LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Cleveland State volleyball team began play at the Jayhawk Classic Friday, falling to Arkansas, 3-0 and the host, No. 24 Kansas, 3-1. The Vikings will wrap up play at the Jayhawk Classic tomorrow (Saturday, Sept. 20), facing North Texas at 12:30 p.m. EST.
The Vikings opened the day against Arkansas, dropping a hard-fought match to the Razorbacks. Christina Toth posted a team-high 10 kills, while Shannon Grega recorded a career-high 18 digs in her first match as CSU's libero. Alexis Middlebrooks tallied a team-high three blocks, and recording at least three blocks in five of the last six matches. Grace Kauth added to her season service ace total with one ace against Arkansas, and is now averaging a league-best 0.40 service aces per set.
Set scores against Arkansas were 25-14, 25-23, 25-22.
In Friday's finale, the Vikings fell to the host Jayhawks, 3-1, but gave No. 24 Kansas a tough battle. Grace Kauth led the Vikings with her third double-double of the season with 11 kills and 12 digs, while Maggie Hannon posted a team-high 12 kills on a team-best .296 hitting percentage. Shannon Grega tied her career-best with 18 digs against the Jayhawks, while Dayna Roberts recorded 20 assists, and Gina Kilner added 13. Kauth also notched another service ace against Kansas, and has now recorded at least one ace in three of the last four matches.
Set Scores against Kansas were 25-14, 18-25, 25-14, 25-19.
After dropping the first set, the Vikings bounced back and were able to claim a 25-18 victory during the second frame. CSU was able to gain control of the set early on, and held the advantage for the majority of the frame. After a 4-2 run that included kills from Christina Toth and Sydney Mast the Vikings were able to gain an 11-7 lead, and held at least a two-point lead for the rest of the frame. CSU extended its lead to six points at the 21-15 mark following a KU error, and earned a set point at 24-17 following a Kauth kill and another Jayhawk error. Although Kansas would fend off the first set point, the Vikings finally put the set away with a Kansas service error.
Following the intermission, Kansas came out firing, as the Jayhawks took control of both the third and fourth sets early on, and were able to claim the 3-1 victory over the Vikings.
