CINCINNATI, Ohio – The Cleveland State volleyball team picked up a pair of victories over Navy and Northern Kentucky Saturday, capturing the Cincinnati Invitational Title. The Vikings have now won four straight, and seven of their last eight to stand at 8-2 on the year.
Representing Cleveland State on the All-Tournament Team were Grace Kauth, Nikki Holmes and Maggie Hannon, with Kauth earning Tournament MVP honors. For the weekend, Kauth tallied a team-high 39 kills on a .289 hitting percentage and averaged 2.60 digs per set. Holmes had a team-best 55 digs on the weekend, while Hannon posted 37 kills and 12 blocks.
Set scores against Navy were; 22-25, 25-21, 25-15, 25-14.
In the first match of the day, CSU picked up a 3-1 victory against Navy with the quartet of Hannon, Kauth, Kerry Winchester and Christina Toth all posting double-digit kills. Kauth, who tallied 13 kills, eclipsed the 100-kill mark for the season becoming the first Viking to do so this season, while Winchester had a team-high 14, Hannon added 12 and Toth tied her career-high with 11.
Dayna Roberts posted a season-best 40 assists against Navy, while Holmes tallied a team-high 19 digs and Ally Beck added 10 digs to lead the CSU defense.
As a team, the Vikings combined for 62 kills on a .273 hitting percentage, their second best mark of the season, while holding Navy to a .099 clip.
Set scores against Northern Kentucky were; 26-24, 27-25, 25-22.
Cleveland State's final match of the invitational was much closer, as the Vikings pulled out two-point victories in the first two sets and won by just three points in the third frame.
Hannon had a team-high 16 kills against NKU on a .438 hitting percentage, marking her third double-digit kill match of the season. Kauth also tallied double-digit kills for the Vikings, posting 14 for her fourth-straight double-digit kill match.
Holmes once again had a team-high 16 digs to lead the Viking defense, while Kauth tallied 13 digs for the second double-double of her career. Hannon and Kelly Kiger each posted five blocks against NKU, while Winchester posted three and Beck and Toth each had two.
Cleveland State will wrap up its early season tournament schedule next weekend, taking part in the James Madison Invitational on Friday, Sept, 20 and Saturday, Sept. 21. The Vikings will open the weekend with a 5:00 p.m. contest against Campbell on Friday and will then face Wake Forest (10:00 a.m.) and James Madison (7:30 p.m.) on Saturday.
