CHICAGO – Chicago State volleyball received double-doubles tonight from senior Hanya Minta (Eden Prairie, MN/Eden Prairie) (Eden Prairie, Minn.) and freshman Valeria Desiderio (Chicago Heights, Ill./Bloom) (Chicago Heights, Ill.), but dropped a 3-2 (25-14, 23-25, 21-25, 25-15, 11-15) decision to visiting Western Illinois in a non-conference showdown at the Jacoby Dickens Center. The Fighting Leathernecks improved to 8-17 with the win, while the Cougars' season record fell to 0-28.
Minta posted her second consecutive double-double effort by posting 35 assists and 11 digs in addition to recording a match-best .500 hitting clip (4-0-8). Desiderio tallied a season-high and match-high 19 kills with 13 digs for her second double-double of the year to go along with three service aces on the evening.
Freshman Anna Morgan (South Range, WI/Maple-Northwestern) (South Range, Wis.) added 13 kills for the Cougars, while freshman Mysta Townsell (Gardnerville, Nev./Douglas) (Gardnerville, Nev.) recorded 17 digs and junior Alexandra Mason (Beaverton, OR/Harper College) (Beaverton, Ore.) tallied a career-best nine blocks, including seven solo stuffs. Senior Shandella Darring (Chicago, IL/Kentucky State) (Chicago, Ill.) produced a career-high four service aces.
WIU was paced by 15 kills apiece from juniors Krissy Berquist and Brooke Stittleburg, while fellow classmate Cait Egan added 14 kills. Junior Alyssa Holum posted a match-best 42 assists and senior Ellen Miller recorded a match-leading 20 digs.
CSU returns to Great West Conference play later this week as it travels to the Dakotas for its final two road matches of the season. The Cougars begin their road trip Thursday night at GWC-leading North Dakota in Grand Forks with a start time of 7 p.m.
~CSU~
