CHICAGO – The Concordia University Wisconsin men's volleyball team dropped a five-set NACC road match to Illinois Tech on Wednesday night, 3-2. The Falcons move to 1-11 overall and 1-2 in conference play.
 
CUW controlled the opening set from the start, racing to an 8-2 advantage behind kills from seniors Chase Ammons (Elm Grove, Wis.)  and Tate Miller (Anthem, Ariz.), plus a block by Miller and sophomore Owen Kolozsy (Carol Stream, Ill.). The early cushion held as the Falcons claimed the frame, 25-17.
 
Illinois Tech responded in the second, building a 23-16 lead before CUW mounted a 6-0 run to pull within one. The Scarlet Hawks regrouped out of a timeout and scored the final two points to even the match at one set apiece.
 
The hosts carried momentum into the third to take a 2-1 match lead. CUW answered in the fourth, opening on a 7-2 surge and stretching to a 12-7 edge. The run was aided by three IIT errors, including one forced by a Kolozsy/Ammons block. The Falcons maintained the advantage to force a decisive fifth set.
 
Both teams traded points early in the finale, but Illinois Tech pulled away late to secure the 3-2 victory.
 
Kolozsy recorded his second straight double-double with 14 kills and 10 digs. Miller (11) and Parker Butterfass (Shakopee, Minn.-10) also reached double figures in kills. Defensively, sophomore Reid Scott (Chandler, Ariz.) paced CUW with 15 digs, while freshman libero Cooper Dammann (Altadena, Calif.) added 11. Ammons contributed four of the Falcons' 12 block assists.
 
CUW returns home Saturday to host No. 20 MSOE at 1 p.m. inside the R. John Buuck Field House.