OREM, Utah (Sept. 18, 2009) – Chicago State volleyball opened its Great West Conference schedule tonight with a 3-0 (25-12, 25-5, 25-11) loss to host Utah Valley at the Shurian Family Events Center in Orem, Utah. The Wolverines improved their season record to 7-5 (1-0) with the win, while the Cougars fell to 0-11 (0-1) on the year.
UVU captured an early 6-1 advantage in the opening set of the match following a kill from junior Kayli Broadbent and a CSU attack error before the visitors scored four of the next five points to pull within 7-5 after the Wolverines committed a hitting miscue. The home team then went on a 9-4 scoring drive to increase its lead to 16-9 that concluded with a kill by senior Camie Manwill. The Wolverines later scored nine of the set's final 12 points to claim a 1-0 lead in the match, highlighted by six straight service points from junior Lanni O'Reilly.
In the second set, the home team posted a 3-0 advantage early thanks to a kill from sophomore Chelsea Fa'alogo before a kill from freshman Kimberly Naut (Reno, NV/Galena) (Reno, Nev.) helped the Cougars split the next six points to close their deficit to 6-3. UVU then utilized eight serving points by Broadbent and four service points from sophomore Rachel Anderson as part of a set-closing 19-2 run to head into the break with a two-set advantage.
The Wolverines broke a 2-2 tie early in the season set with an 8-1 scoring drive, including two kills and two service aces from sophomore Faith Tusieseina, to gain a 10-3 leading margin. A quick 5-3 run by CSU helped slice its deficit to 12-8 that concluded with a kill from senior Jessica Schmidt (Walnut Hill, IL/Kaskaskia College) (Walnut Hill, Ill.).
In the third set, GSU recorded a 10-4 lead after a CSU hitting error and used a 14-5 scoring run to take its biggest lead at 23-9 following three service points from Freeman en route to closing out the match. A kill from senior Marla Morin opened a 13-3 scoring drive, which included seven service points from sophomore Chelsey Garfield, to close the match for UVU.
Naut and junior Hanya Minta (Eden Prairie, MN/Eden Prairie) (Eden Prairie, Minn.) each recorded four kills to lead Chicago State, while Minta added seven digs and five assists on the evening. Tying Minta for top dig honors on the team was redshirt senior Shamara Clark (Bloomington, IN/South) (Bloomington, Ind.), who also added seven digs for the Cougars, and sophomore Mazvita Maziveyi (Harare, Zimbabwe/Hillside (NC)) (Durham, N.C.) contributed two block assists.
Utah Valley was paced offensively by freshman Erica Nish, who tallied a match-high seven kills and three blocks on the night. Sophomore Jaicee Kuresa added seven kills, Fa'alogo produced a match-best 22 assists and senior Allyce Jones recorded a match-high 13 digs for the Wolverines.
CSU continues its conference-opening road swing next weekend with a pair of Great West matches at Houston Baptist. The Cougars open the weekend against the host Huskies on Sept. 25 beginning at 7 p.m., then face Texas-Pan American on Sept. 26 with the first serve set for 12 p.m.
~CSU~
