South Bend, Ind. -- The Indiana University Northwest women's volleyball team was unable to overcome a slow start as the RedHawks lost their first Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference match of the year against Indiana University South Bend Saturday.

The Titans (6-5, 3-1 CCAC) defeated the RedHawks (4-2, 3-1 CCAC), 3-0, with the scores 25-12, 25-19, 25-10 at the Student Activites Center, Saturday. 

IUSB went ahead 11-3 to start the match in the first set before sophomore Bella Kuechenberg (Lowell, Ind./Bishop Noll Institute) picked up the kill to end the Titans run. The Titans secured another run before Kuechenberg ended it with another kill.

Both teams went back and forth to start the second set after IUN went ahead 5-4, IUSB outscored the RedHawks 9-2 to go ahead 13-7. This time it was the RedHawks making a run after senior Robyn Griffin (Downers Grove, Ill./Lisle Senior) recorded a kill then a bad play cut it to 15-13 IUSB.

The Titans scored four points in a row before freshman Mary Markusic (Munster, Ind./Bishop Noll Institute) ended their rally with a kill and junior Caitlin Alwine (Goshen, Ind.) had a service ace which made it 20-15 in favor of the Titans. IUSB closed out the set and won 25-19.

IUN who needed to win the third set to stay alive in the match was trading points early in the third set and as the score was 4-4 before the Titans pulled away. Titans won the third set, 25-10 and it secured the match 3-0. 

Kuechenberg and Emileishka De Jesus (Hobart, Ind./Hobart) each led the RedHawks with seven kills a piece. Senior Cara Nebel (Portage, Ind./Portage) paved the way recording 16 digs and junior Erica Kik (Griffith, Ind./Griffith) and freshman Kila Stoudt (Eaton Rapids, Mich./Eaton Rapids) each at three blocks at the net. 

IUN Volleyball returns to the court and looks to bounce back Tuesday, September 17 as the RedHawks travel to Trinity International to take on the Trojans starting at 7 p.m. CT.