CINCINNATI, Ohio – Behind 12 kills from both Grace Kauth and Kerry Winchester, the Cleveland State volleyball team opened the Cincinnati Invitational with a 3-0 victory over Cincinnati Friday evening. The straight-set victory improved CSU to 6-2 on the season, while the Bearcats fell to 0-9.
Set scores against Cincinnati were; 25-23, 25-20, 25-23.
Along with Kauth and Winchester, the Viking offense was aided by Maggie Hannon who posted nine kills playing in her first match in two weeks. Annie Djukic had 29 assists against the Bearcats, while Dayna Roberts added 19. Nikki Holmes posted 20 digs – marking her third 20-dig match of the season – while Ally Beck added 10 and Djukic posted 11 for her second double-double of the year.
During the opening set the Vikings were able to jump out to a 6-1 lead, but the Bearcats climbed their way back into the frame, eventually tying the set at 13-13. Cincinnati was able to gain their first lead on the next point of the frame, and the two teams traded points until Cleveland State was able to gain a two-point lead (22-20) on a Cincinnati error and a Hannon kill. The Vikings held the advantage for the rest of the frame, and finally put the first set away with a Winchester kill for the two-point victory.
The second set was much of the same, as the Vikings once again jumped out to a six-point lead at the 15-9 mark, but the Bearcats stayed in the frame and came within one point (15-14) before Cleveland State took control of the set. After Cincinnati was able to come within one point, the Vikings rattled off four straight points on a pair of Kauth kills and two Bearcat errors to gain a five-point advantage (19-14). CSU was able to hold at least a three-point lead for the remainder of the frame, and earned the five-point victory on a Kelly Kiger kill.
The final set was much closer, as neither team held more than a four-point lead throughout the set. After trading points throughout the beginning of the frame, Cincinnati was able to gain a three-point lead midway through the set, before Cleveland State rebounded and eventually regained the advantage. The Vikings put the set and the match away with a Hannon kill for the 25-23 third set victory.
The Vikings will continue play at the Cincinnati Invitational tomorrow (Saturday, Sept. 14), when the face Navy at 11:30 a.m. and Northern Kentucky at 7:00 p.m. Live Stats for both matches will be available, with links on the Cleveland State volleyball schedule page.
