ROCHESTER, Mich. – The Cleveland State volleyball team continued the 2021 campaign Friday evening, dropping a hard-fought five-set match at Oakland.

Offensively, three Vikings finished the match with double-digit kills, including Peyton Bloomer with 13 kills. London Portis and Keanna Avery both added 12 kills for the Vikings, while Ainslie McLaughlin posted eight.

Abby Miller finished the match with 38 assists, eclipsing the 1,200-assist mark for her career, finishing the night with 1,226 helpers.

Audrey McConihe recorded a team-high 23 digs against Oakland, marking her fifth 20-dig match of the season. Emma Walker also posted double-digit digs, finishing with 13 on the match, while Sarah DeGeorge also finished with 13.

McLaughlin tallied a team-high five total blocks, while Lydia Latimer finished with four blocks.

After dropping the first set, the Vikings responded with a 25-16 victory during the second set. Midway through the frame Cleveland State was able to gain a 15-9 lead on a Latimer and Erica Kostelac block, and went on to hold a sizeable lead throughout the remainder of the set. The Vikings then posted the final two points of the frame on a Portis and McLaughlin block and Portis kill.

Oakland then picked up a win during the third set, but the Vikings once against responded with a victory during the fourth set, picking up a 25-16 set victory. The fourth set was much like the second, as the Vikings gained a sizeable lead midway through the frame, earning a 15-9 lead on an Oakland error. After controlling play for the remainder of the set, Cleveland State closed out the frame with a Bloomer kill and block from Portis and McLaughlin.

After forcing a fifth and deciding frame, the Vikings were able to get out to an early 6-2 lead on an Avery kill, but the Grizzlies worked their way back into the frame with a 10-1 run, regaining the advantage at the 12-7 mark. Oakland then controlled play for the remainder of the set, closing out the five-set victory with a 15-10 fifth set victory.

Cleveland State will continue its current roadswing next weekend, traveling to Milwaukee (Thursday, November 4), Green Bay (Friday, November 5) and UIC (Sunday, November 7).