Box Score
Aug. 30, 2011
Contact: Tim Ertle
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CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Vikings volleyball team was victorious in their home opener, knocking off the Akron Zips in four sets, to extend their winning streak to three consecutive matches. Cleveland State improves their record to 3-1 on the young year, while Akron slides to 0-4.
Cleveland State won the match 25-18, 25-15, 20-25 and 25-13.
Four kills from Marie Frease and Kara Koch, a majority of them coming on perfect setups from senior setter Jordan Goad, propelled Cleveland State to victory in the first set.
CSU hit .243 in the opening set, compared to Akron's .030.
Megan Barhorst stood out in the second set, adding five kills as the Vikings jumped out to an early lead and cruised the rest of the way. Goad, a first team All-Horizon League performer last season, was a huge factor again, handing out 13 assists to her teammates who hit at a .382 clip.
The third set was a bit of a different story as Akron came out firing and jumped out to a 15-9 lead. The visiting Zips extended their advantage to as much as eight points, 21-13, before CSU chipped away at the deficit. Ultimately Akron, aided by its .302 hitting percentage, was too much and picked up their first set of the season.
In case Akron had any idea of a come-from-behind victory to spoil the Vikings home opener, CSU ended that notion quickly in the fourth set. In the blink of the eye, Cleveland State was out to a 10-point advantage and they never let Akron within striking distance, winning the clincher by the biggest margin of any set all night.
Jackie Dabbelt led the Vikings with 12 kills, while the trio of Barhorst, Marie Frease and Koch all finished with 10 kills. Goad finished the match credited with 44 helpers.
Akron was led by a match-high 14 kills from Courtney Jarvis.
The win was the third straight for the Vikings, fresh off the heels of a 2-1 performance at the Virginia Tech Hokie Invitational over the weekend. The Vikings will look to continue their winning ways this weekend (Sept. 2-3) when they travel to East Lansing to compete in the Michigan State Tournament, competing three times in two days.
