MATCHES #1-3
GOLDEN DOME INVITATIONAL | SOUTH BEND, INDIANA
vs. Western Michigan | Friday, Aug. 26 | 4:30 p.m.
Live Stats
@ Notre Dame | Saturday, Aug. 27 | 12:30 p.m.
Live Stats | Video
vs. Seton Hall | Saturday, Aug. 27 | 4:30 p.m.
Live Stats
CLEVELAND STATE @ GOLDEN DOME INVITATIONAL MATCH NOTES | TOURNAMENT CENTRAL
QUICK SETS
The Cleveland State volleyball team will open the 2016 season this weekend, as the Vikings are set to participate in the Golden Dome Invitational, hosted by Notre Dame. Cleveland State is one of four teams in the two-day tournament, along with Western Michigan, Seton Hall, and the host Fighting Irish. The Vikings will begin the weekend against Western Michigan at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, August 26, and will then face Notre Dame (12:30 p.m.) and Seton Hall (4:30 p.m.) on Saturday, August 27.
2016 PRESEASON VOLLEYBALL VIDEO SERIES: WEEK #1
2016 PRESEASON VOLLEYBALL VIDEO SERIES: WEEK #2
2016 PRESEASON VOLLEYBALL VIDEO SERIES: WEEK #3
CSU IN SEASON-OPENING TOURNAMENTS
Since the 2000 season when Chuck Voss took over the Cleveland State volleyball team, the Vikings have posted a 33-14 record in season-opening tournaments, including a 19-5 record over the last seven years. Under Voss, the Vikings have captured five tournament titles during the first weekend of action - most recently claiming the Blue Raider Bash crown last season after going 3-1 during the opening weekend of play.
VIKINGS TABBED HORIZON LEAGUE PRESEASON FAVORITES
Last week the Vikings were selected as the Horizon League Preseason favorites to defend their 2015 Regular Season and Tournament titles, as they picked up 60 points and four first-place votes in the league's preseason poll. This marked the first time that Cleveland State has been tabbed the preseason favorite since the Horizon League began releasing preseason polls in 2012.
POSTSEASON HONOREES RETURN
The 2016 Vikings will be led by senior Grace Kauth, junior Alexis Middlebrooks, and sophomore Rachel Stover - a trio that earned postseason honors from the Horizon League last year. Kauth, who earned a spot on the All-League First Team for the second straight season, finished the year ranked second on the team with 458 kills (3.58/set) and 338 digs (2.64/set). Middlebrooks, who was tabbed All-League First Team and AVCA Honorable Mention All-Region, finished the season with a team-best 146 total blocks (1.16/set) and led the Vikings with a .329 hitting percentage (361-108-770). Stover was named to the All-Newcomer Team after finishing her rookie campaign with 135 kills and 66 total blocks.
KAUTH CLOSING ON DOUBLE 1K CLUB
Entering the 2016 season, senior Grace Kauth is closing in on becoming just the sixth Viking all-time to surpass 1,000 career kills and 1,000 career digs. Kauth, who became the 16th Viking to notch 1,000 career kills last season, enters the Golden Dome Invitational with 1,040 kills and 908 digs on her career. Throughout her first three seasons at Cleveland State, Kauth has tallied 36 double-doubles, the highest total among active Vikings.
KILNER IN THE RECORD BOOK
Entering her junior season, Gina Kilner is just 53 assists shy of becoming the seventh Viking all-time to record 2,000 career helpers, as she enters the 2016 season ranked seventh in the CSU Career Record Book with 1,947 assists. Kilner, who led the Horizon League with 1,379 total assists last season, would become the first Viking setter to reach the 2,000 assist milestone since the 2009 season when Jordan Goad (2008-11) achieved the feat. Kilner would also join current assistant coach Mel Badziong (2004-07) in the elite club, as Badziong finished her Viking career with 4,076 assists.
HEAD COACH CHUCK VOSS
Chuck Voss is entering his 17th season at the helm of the Vikings, and owns a 291-189 (.606) overall record at CSU. Under Voss the Vikings have recorded 13 winning seasons, including seven straight entering the 2016 season. Cleveland State has eclipsed the 20-win mark six times since Voss took over the program, and has captured Horizon League Tournament titles three times (2007, 2012 & 2015) under his guidance.
…VOSS CLOSING IN ON A PAIR OF MILESTONES
Entering the 2016 season, head coach Chuck Voss is just three wins shy of becoming the all-time winningest coach in program history, needing 294 total wins to eclipse the previous mark that was set by Mary Motley (1978-93). Voss also enters the 2016 season needing just nine more wins to notch his 300th victory at Cleveland State, and would become just the second active coach in the Horizon League to reach the milestone at their current school.
A LOOK BACK AT 2015
Last season Cleveland State captured its third Horizon League Regular Season and Tournament title, finishing the year with a 26-7 overall record. Cleveland State's 26 wins marked the program's 15th 20-win season, while it also tied a program record for most wins in a season over the last 30 years. After claiming the Horizon League Tournament title, the Vikings earned a trip to the NCAA Tournament for the third time over the last eight seasons, facing off against top-seeded USC in the First Round.
UP NEXT
The Vikings will continue the 2016 season next weekend (Friday, September 2 & Saturday, September 3), hosting their annual CSU Invitational on Friday (Eastern Michigan & Tennessee) and hosting a stand alone match against Boise State on Saturday.
