MACOMB, Ill – For the seventh time under head coach Chuck Voss the Cleveland State volleyball team is opening the season with a 3-0 record, as the Vikings picked up a 3-0 victory against Tennessee State to close out the Leatherneck Classic.
With Saturday's victory over TSU, the Vikings claimed the Leatherneck Classic title, marking the seventh season-opening tournament title under Voss and the first since the 2018 campaign.
Liberty Torres was named the Leatherneck Classic MVP, while Laken Voss and Emma Walker both earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team.
Cleveland State's offense against TSU was led by Laken Voss with 13 kills, while Liberty Torres added eight and Madison Olinger and Karly Klaer both added five.
Emma Walker led the CSU defense with 11 digs, while Olinger and Ainslie McLaughlin both posted three total blocks.
As a team, the Vikings combined for eight service aces, including three from Walker and two each from Olinger and Reilly Wadden.
During the opening set the Vikings were able to jump out to a 5-0 lead following a pair of Emma Walker service aces and Madison Olinger kills, before extending their lead to 8-4 on a Karly Klaer kill.
The Vikings were then able to hold the advantage through the middle part of the frame, as Cleveland State earned a 16-8 lead following a Liberty Torres kill. Cleveland State then carried the momentum through the end of the set, with back-to-back points – including a Laken Voss and Olinger block on match-point – to close the 25-16 first set victory.
Cleveland State once again got out to a quick start in the second set, as an Ainslie McLaughlin kill gave the Vikings a 4-0 lead that they would go on to hold for the rest of the frame.
A 6-0 run midway through the set extended Cleveland State's lead to 14-6, before a Klaer service ace and a TSU error gave the Vikings a double-digit lead at 17-7. Cleveland State then held its advantage throughout the final part of the frame, posting the final five points to earn the 25-11 second set victory on a Nia Hall kill.
Although the third set was much tighter, the Vikings were still able to come away with the 25-22 victory, marking their second straight 3-0 sweep.
After trading points, and leads, throughout the frame, the Vikings were able to rebound from a late 19-16 deficit, eventually tying the frame at 20-20 on a Voss kill. The two teams then once again traded points, until a mini 3-0 run from the Vikings closed the frame on a pair of Voss kills and a Reilly Wadden service ace.
Nia Hall made her collegiate debut against Tennessee State, finishing the match with a pair of kills.
The Vikings will return to action next weekend, taking part in the 2023 Miami/Best Western Invitational, facing Florida Atlantic, Eastern Kentucky and the host Redhawks on Friday, September 1 and Saturday, September 2.
