MATCH #18
at Oakland | Friday, October 6 | 6:00 p.m.
CLEVELAND STATE MATCH NOTES | LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO
QUICK SETS
The Cleveland State volleyball team will continue Horizon League play with just one match this week, traveling to Oakland for a 6:00 p.m. contest on Friday, October 6. Entering the week, the Vikings stand at 9-8 overall this season and 3-3 in #HLVB play, while the Grizzlies are 10-8 overall and 4-2 in league action.
ENTERING FRIDAY'S MATCH...
The Vikings will be trying to reach double-digit wins on the year…Cleveland State will be looking to snap a two-match losing skid and open the month of October with a victory…The Vikings will be trying for their third straight win against Oakland.
WALKER LEADING THE VIKING DEFENSE
Entering Friday's match at Oakland libero Emma Walker has been one of the best defensive players in the league this season, ranking second with 345 total digs. Walker, who is averaging 5.07 digs per set, has tallied 20+ digs 10 times this year, including five straight matches entering the week. Earlier this season, Walker tallied a career-high 33 digs at Miami (OH) - her first of four 30-dig efforts this season.
VIKING BLOCK PARTY
Through 17 matches played, the Vikings are one of the best blocking teams in the nation, ranking second among Division I teams with 176.0 total team blocks on the year. Cleveland State has tallied double-digit team blocks eight times this season, including 11.0 total blocks at Wright State last time out. In addition, the Vikings hold the top three performances among #HLVB teams so far this year with 24.0 blocks against Bucknell, 15.0 blocks against Kent State and 15.0 blocks at Akron.
…INDIVIDUALS ON THE BLOCK
Individually, JeriLynn Koehler and Madison Olinger both rank in the top-five among #HLVB players in blocking, Koehler averaging 1.07 blocks per set and Olinger averaging 1.03 blocks per set. Olinger has combined for a team-best 65 blocks on the year, including a league-high 10 total blocks against Murray State earlier this season, while Koehler has 49 blocks on the year - including the second highest single-match total among #HLVB players with nine against Bucknell.
KLAER CLOSING IN ON 1,500 CAREER ASSISTS
Sophomore Karly Klaer enters the week just shy of 1,500 assists for her career, standing at 1,457 helpers through 45 matches played as a Viking. This season, Klaer is averaging 8.62 assists per set, which ranks her third among #HLVB players in the category. In addition, Klaer also leads the Vikings with 12 double-doubles this season, including five out of the first six #HLVB contests.
CLEVELAND STATE GOES THE DISTANCE
So far this season the Vikings have played six five-set contests, including last time out at Wright State. The Vikings currently own a 3-3 record when going the distance, and lead all league teams in five-set matches played.
TORRES LEADING THE VIKING OFFENSE
Through the first 17 matches, junior Liberty Torres has been leading the Viking offense, averaging 2.99 kills per set on a .245 hitting percentage. Torres, who eclipsed the 200-kill mark for the year last time out, ranks ninth among league players with her 2.99 kills per set average. Torres enters Friday's contest having notched double-digit kills in each of the last five outings, including a career-high 24 kills against RMU.
FRESHMEN TRIO MAKING AN IMPACT
The freshmen trio of Nia Hall, JeriLynn Koehler and Reilly Wadden have continued to make an impact on the Cleveland State lineup through the first two weeks of #HLVB play, combining for 236 sets played and 15 matches started on the year. Koehler currently leads the team averaging 1.07 blocks per set, while Hall ranks third with 1.96 kills per set and Wadden is averaging 1.78 digs per set as an integral part of the Viking back row.
VIKINGS TABBED FIFTH IN #HLVB PRESEASON POLL
Prior to the 2023 campaign starting, the Vikings were tabbed to finish fifth in the #HLVB Preseason Poll, earning 66 votes. Cleveland State finished behind league favorite Wright State, Northern Kentucky, Green Bay, and Milwaukee.
HEAD COACH CHUCK VOSS
Chuck Voss is in his 24th season at the helm of the Vikings, and owns a 402-287 (.583) overall record at Cleveland State. Under Voss the Vikings have recorded 17 winning seasons, including a streak of 10 straight from 2009 to 2018. 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 earlier this season Voss eclipsed the 400-win mark at Cleveland State with a 3-0 victory at IUPUI (September 19, 2023).
UP NEXT
Cleveland State will return to the friendly confines of Woodling Gymnasium next weekend, hosting a two-match homestand against Green Bay on Friday, October 13 and Milwaukee on Saturday, October 14.
