Palos Heights, IL - Carolina University Men's Volleyball attended the NCCAA National Invitational in Illinois over the weekend. CU played against four different teams, including #2 Trinity Christian College, #4 Geneva College #7 Maranatha Baptist University, and #1 Judson University. They opened the weekend on Friday with a match against the Trinity Christian College Trolls from Illinois. It proved to be a tough matchup for the Bruins against the #2 ranked team. Despite strong efforts from the Bruins, the Trolls came out ahead in each set, winning the match 3-0. 

CU played again on Friday against Geneva College, who came from Pennsylvania. The Bruins showed an incredible amount of energy, despite it being the second match of the day. The Golden Tornadoes came out just ahead in the first set, 25-21. Carolina U answered in the second set 25-21, making it 1-1. The Bruins maintained momentum and took the third match with a score of 25-22. Carolina showed a good effort but Geneva answered in the fourth set to tie up the match 2-2. The last set was back and forth, but the Bruins came up just shy 13-15, finishing the match 2-3. 

The Bruins started Saturday with a match against Maranatha Baptist from Wisconsin. Carolina took the first set with ease, 25-12 and continued to roll in the next two. The Bruins won the match in a sweep and claimed their first victory of the tournament.

Carolina University finished the Tournament on Saturday afternoon with a final match against Judson University. The Bruins took the first set 25-20 as well as the second set with a score of 25-23. Judson answered in the next set, coming out just ahead at 25-22. CU lost a bit of steam in the fourth set as the Eagles won 25-18. The Bruins continued to fight in the final set, but unfortunately it wasn't enough, finishing 14-16 in the set and 2-3 in the match. 

With four matches behind them, the Bruins are ready to start their regular season. CU will host the University of Rio Grande on Tuesday, January 31st at 7:00 pm. Come watch them in the Williams Gymnasium or LiveStream and LiveStats will be available.