Sept. 25, 2009
Final Stats
Contact: Greg Murphy
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Cleveland State rallied from a 2-0 deficit to force a deciding fifth set, but fell in five to Butler on Friday night in Horizon League volleyballa ction in Hinkle Fieldhouse.
Match scores were 25-22, 26-24, 24-26, 30-32, 15-13.
The loss drops CSU to 11-5 overall and 1-1 in the league, while Butler improved to 11-7 overall and 2-0 in league play.
"Butler is a very good team and they came out with a lot of energy and emotion tonight," head coach Chuck Voss said. I was proud of the way we pushed and battled back to force a fifth set, but again, we fell behind early and couldn't fully recover, although we made a great run in the fifth set."
Liz Fazio led the Vikings with 22 kills and 16 digs, while Beth Greulich added 16 kills and Kara Koch 12. Maggie Bonomini produced a career-high 29 digs and Amy Grabiec had 18.
Jordan Goad recorded a double-double with 59 assists and 15 digs.
The story of the night, however, was at the net where Butler finished with 18 blocks, forcing the Vikings into 42 attack errors.
Butler jumped out to a quick 7-3 lead in the opening set to force a quick CSU timeout. That didn't slow the Bulldogs at all as they used a 6-1 run to push the lead to 13-4. However, the Vikings began to chip away at their deficit, eventually pulling within one point (23-22) on a Fazio kill. However, back-to-back points by Butler allowed them to escape with the win.
The second set was a reversal with CSU taking an 18-11 lead and seemingly in control of the set. However, a 10-3 Butler run tied the set at 21-21. A Fazio kill a Bulldog attack error and another Fazio kill gave CSU a 24-21 three chances at set point. However, Butler would go on to score the final five points of the set to take a 2-0 lead.
CSU once again jumped on Butler in the third set, taking a 15-10 lead on a Bulldog service error. But again, the Bulldogs did not go away, using an 8-3 run to knot the set at 18-18. The teams continued to exchange points and Butler had a chance at match point, leading 24-23. However, a Fazio kill and back-to-back Butler attack errors gave CSU new life as the Vikings won the set to pull within 2-1.
Set four proved to be the most dramatic of the night as neither team led by more than three points. Tied at 19-19, the teams traded points back and forth until kills from Fazio and Greulich broke a 30-30 tie and evened the match at two sets apiece.
Butler jumped out quickly in the deciding set, taking a 5-2 lead on a CSU attack error. The lead swelled to 14-8, but the Vikings did not go away easily.
A Fazio kill, Butler attack error and a service ace by Amanda Medvetz brought CSU within 14-11, forcing a Bulldog timeout. Greulich brought CSU within 14-12 with a kill and another Butler attack error pulled the Vikings within one point (14-13). However, a CSU attack error on the ensuing service ended the rally and gave Butler the five-set win.
CSU hit just .140 (73-42-221) for the match, while Butler finished at .171 (65-28-216). The Vikings recorded 112 digs to Butler's 95, but managed just nine blocks.
The Vikings will return to action on Saturday, Sept. 26, when CSU travels to Valparaiso for an 8:00 p.m. EST match.
