Oct. 22, 2010
By: Robert Ivory
GREEN BAY, Wisconsin- After sweeping through the first two sets, the Vikings got a scare from Green Bay, but was able to hold on for a 3-2 win in Wisconsin.
Kara Koch had her usual 15 kills but added four service aces as Cleveland State squeaked by the Green Bay Phoenix. Amy Benz and Megan Barhorst had 11 kills and Jordan Goad added 10 kills of her own.
"I thought we started out really well," head coach Chuck Voss said. "I think we lost our focus out there, but luckily we were able to find it and beat a team that gave us a good fight."
Cleveland State moved to 17-3 and 8-2 in the Horizon League. Green Bay fell to 7-17 overall and 3-7 in league play.
Match scores were 25-19, 25-14, 16-25, 21-25 and 15-10.
The Vikings used Kara Koch to get them the final eight out of nine points in the first set. Koch rallied the Vikings for five of those points and had a total of four service aces to give the Vikings the first set.
Cleveland State never trailed in the second set, as they quickly put away the Phoenix and took the commanding 2-0 lead. The seven-point swing for the Vikings, to give the Vikes a 15-6 advantage, was the difference maker and Koch got the set clinching kill.
Green Bay led the charge coming out of the break and Green Bay was able to score ten of the last 14 points and was able to get the match back to 2-1.
Green Bay again had the early surge and gave themselves a cushion in the fourth set at 20-13. The Vikes did score five straight points when faced with set point to make it interesting at 24-21, but it was not enough as the Phoenix scored the point they needed and tied the game up at two sets apiece.
"Green Bay wanted it more in those two sets," Voss said.
The Vikings were able to push out to a 6-4 lead in the deciding set. Green Bay tied the game back up at 6-6, but Cleveland State was able to outscore the Phoenix 7-4 to take the victory home.
The Vikings next travel to Milwaukee on Saturday (Oct 23) at 5:00 p.m. ET for the final game of the road trip.
