Final Stats
Sept. 2, 2011
Contact: Tim Ertle
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EAST LANSING, Michigan - By simply minimizing their miscues, the Vikings volleyball team was able to turn away the Toledo Rockets on Friday night and grow their winning streak to four consecutive matches. CSU committed just nine errors all night and won the three straight sets 25-12, 25-21 and 25-16 to improve to 4-1 on the year.
Cleveland State totaled 43 kills and nine errors while hitting .391. On the flip side, Toledo posted 35 kills and 21 errors while hitting .152.
The Vikings got the tournament started on the right note, jumping out to a 6-0 lead against the Rockets in the first set. Toledo scored a pair after that, but CSU responded with two more points of their own and the Rockets never came within six points again.
Set number two was much more hotly contested. The teams traded the first eight points, and after things were deadlocked at four, CSU went on a mini-run to pull away. The Vikings took 12 of the next 18 points and led by by six Toledo never was able to cut into that deficit, and CSU took a 2-0 advantage into the third set.
On Tuesday night (Aug. 30), Cleveland State led Toledo's rival, the Akron Zips, force a fourth game after they were down 2-0. CSU didn't let any drama creep into this match. The Vikings jumped out to a 10-5 lead before Toledo narrowed the gap to three points at 14-11. CSU pulled away by taking the next five points and hung on to win the clincher.
Kara Koch had an outstanding night, slamming home a match-high 14 kills. In what was the theme of the night, Koch was extremely efficient as she was charged with just two errors and finished with a .444 hitting percentage.
Megan Barhorst and Jackie Dabbelt combined for 16 kills and just one error between them.
Jordan Goad finished the night with four kills and 33 assists.
Toledo was led by 11 kills from Bethany Irwin and 30 assists from setter Kassie Kadera.The Rockets fell to 3-1.
Cleveland State will take on the host Spartans at 12:00 p.m. and conclude the tournament at 4:30 against St. John's.
