Nov. 7, 2002

CLEVELAND - The Cleveland State volleyball team is ranked ninth in the Midwest Region in the latest American Volleyball Coaches' Association rankings released today.

The Vikings, 17-9 overall and 4-6 in the Horizon League, are ranked for the first time ever in the AVCA poll. They join two other Horizon League teams in the region's top ten. League-leading UW-Milwaukee (15-11, 10-1) is ranked fourth while Loyola Chicago (21-4, 9-1) follows right behind in fifth.

Cleveland State will take on Loyola Friday night in Chicago and then remain in the Windy City Saturday for another league contest against Illinois-Chicago. The Vikings conclude the regular season with home matches on Friday, Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. against Butler and Saturday, Nov. 16 at 2 p.m. with intra-state rival Wright State. The match with the Raiders will be Senior Day for the Vikes with Lori Betchker (Amherst, Ohio/Steele), Michelle Iafigliola (Mentor, Ohio/Mentor) and Kristine Dabbelt (Batavia, Ohio/Batavia) being honored prior to match time.

AVCA Midwest Regional Rankings - Nov. 7, 2002 / 1. South Florida - Conference USA (23-5, 9-0) 2. Louisville - Conference USA (19-4, 8-1) 3. Cincinnati - Conference USA (17-6, 8-1) 4. UW-Milwaukee - Horizon League (15-11, 10-1) 5. Loyola Chicago - Horizon League (20-4, 9-1) 6. St. Louis - Conference USA (17-9, 7-3) 7. Houston - Conference USA (16-7, 6-2) 8. Tennessee-Martin - Ohio Valley (18-5, 13-1) 9. Cleveland State Horizon League (17-9, 4-6) 10. Morehead State Ohio Valley (18-10, 11-3)