Box Score DEERFIELD, Ill. - In a hard fought battle with the top team in the CCAC, the TIU Volleyball team suffered a three set defeat to the St. Xavier University Cougars on Thursday night.

The opening set of the match saw a strong start from the Trojans who kept pace with the Cougars high powered offense. Midway through the set Sophomore Kayla Jacks gave the Trojans a 17-14 lead thanks to two of her five kills as well as a service ace. The Cougars battled right back into the match, registering 11 of the next 12 points to take the opening set 25-18.

In the second set of the match, St. Xavier would jump out to an early 3-0 lead and not look back from there. Midway through the set Cougar OH Kate Bontrager tallied three consecutive kills, giving SXU a seven point lead. St. X eould eventually close things out in the second 25-15.

The third and final set of the match, the Trojans and Cougars battled back and forth with neither side able to grab ahold of the game. With the score at 18-17 in favor of the Cougars, St. Xavier turned things around in a hurry as the Cougar offense won six out of the next seven points to close out the match 25-18.

TIU will have the weekend off and then will be back in action at home next Tuesday when they take on the Cardinal Stritch Wolves at 7pm.