CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cleveland State volleyball team dropped a tough five-set match in Horizon League action Friday evening, falling to the UIC Flames, 3-2. Following Friday's match, the Vikings now stand at 12-5 on the season and 3-2 in league play.
Set scores against UIC were 16-25, 18-25, 25-18, 26-24, 15-13.
Maggie Hannon led the Viking offense with 16 kills, while Katie Nesbitt posted a career-high 12 kills on a .500 hitting percentage (12-2-20). Nikki Holmes recorded a team-high 21 digs, while Annie Djukic added 11 along with 21 assists for her third double-double of the season.
The Vikings got off to a strong start, winning the first two sets, but UIC came out of the break and captured the next two frames to force a fifth and deciding set. The two teams battled throughout the final frame, with six lead changes and nine ties. The Vikings were able to tie the frame twice throughout the final five points, but UIC put the match away with a kill and a Viking error.
During the opening set the Vikings were able to earn a four-point lead at 9-5 following back-to-back UIC errors, and held at least a four point advantage for the remainder of the frame. CSU was able to gain its largest lead of the frame at 20-11 after three straight points off of kills from Nesbitt and Kerry Winchester and a Grace Kauth service ace. The Vikings then closed out the frame posting the final four points, including another Winchester kill to end the set.
The Vikings had to battle back from a three-point deficit during the second frame, gaining just their second lead of the match at the 13-12 mark after a Christina Toth kill and a UIC error. CSU was then able to hold the advantage for the rest of the frame, including a five-point lead (20-15) following a Hannon kill and another Flame error. The Vikings were then able to put the frame away with three straight points which included kills from Winchester and Dayna Roberts.
The Flames controlled the majority of the third set, as CSU held a lead for just the first seven points. The fourth set was much of the same, as the Vikings were able to get out to an early lead, but UIC responded to gain the advantage and eventually put the set away.
Cleveland State will close out its brief two-match homestand tomorrow (Saturday, Oct. 12), hosting Valparaiso (14-4, 3-1) at 4:00 p.m.
