CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cleveland State volleyball team extended their winstreak to seven straight matches Friday evening, picking up a five-set victory over Oakland. With the win, the Vikings improve to 17-7 overall and 10-4 in Horizon League play.
Cleveland State vs. Oakland Box Score
Match Stats
· Sara Skeens led the Viking offense with 17 kills, while Alexis Middlebrooks added 14 and Trinniti Hall posted 11.
· Gina Kilner notched 50 assists on the match.
· Three Vikings finished with double-digit digs, including a team-high 26 digs from Shannon Grega.
· Emily DeGeorge added 14 digs, while Jordan Verbiak posted 10, and Rachael Dohar added nine.
· Alexis Middlebrooks posted six total blocks on the match, while Trinniti Hall added four.
· As a team, the Vikings recorded seven service aces, including three from Shannon Grega.
· Rachael Dohar and Jordan Verbiak each posted two aces on the match.
Match Notes
· With Friday's win the Vikings have now won seven straight matches and eight of their last nine.
· Cleveland State split the season series with Oakland after dropping a 3-1 contest at Oakland earlier this season.
· The Vikings now own a 27-5 record when playing in Woodling Gymnasium over the last three seasons.
· Shannon Grega set a career-high with her 26 digs against Oakland.
· With her 50 assists against Oakland, Gina Kilner has now tallied six 50-assist matches this season.
· Shannon Grega eclipsed 100 career service aces after posting three on the match, finishing with 102.
The Match
After dropping the opening set, the Vikings bounced back during the second set, picking up a 25-16 victory to even the match. The Vikings were able to gain an early advantage in the frame, getting out to a 9-6 lead following a Rachel Stover kill. The Vikings were then able to extend their lead to six points at the 15-9 mark following a 4-0 run, and then controlled play for the remainder of the frame. Cleveland State then posted the final four points of the set, with a pair of Shannon Grega service aces and a pair of kills from Trinniti Hall and Alexis Middlebrooks.
The Vikings then fell behind 2-1 after Oakland picked up a 28-26 victory in the third set, but Cleveland State was able to rebound, picking up victories in the next two frames to clinch the match.
During the third set, Cleveland State got out to another quick start, gaining a 10-5 advantage following three straight Sara Skeens kills. The Vikings were then able to hold off an Oakland run, regaining control of the match and jumping out to an 18-12 lead after forcing an Oakland error. The Vikings were then able to close out the set on back-to-back kills from Middlebrooks and Skeens and another Oakland error, forcing a fifth a final set.
The Vikings came out strong during the fifth and deciding set, jumping out to a 4-0 lead, and then extended their advantage to 10-4 after a pair of Oakland errors. Cleveland State then continued to carry the momentum throughout the rest of the frame, clinching the victory with a Middlebrooks kill.
CSU Career Record Book
· With six total blocks against Oakland, Alexis Middlebrooks moved into fourth place in the CSU Career Record Book with 433 total assists.
Up Next
· Cleveland State continues its homestand against Youngstown State tomorrow (Saturday, November 4), hosting the Penguins at 4:00 p.m.
