YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Cleveland State volleyball team continued the opening weekend of Horizon League play Saturday, picking up its second straight sweep, posting a 3-0 victory at Youngstown State.
With the win, the Vikings are now 2-0 in Horizon League play this season, marking the sixth time under head coach Chuck Voss that CSU has started #HLVB play with back-to-back wins.
Saturday's match marked the 13th and final match of a 13-match roadswing for the Vikings over the first four weeks of the 2021 campaign.
London Portis led the Viking offense with 16 kills on a .667 hitting percentage (16-0-24), while Peyton Bloomer finished with 11 kills for her second straight double-digit kill performance.
Abby Miller finished with 28 assists and 14 digs for her third double-double of the year, while she helped the Vikings post a .269 clip as a team.
Along with Miller, Audrey McConihe and Sarah DeGeorge both finished the match with double-digit digs, as McConihe and DeGeorge both posted 10 digs against the Penguins.
As a team, the Vikings recorded nine service aces, including three from Emma Walker.
During the opening set the Vikings were able to hold a slim lead until midway through the frame when they extended their lead with five straight points, gaining a 20-14 advantage on an Abby Miller service ace. Cleveland State was then able to post five of the final eight points, closing out the first set and taking a 25-17 set victory on back-to-back points with a YSU error and Chelsea Penfield kill.
The Vikings were able to carry their momentum into the second frame then, as they jumped out to an 8-4 advantage following a pair of Peyton Bloomer kills and a Penfield service ace. Over the next few points Cleveland State was able to hold on to its lead, and even extended its lead to six points at the 20-14 mark following a Penfield and Bloomer block and YSU error. The Vikings then closed out the frame with back-to-back points, earning the 25-19 second set victory with another block from Ainslie McLaughlin and London Portis.
During the third set the Vikings were able to overcome a five-point deficit late in the frame to claim their second straight 3-0 victory. After YSU was able to gain an 18-13 lead, the Vikings answered with seven straight points, swinging the momentum back in their favor and gaining a two-point lead at 20-18 following another Penfield service ace and Miller kill. The Vikings were then able to hold off the Penguins through the rest of the frame, posting the final two points of the match on a pair of kills from Portis and Erica Kostelac for the 25-20 third set victory.
After playing the first five weeks of the 2021 season on the road, the Vikings will finally play in the friendly confines of Woodling Gymnasium next week, hosting IUPUI on Tuesday, September 28 and Oakland on Friday, October 1 to begin a five-match homestand.
