MATCH #21
@ Youngstown State | Friday, October 19 | Youngstown, Ohio | 6:00 p.m.
Live Stats | Live Video
MATCH #22
Oakland | Sunday, October 21 | Woodling Gymnasium | 2:00 p.m.
Live Stats | Live Video
QUICK SETS
The Cleveland State volleyball team will look to get back on the winning track this weekend, beginning the second half of Horizon League play against Youngstown State and Oakland. The Vikings will travel to YSU for a 6:00 p.m. match on Friday, October 19, before hosting Oakland at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 21. Entering the weekend, Cleveland State stands at 12-8 overall this season and 6-2 in league play.
THIS WEEKEND'S OPPONENTS
Youngstown State | The Penguins enter Friday's match with a 7-14 overall record and a 1-7 mark in Horizon League play. YSU's lone #HLVB victory came as a 3-1 decision over Wright State, but the Penguins have lost five straight entering the weekend.
Earlier this season, the Vikings picked up a 3-0 victory over YSU in the league opener, marking the seventh straight win over the Penguins over the last four seasons.
Oakland | The Golden Grizzlies currently stand at 6-13 overall this season and 2-6 in Horizon League play. Oakland enters the week having lost six of its last seven matches, and will face YSU prior to Sunday's contest against the Vikings.
In the first matchup this season, Cleveland State earned a 3-0 sweep over the Grizzlies, improving to 14-7 against Oakland all-time.
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 164-98 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 the first round of regular season matches, the Vikings stand at 6-2 in #HLVB play. Cleveland State started league play with six straight wins, marking the best start to league action under head coach Chuck Voss. Entering this weekend's matches, the Vikings are tied for second in the league standings.
DOHAR CHASING CAREER MILESTONE
After combining for 42 digs against Green Bay and UIC last time out, Rachael Dohar currently has 842 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 5.00 digs per set, ranking third among league players. For the year, Dohar has tallied nine 20-dig matches, including a career-high 30-dig performance against Bowling Green earlier this year.
GREENE ON THE BLOCK
Entering the second round of #HLVB play, sophomore Hannah Greene continues to lead the Horizon League in blocks, averaging 1.41 blocks per set. Greene, who has combined for 107 total blocks this year, also ranks 20th nationally with her 1.41 blocks per set average. Greene has recorded three or more blocks in 19 of the 20 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 2.82 blocks per set, a mark that leads all Horizon League teams entering the fifth 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 (214.0). Through 20 matches, Cleveland State has recorded 10.0 or more team blocks 12 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 .343 hitting percentage in league matches only, ranking second among league players in the category. Hall, who is averaging 2.97 kills per set against league opponents, has been part of a Viking offense that ranks third in the league with a .212 clip in league matches this season. Hall has recorded double-digit kills during 12 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 690 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 9.58 assists per set in all matches. 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 349-211 (.623) 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
Cleveland State will continue its three-match homestand next weekend, hosting UIC on Friday, October 26 and Green Bay on Saturday, October 27.
