MATCH #4
@ No. 23 Michigan | Friday, August 31 | Ann Arbor, Mich. | 7:00 p.m.
MATCH #5
vs. Harvard | Saturday, September 1 | Ypsilanti, Mich. | 2:00 p.m.
MATCH #6
@ Eastern Michigan | Saturday, September 1 | Ypsilanti, Mich. | 7:00 p.m.
LIVE STATS/VIDEO (EMU MATCH ONLY) | MICHIGAN INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT CENTRAL | CLEVELAND STATE MATCH NOTES
QUICK SETS
The Cleveland State volleyball team will hit the road for the first time during 2018 this weekend, traveling north for the Michigan Invitational. The Vikings will face a top-25 opponent in Michigan at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, August 31, and will then take on Harvard (2:00 p.m.) and Eastern Michigan (7:00 p.m.) on Saturday, September 1. Friday's match against the Wolverines will take place in Ann Arbor, while Saturday's matches will both take place in Ypsilanti, Michigan.
MICHIGAN INVITATIONAL FIELD
No. 23 Michigan | The Wolverines enter the weekend with a perfect 2-0 record on the year, picking up a pair of 3-0 sweeps over High Point and Auburn during the first weekend of play. With the 2-0 start, Michigan earned a spot in the AVCA Top-25 poll, coming in at No. 23 after receiving votes in the preseason poll.
Harvard | The Crimson will be in action for the first time during 2018 this weekend, returning 11 letterwinners including three All-Ivy League honorees. Earlier this week Harvard was selected to finish third in the inaugural Ivy League preseason poll.
Eastern Michigan | The Eagles own a 3-1 record after the first weekend of 2018, picking up wins over Fordham, Central Connecticut and Manhattan. Last time out, EMU had three players earn a spot on the St. John's Kaiser Classic All-Tournament Team.
LAST TIME OUT…
The Vikings captured the CSU Invitational Title with wins over Binghamton, Montana State and Canisius, marking their sixth opening weekend tournament title under head coach Chuck Voss. The Vikings, who improved to 40-17 in season-opening tournaments under Voss, are out to a 3-0 start to the campaign for the sixth time during Voss' tenure .
VIKINGS TABBED HORIZON LEAGUE PRESEASON FAVORITES
Earlier this month the Vikings were selected to repeat as Horizon League Champions, as they were tabbed the Horizon League Preseason favorite, picking up 69 points and four first place votes in the league's preseason poll. The Vikings are three-time defending Horizon League Champions, and were named the preseason favorite for the third straight season.
POSTSEASON HONOREES RETURN
The 2018 Vikings welcome back two Horizon League postseason honorees in Sara Skeens and Emily DeGeorge, while Chuck Voss returns as the reigning #HLVB Coach of the Year. Skeens, a junior outside hitter, earned Honorable Mention All-Horizon League accolades last season after averaging a team-best 3.10 kills per and earning #HLVB Tournament MVP honors. DeGeorge, a sophomore outside hitter, was named to the All-Freshman Team last season after averaging 2.78 digs and 1.74 kills per set. DeGeorge also set a Cleveland State freshman class record with 325 total digs during her rookie campaign.
TOUGH SCHEDULE AHEAD
Friday's match against Michigan will mark the first of two top-25 opponents for the Vikings over the next two weeks, as Illinois (September 7) is also featured in this week's top-25 poll. Entering the weekend, the Wolverines are ranked No. 23, while the Fighting Illini enter the weekend as the No. 11 team in the country. This marks the second straight season that the Vikings will be facing a top-25 opponent during the non-league slate (No. 25 Purdue, L 3-0, 8/25/17).
GRECOL MAKES COLLEGIATE DEBUT
Christina Grecol made her collegiate debut for the Vikings last weekend, serving as Cleveland State's primary setter in the first three matches of the season. Grecol recorded 95 assists on the weekend, and currently ranks second in the Horizon League averaging 9.50 assists per set. Grecol helped lead the Viking offense to a .232 hitting percentage throughout the tournament, a mark that currently ranks them second among league teams.
GREENE ON THE BLOCK
After the first weekend of the 2018 season, sophomore Hannah Greene leads the Horizon League and ranks in the top-five nationally averaging 2.20 blocks per set. Greene combined for 22 total blocks at the CSU Invitational last weekend - leading all players. Greene was a major part of the Cleveland State defense that held its opponents to just a .036 hitting percentage on the weekend and combined for 39.0 total team blocks.
HALL NAMED CSU INVITATIONAL MVP
After leading the Viking offense last weekend, junior Trinniti Hall was named the CSU Invitational MVP, earning the first preseason All-Tournament honor of her career. Hall combined for a team-high 31 kills on the weekend, averaging 3.10 kills per set. Hall recorded double-digit kills against Binghamton (10 kills) and Canisius (12), with her 12 kills against the Golden Griffins coming on a .545 hitting percentage (12-0-22). Hall also added 13 total blocks on the weekend.
…DOHAR & GREENE EARN ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM HONORS
Along with Trinniti Hall, senior Rachael Dohar and sophomore Hannah Greene were also rewarded for their efforts last weekend, earning CSU Invitational All-Tournament Team honors. Dohar, who served as Cleveland State's libero against Montana State and Canisius, combined for 37 total digs on the weekend, averaging 3.70 digs per set. Greene was Cleveland State's top blocker on the weekend, recording 22 total blocks, including a pair of nine-block efforts against Binghamton and Montana State.
VIKINGS ON THE ROAD
Cleveland State will be away from the friendly confines of Woodling Gymnasium for the first time during 2018 this weekend, making the short trip north for the Michigan Invitational. The Vikings, who own a 42-16 record in road and neutral site matches over the last three seasons, are scheduled to play 14 road contests this season.
HEAD COACH CHUCK VOSS
Chuck Voss is in his 19th season at the helm of the Vikings, and owns a 340-203 (.626) overall record at CSU. Under Voss the Vikings have recorded 15 winning seasons, including nine straight entering the 2018 season. Cleveland State has eclipsed the 20-win mark eight times since Voss took over the program, and has captured Horizon League Tournament titles five times (2007, 2012, 2015, 2016 & 2017) under his guidance. During the 2016 season, Voss became the all-time winningest coach in program history and became the the only active Horizon League coach to reach the 300-win mark at their current school.
A LOOK BACK AT 2017
Last season Cleveland State captured its fifth Horizon League Regular Season and Tournament title, finishing the year with a 22-8 overall record. Cleveland State's 22 wins marked the program's 17th 20-win season, while it also marked the eighth time under Voss that the Vikings have reached the 20-win plateau. After claiming the Horizon League Tournament title, the Vikings earned a trip to the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time over the last 10 seasons, earning a First Round matchup against No. 13 Utah.
UP NEXT
Cleveland State will return home for its second preseason tournament in Woodling Gymnasium, hosting Illinois, UC Irvine and Bowling Green on Friday, September 7 and Saturday, September 8.
