Volleyball Battles Vikings in 3-0 Loss

by YSU

Wednesday, Nov 9, 2016 2:21 pm

Cleveland State hit .412 as a team and got 16 kills from Grace Kauth to defeat the Youngstown State volleyball team and secure its second straight Horizon League regular season title on Sunday at Woodling Gymnasium. The set scores were 25-17, 26-24, 25-21.

YSU had a balanced attack with four players registering at least seven kills, and Sam Brown posted a double-double with 11 kills and 10 digs. Sarah Varcolla posted eight kills and three blocks, and Morgan Tippie and Lori Vanbeek both had seven kills. Tippie's seven terminations came on just 12 attempts and a .500 attack percentage.

Sara Skeens joined Kauth in double digits in kills with 11, and Sydney Mast had nine kills in 11 attempts for the Vikings, who improved to 13-1 in conference play.

Despite the 3-0 loss, the Penguins battled throughout the afternoon.

YSU trailed just 15-14 in the opening set following a Brown kill, and the margin was no more than two for either team until Cleveland State pulled away late to win 25-17. The Vikings jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the second set, but YSU kept clawing and eventually tied the set at 24 on a Val Jeffery ace. A Kauth kill gave CSU a side out, and Skeens finished the two-point win with a kill. In the third set, there were 10 ties and six lead changes, and the score was tied as late as 17-17.

Youngstown State will play its final home match of the season on Wednesday against Northern Kentucky at 6 p.m.