MATCH #23
UIC | Friday, October 26 | Woodling Gymnasium | 6:00 p.m.
Live Stats | Live Video
MATCH #24
Green Bay | Saturday, October 27 | Woodling Gymnasium | 4:00 p.m.
Live Stats | Live Video
QUICK SETS
The Cleveland State volleyball team will continue its current three-match homestand with a pair of crucial #HLVB matches this weekend, hosting UIC on Friday, October 26 and Green Bay on Saturday, October 27. Entering the weekend the Vikings stand at 14-8 overall this year and 8-2 in Horizon League play.
THIS WEEKEND'S OPPONENTS
UIC | The Flames enter Friday's match with an overall record of 15-8 this season, while they stand at 8-2 in league play. After starting #HLVB play with a 2-2 record, they have rattled off six straight wins to be tied for second in league standings.
Earlier this season, the Vikings dropped a hard fought 3-2 decision at UIC, marking the first time since 2014 that Cleveland State dropped back-to-back #HLVB matches.
Green Bay | The Phoenix enter the weekend with a 14-8 overall mark and a 9-1 record in league play, claiming the top spot in the league standings. After dropping the season opener to NKU, Green Bay has won nine straight, including five 3-0 sweeps.
In the first matchup this season, Cleveland State dropped a five-set match against the Phoenix, snapping a six-match winstreak for the Vikings and marking the first league loss of the year.
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 166-98 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 five weeks of regular season play, the Vikings stand at 8-2 in #HLVB action. Cleveland State started league play with six straight wins, marking the best start to league action under head coach Chuck Voss, and have won two straight entering Friday's match against UIC. Entering this weekend's matches, the Vikings are tied for second in the league standings.
VIKINGS LOOKING TO AVENGE EARLY SEASON LOSSES
Cleveland State will be trying to avenge a pair of losses to UIC and Green Bay this weekend, as the Vikings dropped five-set matches against both the Flames and the Phoenix during the first round of #HLVB play. The two losses against UIC and Green Bay are the only marks against the Vikings in league action this season, while they also snapped a 16-match regular season #HLVB winstreak for the Vikings.
DOHAR CHASING CAREER MILESTONE
After combining for 34 digs against Youngstown State and Oakland last time out, Rachael Dohar currently has 876 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 4.93 digs per set, ranking third among league players. For the year, Dohar has tallied 10 20-dig matches, including a career-high 30-dig performance against Bowling Green earlier this year.
HALL NAMED #HLVB OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Earlier this week, junior Trinniti Hall picked up her second weekly accolade from the Horizon League, as she was named the Offensive Player of the Week following a pair of standout matches against YSU and Oakland. On the weekend, Hall averaged 4.25 kills per set on a .544 hitting percentage, recording 34 total kills. Hall notched 10 kills against YSU, and then followed that up with a career-high 24 kills against Oakland.
…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 .385 hitting percentage in league matches only, ranking second among league players in the category. Hall, who is averaging 3.23 kills per set against league opponents, has been part of a Viking offense that ranks second in the league with a .222 clip in league matches this season. Hall has recorded double-digit kills during 14 matches so far this year, including her first 20-kill match of the year against Oakland last time out.
GREENE ON THE BLOCK
Entering the weekend, sophomore Hannah Greene continues to lead the Horizon League in blocks, averaging 1.43 blocks per set. Greene, who has combined for 120 total blocks this year, also ranks 16th nationally with her 1.43 blocks per set average. Greene has recorded three or more blocks in 21 of the 22 matches so far this season, including back-to-back nine-block performances against Binghamton and Montana State to start the year.
…AND IN THE CSU RECORD BOOK
After combining for 13 total blocks last weekend, sophomore Hannah Greene's 109 block assists this season is tied for 10th in the CSU Single-Season Record Book. Greene, who has posted 120 total blocks this year, needs just five more blocks to also rank in the top-10 in single-season total blocks. Greene is the first Viking since the 2015 campaign to crack the top-10 in either category.
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 784 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 9.80 assists per set in all matches. Last time out, Grecol tallied her second 50+ assist match of the year, posting a career-high 54 assists against Oakland.
#HLVB WEEKLY HONORS
So far this season the Vikings have been honored four times by the Horizon League, picking up three 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 on October 1, while Hall earned her second accolade of the year earlier this week.
HEAD COACH CHUCK VOSS
Chuck Voss is in his 19th season at the helm of the Vikings, and owns a 351-211 (.624) 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 split its matches next week, traveling to IUPUI for a midweek contest on Wednesday, October 31, before hosting Milwaukee on Sunday, November 4 in the final regular season home match of the year.
