BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Cleveland State volleyball team opened up the 2022 campaign Friday afternoon, dropping a 3-2 decision against Xavier as part of the Buffalo Invite. 

The Vikings will close out play at the Buffalo Invite tomorrow (Saturday, August 27), facing UAB at 11:00 a.m. and the host Bulls at 6:00 p.m.

Cleveland State's offense was led by freshman Laken Voss who notched 23 kills in her collegiate debut, while redshirt-freshman Madison Quirino added 16 in her collegiate debut and Madalynn Butler chipped in 15. 

Abby Miller recorded a career-high 50 assists on the match, helping CSU to a .229 hitting percentage on the contest. 

Defensively, Audrey McConihe tallied a career-best 37 digs, while Quirino added 19 for her first collegiate double-double and Emma Walker tallied 11. 

As a team, the Vikings recorded 15 total blocks, with nine from both Lydia Latimer and Butler.  

After dropping the first set the Vikings responded with a 25-23 win in the second frame. Cleveland State was able to gain separation early on in the set following back-to-back kills from Madison Quirino that put CSU up 8-4. The Vikings were able to hold their advantage until midway through the set when Xavier bounced back to gain a 15-14 advantage.  

Cleveland State answered with four straight points to regain an 18-15 lead on another Quirino kill, and went on to hold the advantage for the rest of the frame until a Laken Voss kill gave CSU the 25-23 set victory. 

Xavier was then able to gain a 2-1 match lead following the third set, but the Vikings responded once again with a 25-22 victory in the fourth frame. Cleveland State played from behind throughout the opening part of the set, until three straight kills from Voss and Madalynn Butler gave CSU a 12-11 advantage midway through the frame. 

The Vikings were then able to extend their lead over the next few points, with another Voss kill putting CSU up 15-12. 

Cleveland State then held off a late Xavier run, posting the final three points of the frame on a Lydia Latimer block, Voss kill and Xavier error to even the match and force the fifth and deciding set. 

Despite trailing 5-1 early on in the final frame, the Vikings battled back over the next few points, and notched three straight points on a Voss kill and back-to-back Xavier errors, to tie the frame at 12-12. 

The two teams then traded points over the next few plays, with another Voss kill tying the set at 14-14, before Xavier posted back-to-back points for the 16-14 fifth set win.