MATCH #19
@ Green Bay | Friday, October 12 | Green Bay, Wis. | 7:00 p.m. EST
Live Stats | Live Video
MATCH #20
@ UIC | Saturday, October 13 | Chicago, Ill. | 5:00 p.m. EST
Live Stats | Live Video
QUICK SETS
The Cleveland State volleyball team will continue its four-match roadswing this weekend, traveling to Green Bay and UIC to finish out the first half of regular season play. The Vikings, who enter the week with a 12-6 overall record and a 6-0 mark in Horizon League play, will face Green Bay at 7:00 p.m. EST on Friday, October 12, and will then take on UIC at 5:00 p.m. EST on Saturday, October 13.
THIS WEEKEND'S OPPONENTS
Green Bay | Green Bay enters the weekend with a 10-8 overall record and a 5-1 mark in league play to sit second in the league standings. The Phoenix enter Friday's match having won five straight after dropping the league opener at Northern Kentucky. Earlier this season, Green Bay was tabbed to finish fourth in the #HLVB preseason poll.
UIC | The Flames currently stand 11-8 overall this season and 4-2 in league play, and are tied for third after three weeks of play. UIC has won two straight matches against Northern Kentucky and Youngstown State, and will take on Oakland prior to Saturday's match against the Vikings. Earlier this season, the Flames were selected to finish third in the #HLVB preseason poll, also picking up one first place vote.
CLEVELAND STATE IN THE HORIZON LEAGUE
The Vikings, who are playing in their 18th season of Horizon League play, entered the 2018 #HLVB season as the three-time defending Regular Season champions. Under head coach Chuck Voss, the Vikings own a 164-96 record in regular season Horizon League matches, and won a program-best 14 league contests two years ago. Cleveland State has captured five Regular Season Horizon League crowns (2009, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017), along with a handful of tournament titles (2007, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017).
…CLEVELAND STATE IN #HLVB PLAY THIS YEAR
After three weeks of Horizon League action, the Vikings own a perfect 6-0 record, marking the best start to #HLVB play under head coach Chuck Voss. Cleveland State is the only team to be undefeated in league play entering the week, and has now won 16 straight regular season league matches dating back to October 11 of last season.
VIKINGS TABBED HORIZON LEAGUE PRESEASON FAVORITES
Earlier this season the Vikings were selected to repeat as Horizon League Champions, as they were tabbed the Horizon League Preseason favorite, picking up 69 points and four first place votes in the league's preseason poll. The Vikings are three-time defending Horizon League Champions, and were named the preseason favorite for the third straight season.
VIKING DEFENSE HOLDS STRONG
As a team that is usually known for its offensive firepower, the Vikings have been making a name for themselves on the defensive side of the ball this season, ranking third nationally averaging 19.12 digs per set. In Horizon League play only, the Vikings lead the league with 23.38 digs per set, led by Rachael Dohar and Emily DeGeorge who have combined for nearly half of Cleveland State's digs this year. So far this season, the Vikings are holding their Horizon League opponents to a .133 hitting percentage - the lowest mark out of all nine league schools.
…DOHAR CHASING CAREER MILESTONE
After combining for 35 digs against IUPUI and Milwaukee last time out, Rachael Dohar currently has 800 digs for her career - leading all current Vikings in the category. Dohar, who has been serving as Cleveland State's libero this season, is averaging 5.12 digs per set, ranking third among league players. For the year, Dohar has tallied eight 20-dig matches, including a career-high 30-dig performance against Bowling Green earlier this year.
GREENE ON THE BLOCK
Entering the fourth week of #HLVB play, sophomore Hannah Greene continues to lead the Horizon League in blocks, averaging 1.44 blocks per set. Greene, who has combined for 95 total blocks this year, also ranks 17th nationally with her 1.44 blocks per set average. Greene has recorded three or more blocks in 17 of the 18 matches so far this season, including back-to-back nine-block performances against Binghamton and Montana State to start the year.
…CLEVELAND STATE BLOCK PARTY
As a team, the Vikings are averaging 2.83 blocks per set, a mark that leads all Horizon League teams entering the fourth week of league play. Not only are the Vikings at the top of the Horizon League, but they are also ranked in the top-15 nationally in blocks per set and total blocks (187.0). Through 18 matches, Cleveland State has recorded 10.0 or more team blocks 10 times, including a season-high 17.0 total team blocks against Binghamton in the season opener.
HALL BECOMING CLEVELAND STATE'S TOP OFFENSIVE THREAT
So far this season, junior Trinniti Hall has been Cleveland State's top offensive threat, entering the week with a .387 hitting percentage in league matches only, leading all league players in the category. Hall, who is averaging 3.43 kills per set against league opponents, has been part of a Viking offense that leads the league with a .219 clip in league matches this season. Hall has recorded double-digit kills during 11 matches so far this year, including a season-high 18 against Harvard during non-league play.
GRECOL LEADING THE VIKING OFFENSE
So far this season, Cleveland State's offense has been led by freshman Christina Grecol, who enters the weekend with 634 total helpers on the year. Grecol, who is the first freshman to lead the Viking offense as the primary setter since Jordan Goad in 2008, currently ranks second among Horizon League players averaging 9.91 assists per set in all matches, while she leads the league averaging 11.53 assists per set in league matches only. Grecol's season-high performance came against Harvard earlier this season, as she tallied 53 assists in the five-set victory over the Crimson.
#HLVB WEEKLY HONORS
So far this season the Vikings have been honored three times by the Horizon League, picking up two Offensive Player of the Week honors and one Defensive Player of the Week accolade. Following the first week of league play, the Vikings swept the weekly #HLVB awards, as Trinniti Hall was named the Offensive Player of the Week and Rachael Dohar was named the Defensive Player of the Week. Sara Skeens picked up Cleveland State's third weekly honor, earning the offensive nod last this week.
HEAD COACH CHUCK VOSS
Chuck Voss is in his 19th season at the helm of the Vikings, and owns a 349-209 (.625) overall record at CSU. Under Voss the Vikings have recorded 15 winning seasons, including nine straight entering the 2018 season. Cleveland State has eclipsed the 20-win mark eight times since Voss took over the program, and has captured Horizon League Tournament titles five times (2007, 2012, 2015, 2016 & 2017) under his guidance. During the 2016 season, Voss became the all-time winningest coach in program history and became the the only active Horizon League coach to reach the 300-win mark at their current school.
UP NEXT
The Vikings will split their time at home and on the road next weekend, closing out their four-match roadswing with a 6:00 p.m. contest at Youngstown State on Friday, October 19, before returning home to host Oakland at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 21.
