blackburn College and Buena Vista University. Coverage for all things CUC women's volleyball can be found at cucougars.com/coverage.