CLEVELAND, Ohio – Following a 3-1 victory against Northern Kentucky in the semifinals of the Horizon League Tournament Saturday, the Cleveland State volleyball team has earned a spot in the championship match on Sunday (November 19) at 2:00 p.m. Cleveland State improved to 21-7 on the season, and will be playing for its fifth Horizon League Tournament title on Sunday.
Cleveland State vs. Northern Kentucky Box Score
Match Stats
· Sara Skeens led the Viking offense with 20 kills, while Trinniti Hall added 17 kills.
· Gina Kilner recorded 50 assists on the match.
· Four Vikings finished the match with double-digit digs, including 20 from Shannon Grega.
· Gina Kilner added 16 digs, while Emily DeGeorge posted 12 and Rachael Dohar chipped in 11.
· Trinniti Hall tallied eight total blocks, while Rachel Stover added four and Emily DeGeorge added three.
· Shannon Grega recorded three service aces on the match, while Halle Schoen recorded one.
· As a team, the Vikings posted a .258 hitting percentage, while Trinniti Hall recorded a .520 clip individually (16-3-25).
Match Notes
· With Saturday's victory, the Vikings advance to their ninth Horizon League Championship match appearance under head coach Chuck Voss.
· Cleveland State is now 19-13 in Horizon League Tournament action.
· The Vikings have now won 11 straight matches, and 12 of their last 13.
· Trinniti Hall recorded a career-high with her eight total blocks.
· Sara Skeens tallied a career-best with her 20-kill performance against Northern Kentucky – the first 20-kill match of her career.
· Shannon Grega posted 20 digs for the 11th time this season, and the third straight match.
· With 50 assists and 16 digs, Gina Kilner posted her 10th double-double of the season.
The Match
After a back-and-forth start to the opening frame, the Vikings were able to overcome a three-point deficit midway through the set, posting a 9-1 run to gain a 21-16 advantage on a Trinniti Hall kill. The Vikings then carried this momentum through the final portion of the set, earning the 25-23 victory with an Alexis Middlebrooks and Emily DeGeorge block.
Cleveland State carried this momentum into the second frame then, as the Vikings were able to gain an early 10-4 lead following a pair of Hall kills and a Sara Skeens and Hall block. The Vikings went on to hold a sizeable advantage for the rest of the set then, cruising to a 25-15 victory on a Rachel Stover kill.
After dropping the third set, the Vikings were once again forced to overcome an early deficit in the fourth frame, posting nine straight points to gain a 15-9 advantage on three Skeens kills and an NKU error. The Vikings then controlled play throughout the rest of the set – and held off a late Norse rally – to clinch the match with back-to-back points on a Halle Schoen service ace and Hall kill.
CSU Career Record Book
· Following her eighth 50+ assist match of the season, Gina Kilner eclipsed the 4,400-assit mark for her career, finishing the match with 4,403 helpers.
· With two block assists on the match, Alexis Middlebrooks became just the fourth Viking all-time to record 450 total blocks, ending the match right on the number.
Up Next
· Top-seeded Cleveland State will now take on No. 4 Green Bay in Sunday's championship match. First serve is set for 2:00 p.m. in Woodling Gymnasium.
