Box Score
DEKALB, Ill. – Chicago State volleyball (0-1) kicked off the Bob Eskew era here today with a 3-0 (25-10, 25-13, 25-14) defeat to host Northern Illinois (1-0) in the season opener for both teams as part of the NIU Invitational at Victor E. Court.
NIU opened the match with an early 11-3 leading margin behind four kills from sophomore Mary Kurisch, but the visitors then scored four of the next six points to pull within 13-7 following a kill by junior Mazvita Maziveyi (Harare, Zimbabwe/Hillside (NC)) (Durham, N.C.). The Huskies pulled out the set win to claim a 1-0 lead thanks to a 12-3 run down the stretch which included Kurisch recording kills in three of the final four points.
The Green and White claimed a 2-1 lead early in the second set after a kill from junior Leslie Williams (Phenlan, CA/Lake Land College) before the home team posted a 21-9 run to capture a 22-10 lead that ended with a solo block from freshman Lauren Wicinski. Maziveyi recorded a pair of kills to help CSU slice its deficit to 24-13 before sophomore Sam Grams' kill ended the set and gave the Huskies a two-set lead.
Wicinski recorded five service aces as part of seven straight service points in propelling NIU to an 11-3 lead in the third set and later took its biggest lead of the set at 22-10 after a kill by freshman Sarah Angelos. The visitors closed within 22-13 on a kill from freshman Valeria Desiderio (Chicago Heights, Ill./Bloom) (Chicago Heights, Ill.) and a pair of service points by Maziveyi, but NIU scored three of the final four points to close the match.
Maziveyi tallied six kills to pace Chicago State, while senior Hanya Minta (Eden Prairie, MN/Eden Prairie) (Eden Prairie, Minn.) contributed 12 assists and five digs. Desiderio posted four kills and freshman Mysta Townsell (Gardnerville, Nev./Douglas) (Gardnerville, Nev.) added four digs in their first collegiate match.
Kurisch recorded a .818 hitting clip thanks to a match-high nine kills on 11 errorless swings to lead Northern Illinois. Wicinski also posted nine kills to go along with tallying match highs of six service aces and three blocks (two solo, one assisted). Junior Kristin Hoffman posted a match-best 21 assists, freshman Kayla Zeno dished out 15 assists and junior Allison McLaughlin recorded a match-high 11 digs.
The Cougars are back in action this evening at Victor E. Court with a contest against 2009 NCAA Tournament participant College of Charleston that begins at 5 p.m.
~CSU~
