Nov. 7, 2003
CLEVELAND - Needing a win in the worst way, the Cleveland State volleyball team defeated Wright State 30-25, 23-30, 34-32, 30-28 Friday night in Woodling Gymnasium to snap a four-match losing streak. Sophomores Nickole Kennedy (Sunbury, Ohio/Big Walnut) and Jenna Maddocks (Norwalk, Ohio/Norwalk) led a balanced attack with 17 kills apiece as the Vikings improved to 16-14 overall and 3-9 in the Horizon League.
After splitting the first two games, the Raiders (14-12, 5-6 HL) took a 24-19 lead in the third frame and appeared to be in control of the match. However, the Vikings rallied to tie the score at 27-27 behind the strong play of Maddocks and sophomore Emily Clark (Bolivar, Ohio/Tuscarawas Valley), who together totaled 11 kills in the game. The teams traded points until Kennedy put the Vikings up 33-32 with a kill and then combined with freshman Danielle Siefker (Kalida, Ohio/Kalida) on a block to win the game.
"The players responded to what we said during the intermission," CSU head coach Chuck Voss said. "We made some changes to our blocking scheme and forced Wright State to hit some shots they weren't comfortable with."
In the fourth game, neither team was able to gain much of an advantage early on. With the score knotted at 24-24, senior Anne Yost (London, Ohio/Jonathan Alder) followed a Kennedy kill with back-to-back aces to put the Vikings up by three. The Raiders managed to cut the margin to 28-27, but junior Jamie Bouyer (Bedford Heights, Ohio/Chanel) sandwiched two kills around a service error to close out the match.
Bouyer finished with 14 kills and seven blocks, while Clark tallied 12 kills, four aces and a career-high 23 digs.
Junior McKenxzie Tiffin paced Wright State with a match-best 27 kills, while senior Allie Smerz led all players with 27 digs.
The Raiders out-hit the Vikings .304 to .286, but CSU countered that with 13 aces and 11 blocks.
"To win a match when the other team hits over .300 is very unusual, but we served very well tonight," Voss noted. "This was a much-needed and well-deserved victory."
Cleveland State is in action again tomorrow (Nov. 8) at 2:00 p.m. when the Vikings host Butler in the final home match of the year. Prior to the contest, seniors Megan Burgdorf and Anne Yost will be recognized for their contributions to the program.
