MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Behind a balanced team effort, the Cleveland State volleyball team defeated league-leading Milwaukee Saturday evening, earning a 3-1 victory over the Panthers. With the win, the Vikings improve to 13-13 overall this season and 6-7 in Horizon League play.
Set scores against Milwaukee were 25-20, 18-25, 25-22, 25-22.
Grace Kauth tallied a match-high 16 kills along with 12 digs for her eighth double-double of the season, while Maggie Hannon tallied 11 kills and six blocks. Gina Kilner was CSU's primary setter for the match, recording 44 assists, along with seven digs, four kills and two blocks.
Shannon Grega had a team-high 14 digs against the Panthers, while Christina Toth posted a team-high seven blocks and nine kills, and Alexis Middlebrooks added seven kills and four blocks.
The Vikings got out to a strong start early on in the first set, gaining a 12-9 lead after three straight Panther errors. The Vikings then controlled play for the remainder of the frame, owning at least a two-point advantage for the rest of the set. CSU gained its largest lead at the 22-17 mark, following back-to-back kills from Kauth and Hannon and another Milwaukee error, while they closed the frame with three straight points – including kills from Hannon and Kauth once again.
After the Panthers were able to even the match with a 25-18 victory during the second set, Cleveland State came out firing after the intermission, picking up wins in the third and fourth sets to claim the match.
During the third set the Vikings were once again able to gain the advantage early on, owning a 13-8 lead after a 4-0 run that included two kills from Hannon. CSU then controlled play for the remainder of the frame, finally pulling away with a pair of Kauth kills for the 25-22 victory.
The fourth set was much of the same, as the Vikings held the advantage early on, but Milwaukee stayed within striking distance for the entire set. The Panthers were able to tie the frame multiple times over the final few points, but the Vikings were able to fight off every tie, finally putting the set and the match away with two Panther errors and a Hannon kill over the final four points.
Throughout the match the Vikings forced Milwaukee into 33 hitting errors, allowing them to hit just .140 for the match. On the flip side, CSU tallied 53 kills and recorded a .241 hitting percentage.
The Vikings will now close out the regular season at Youngstown State next Friday (November 14), facing the Penguins at 7:00 p.m.
