CLEVELAND, Ohio – Behind a triple-double from senior setter Gina Kilner, the Cleveland State volleyball team picked up a 3-1 victory over IUPUI Friday evening. The match marked the home-opener for the Vikings, as they improved to 9-5 overall and 2-1 in Horizon League play this season.
Cleveland State vs. IUPUI Box Score
Match Stats
· The Vikings had a balanced offensive attack, with four players finishing in double-figures led by Sara Skeens and Trinniti Hall with 15 kills each.
· Alexis Middlebrooks added 12 kills, while Gina Kilner notched 10 and Rachel Stover added eight.
· Gina Kilner recorded 46 assists on the match.
·The Viking defense was led by Shannon Grega with 19 digs, while Jordan Verbiak and Emily DeGeorge both added 15.
· Gina Kilner recorded 14 digs, with Rachael Dohar adding 11.
· As a team, the Vikings tallied five service aces, with three from Jordan Verbiak and one each from Shannon Grega and Halle Schoen.
· Alexis Middlebrooks notched a team-high five blocks, while Mariah Carrero-Johnson added four and Rachel Stover posted three.
Match Notes
· With the 3-1 victory Friday evening, the Vikings remained perfect against IUPUI, owning a 4-0 advantage in the overall series.
· Dating back to last season, the Vikings have now won 10 straight matches in Woodling Gymnasium.
· Gina Kilner recorded a triple-double on the match, posting 10 kills, 46 assists and 14 digs.
· Jordan Verbiak recorded a career-high with her 15 digs against IUPUI.
The Match
After getting out to a sluggish start and dropping the first set, the Vikings rebounded throughout the rest of the match, controlling play en route to a 3-1 victory over the Jaguars.
During the second set, the Vikings were able to gain a four-point lead at the 13-9 mark after four straight points including a pair of kills from Trinniti Hall. The Vikings were then able to control play throughout the remainder of the frame, and closed out the set with back-to-back kills from Rachel Stover and Hall to even the contest at 1-1.
The third set was much of the same, as Cleveland State was able to gain an eight point lead midway through the frame at 16-8, following a 5-0 run. During this stretch the Vikings recorded a pair of blocks, two kills from Alexis Middlebrooks and Hall and a Jordan Verbiak service ace. The Vikings were then able to close out the frame with nine of the final 15 points, closing the set with three straight points on a pair of IUPUI errors and a Hall kill.
During the fourth and final frame the Vikings were once again able to gain a lead midway through, but an IUPUI run tied the frame at 18-18 and the two teams traded points throughout the next few plays. After back-to-back points on an IUPUI error and Shannon Grega service ace, the Vikings were able to gain a 23-21 advantage, and then closed out the frame on another Hall kill.
CSU Career Record Book
· With her 19 digs against IUPUI, Shannon Grega moved into seventh place in the CSU Career Record book, finishing the match with 1,182 career digs.
· After posting five total blocks on the match, Alexis Middlebrooks now ranks sixth in the CSU Career Record book with 388 total blocks on her career.
Up Next
· Cleveland State will host Wright State tomorrow (Saturday, September 30) at 4:00 p.m.