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Volleyball Sweeps Into Horizon League Semifinal Berth

Volleyball Sweeps Into Horizon League Semifinal Berth
Posted: Nov 17, 2006
Contact: Alan Ashby

Nov. 17, 2006

FAIRBORN, Ohio - Third-seeded Cleveland State advanced to the Horizon League Championship semifinal round for the third straight year with a 30-28, 30-17, 30-21 victory over No. 6 Loyola on Friday. The Vikings, who will face No. 2 UIC on Saturday at 2:30 p.m., improved to 19-8 on the year, while the Ramblers season came to a close at 14-16.

"We were a little nervous at first, but I thought once we settled down we played pretty well," CSU head coach Chuck Voss said. "It was a good win against a team that has won the last two tournaments. I thought we really controlled the play at the net, especially the last two games."

Freshman Liz Fazio paced the Vikings with 11 kills, while freshman Beth Greulich added 10 kills on .421 hitting. Senior Danielle Siefker and freshman Alexis Korovich both tallied nine kills and sophomore Jordan Bateman recorded a match-high 15 digs.

Loyola had four players record six kills each.

CSU got off to a slow start in the opening game, falling behind 13-8. The Vikings still trailed, 23-19, before Fazio caught fire, recording six kills down the stretch to spur on the rally. With the score knotted at 27-27, back-to-back kills by Fazio and Bateman gave CSU game point. Following a Loyola kill, the Vikings completed the comeback on a Rambler hitting error.

Cleveland State carried the momentum over into game two. After trading points early on, the Vikings used a 10-4 run to open up a 17-11 advantage. CSU dominated the game offensively, out-hitting the Ramblers .323 (14-4-31) to -.075 (7-10-40).

Not even the 10-minute break following the second game could derail the Vikings as they jumped out early were never seriously challenged in game three. Once again, CSU was strong offensively, posting a .300 hitting percentage (16-7-30), while Loyola hit -.030 (10-11-33).

For the match, Cleveland State held a .283 to .043 advantage in hitting percentage, while also out-digging (48-39) and out-blocking (10-5) the Ramblers.

The sweep was the 16th of the season for CSU and the second time that it has blanked Loyola this year.