INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Cleveland State volleyball team was able to get back into the win column Friday, picking up a pair of wins over Santa Clara (3-0) and Butler (3-2) on the first day of the Bulldog Brawl. With the wins, the Vikings improve to 6-5 on the season.

Cleveland State 3, Santa Clara 0 | PDF Box Score

Cleveland State was able to snap a four-match losing skid in the first match of the weekend, picking up a 3-0 victory over Santa Clara in the first ever meeting between the two schools.

Sara Skeens (13 kills) and Trinniti Hall (12) combined for 25 kills to lead the Viking offense, while Emily DeGeorge added nine kills.

Christina Grecol recorded the first double-double of her collegiate career against Santa Clara, finishing with 29 assists, 11 digs and four kills.

DeGeorge recorded a team-best 15 digs on the match, while Rachael Dohar added 12.

The two teams traded points throughout the first part of the opening set, until Cleveland State was able to gain a 19-16 advantage following a 3-0 run with kills from Grecol, Hall and Skeens. The Vikings were then able to hold the slight advantage for the rest of the frame, closing out the set on a Santa Clara service error.

During the second set, the Vikings had to come from behind after trailing for the majority of the frame, eventually taking control at the 21-20 mark on a Rachel Stover kill. The two teams then traded points for the rest of the frame, and after the Vikings fended off a set-point at 24-23, they rallied with three straight points to earn the 26-24 victory. During this final stretch the Vikings got points on a pair of Skeens kills and a Santa Clara error.

The Vikings were able to carry their momentum into the third set then, as they controlled play throughout the entire frame. After a back-and-forth start to the set, the Vikings gaining an 18-14 advantage following a Hall kill and Bronco error, and then went on to capture the 25-16 set victory following four straight points to end the frame.

Cleveland State 3, Butler 2 | PDF Box Score
The Vikings were able to go 2-0 on the first day of the Bulldog Brawl following a five-set victory over the host, Butler in the evening finale.

Emily DeGeorge led the Viking offense with a career-high 23 kills, while Sara Skeens added 13 kills on the match.

Christina Grecol tallied her second double-double of the season against Butler, finishing with 39 assists and 21 digs.

Rachael Dohar posted a team-best 26 digs on the match, while MacKenzie Conner finished with 12.

Freshman London Portis made her first appearance for the Vikings against Butler, finishing with three kills, two digs and two blocks. 

As a team, the Vikings recorded 13.0 total blocks, including seven from Hannah Greene and six from Sara Skeens.

After dropping the first set, the Vikings were able to rebound during set two, earning the hard-fought 29-27 set victory. Despite trailing for the majority of the frame, the Vikings were able even the set at 22-22 following a Butler error, and then gained a 23-22 lead on a London Portis kill. The lead wouldn't last long though, as Butler tallied the next two points to gain a set-point at 24-23, but the Vikings fought it off with a DeGeorge and Greene block.

The two teams then traded points over the next few plays, until the Vikings were able to post back-to-back points on a Skeens and Trinniti Hall block and Grecol kill to even the match at one set each.

The Vikings then dropped the next set, but were able to earn a 25-20 victory during the fourth frame to force a fifth and deciding set.

During the final frame, the Vikings were able to jump out to a 10-3 lead following a 4-0 run, and then cruised to the 15-7 set victory. Cleveland State was able to gain its seven-point advantage on a pair of Butler errors and a Skeens and Hall block, while the Vikings put the set away on a Skeens kill.

Up Next
Cleveland State will close out non-league play tomorrow (Saturday, September 15), taking on Kent State at 1:00 p.m.