Cougars Go 2-0 on Day 1 In Illinois

Bourbonnais, Ill. – The No. 25-ranked Columbia College Cougars volleyball team (11-7) competed twice today in the Holiday Inn Express Invite hosted by Olivet Nazarene University. Looking to keep their winning streak alive, the Cougars defeated Cardinal Stritch University (7-7) 3-1, before sweeping the hosts Olivet Nazarene (5-10) 3-0. With these two wins, Columbia still remains undefeated in the month of September. 

Game 1: Columbia defeated Cardinal Stritch University, 3-1

The Wolves controlled much of set one as they lead by as many as eight. Columbia started to work their way back, but it was too late as the Wolves claimed the last three points of the set to take the opening frame, 25-20. 

Set two saw the Cougars jump out to 6-0 lead after Ellie Rockers’ tough serving caused problems for the Wolves. Columbia’s offense was firing on all cylinders as kills from Beyza Bektasoglu, Sude Gundogan, and Allana Capella propelled the Cougars to a 25-16 second set win. 

Both teams traded points early in set three until a four-point serving run from Magdalena Bostal pushed the Cougars ahead 13-7. Columbia held their lead and even extended it as many as seven points. Kills from Beyza Bektasoglu and Danielle Prior ended the third set for the Cougars, 25-17.

Olivia Skipworth served nine straight points in the fourth set to put the Cougars at a 15-2 lead. From here, Columbia never looked back as they kept their lead to 20-8. The Wolves outscored Columbia 6-5 in the closing moments, but it was too little too late as a kill from Beyza Bektasoglu ended the fourth set and match, 25-16.

Against the Wolves, Danielle Prior led the way with 13 kills on a blistering .500 hitting percent. Sude Gundogan (14), Allana Capella (12), and Beyza Bektasoglu (11) all found double-digit kills for the Cougars. Luisa Ferreira finished the match with 48 assists and 10 digs, while Ellie Rockers had a match-high 25 digs. Olivia Skipworth also finished with double-digit digs with 11 of her own.

Game 2: Columbia defeated Olivet Nazarene, 3-0

Columbia started slow in the first set, falling behind 0-8 before a kill from Danielle Prior ended the Tigers’ run. The Cougars trailed for a majority of the first set until Olivia Skipworth’s tough serving put the Cougars ahead by one, 18-17. Both teams traded points to a Columbia 22-21 lead. Two kills from Allana Capella combined with a service ace from Luisa Ferreira earned the Cougars the first set win, 25-22. 

The second set saw the Cougars take an early 11-5 lead. Errors from the Tigers helped Columbia to a 20-13 lead as they looked to go up 2-0 in the match. ONU fought back and closed the scoring gap to just four points, 23-19, but it was not enough as Columbia claimed the last two points of the set to take it 25-19.

The Cougars absolutely dominated in set three as Ellie Rockers started them off with a 7-1 lead from her tough serving. Then, more tough serving from Sude Gundogan with kills from Beyza Bektasoglu found the Cougars up 20-5. Jane Johnson scored twice with a block and then a kill, pushing the Cougars closer to victory. Allana Capella’s kill put the Cougars at match point, where it was quickly found as the Tigers ended the match with an attacking error, giving the third and final set to the Cougars, 25-7.

Allana Capella led the offensive effort for the Cougars with 10 kills, followed closely by Beyza Bektasoglu with eight. Abby Massengill chipped in seven kills on a .636 hitting percentage. Luisa Ferreira distributed the ball well for 34 assists. Ellie Rockers and Magdalena Bostal controlled the defensive effort for the Cougars as they finished with 18 and 14 digs, respectively.