The Aurora University women's volleyball team battled the Falcons of Concordia University Wisconsin on Thursday night inside Thornton Gymnasium. The Spartans and Falcons offered the crowd an exciting four set match that AU hung on to win with the first three sets being decided by two points in each. Spartan outside hitters Katelyn Ruse and Izabella Kowalczyk each had double-doubles while libero Katie Brisk had 30 digs and setter Trinity Nelson dished out 45 assists on the night


MATCH SCORE: Aurora University 3, Concordia University Wisconsin 1 (25-23, 24-26, 26-24, 25-18)
LOCATION: Aurora, Illinois - Thornton Gymnasium
RECORD: Aurora University 13-6 overall and 4-0 NACC


- The Spartans led throughout the first set but rode the roller coaster of emotions, building an 18-11 lead and held on to defeat CUW 25-23.
- The stat line in the first set was nearly identical as the close score would indicate as well.
- Katelyn Ruse led all attackers with five kills.
- The second set was a nail-biter from the start and would finish with 12 tie scores and six lead changes.
- CUW knocked off AU in the second 26-24.
- Izabella Kowalczyk had five kills in the second set to lead AU.
- The third set would see the Spartans trail by as many as four points on numerous occasions but rally back late to win.
- A block from Peyton Darguzis and Ruse ignited the AU rally and started a run of Falcon hitting errors.
- The final point came on a kill from Alissa Hulst as AU won 26-24.
- Hulst and Darguzis each finished with four kills in the set win.
- The AU momentum carried over into the fourth set with the Spartans never trailing after taking a 5-4 lead on a Izabella Kowalczyk kill.
- AU's lead grew to eight at 16-8 and the Spartans went on to win 25-18 to secure the 3-1 match win.
- Ruse, Darguzis and Kowalczyk each had three kills in the set.


KILLS: Katelyn Ruse (13), Izabella Kowalczyk and Alissa Hulst (11)
ASSISTS: Trinity Nelson (45)
DIGS: Katie Brisk (30), Katelyn Ruse (21) and Izabella Kowalczyk (15)
ACES: Katelyn Ruse (3)
BLOCKS: Peyton Darguzis (7) and Trinity Nelson (4)


Next scheduled action for the Spartan women's volleyball team comes on Saturday, October 11 when they host Marian University. Opening serve is slated for 3:00 p.m. in Thornton Gymnasium.