CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cleveland State volleyball team opened its Horizon League slate Friday, battling for a five-set victory over Northern Kentucky. With the win, the Vikings are now 10-2 on the year and 1-0 to start #HLVB play.

Four Vikings finished the match with double-digit kills, including Liberty Torres with 18. JeriLynn Koehler chipped in 14 kills, while Nia Hall added 12 and Chloe List posted 10.

Ella Mihacevich recorded 50 assists on the match, along with eight digs and four kills.

Defensively, Emma Walker led the Vikings with 27 digs, while Ayva Leon and Lesley Marshall both added 10.

As a team, the Vikings combined for 12 service aces, including four from Walker and Marshall.

During the opening set, the Vikings were able to gain a 16-11 lead midway through the frame on a Julia Jozefov block, while back-to-back service aces from Marshall a few points later put the Vikings up 22-16. Cleveland State then gained set-point on a Torres kill, before another kill from Torres put the 25-21 set away two points later.

After dropping the next two sets, the Vikings were able to turn the momentum during the fourth frame, as a mini 3-0 run midway through the set put Cleveland State up 13-10 on a Hall kill. The Vikings were then able to hold the lead throughout the rest of the set, closing out the frame with four straight points, earning a 25-19 victory on a Koehler kill.

Cleveland State then kept its momentum going to begin the fifth and final set, earning a 6-3 edge following a Koehler kill and Walker service ace. The Vikings then held off a late NKU run, earning match-point on a Hall kill, before a Koehler kill on the ensuing point clinched the match for the Vikings.

Cleveland State and Northern Kentucky will face off again tomorrow, with first serve set for 2:00 p.m.