MACOMB, Ill. – The Chicago State volleyball team opened its three-match slate this week here tonight with a 3-0 (25-16, 25-12, 25-18) defeat at the hands of host Western Illinois at WIU's Western Hall. The Cougars saw their season record fall to 0-12, while the Fighting Leathernecks improved to 6-3 on the year.
The home team broke an early 4-4 tie in the first set by scoring eight of the next 12 points to gain a slim 12-8 lead following a kill by junior Allison Gilbert before CSU scored three straight points to close within 12-11 following a kill by junior Alexandra Mason (Beaverton, OR/Harper College) (Beaverton, Ore.). After the Cougars pulled within 13-12 on a kill from senior Shandella Darring (Chicago, IL/Kentucky State) (Chicago, Ill.), WIU went on a 12-4 set-closing run to gain a 1-0 advantage.
CSU began the second set with a 5-3 lead on a kill from freshman Anna Morgan (South Range, WI/Maple-Northwestern) (South Range, Wis.), but the Fighting Leathernecks received five kills from junior Brooke Stittleburg as part of a 16-8 scoring drive to capture a 21-11 leading margin en route to posting a two-set lead.
WIU took an early 3-1 lead in the third set before sophomore Rashonda Woods (Chicago, IL/Simeon) (Chicago, Ill.) and sophomore Mazvita Maziveyi (Harare, Zimbabwe/Hillside (NC)) (Durham, N.C.) pulled the visitors to within 3-2 with a solo block. The Fighting Leathernecks then went on a 15-3 run to increase their leading margin to 18-6. CSU rebounded with a 12-6 scoring run to slice its deficit to 24-18 before the home team posted a kill to close the match.
Morgan led Chicago State with six kills in the match, while Mason and Darring each tallied five kills. Senior Hanya Minta (Eden Prairie, MN/Eden Prairie) (Eden Prairie, Minn.) produced 17 assists and freshman Mysta Townsell (Gardnerville, Nev./Douglas) (Gardnerville, Nev.) recorded a match-high nine digs.
Stittleburg posted match highs of 14 kills and a .700 hitting clip for Western Illinois. Freshman Heather Smith tallied a match-best 23 assists and sophomore Bridget Murphy recorded eight digs for the Fighting Leathernecks.
CSU concludes its short road trip Thursday evening in Terre Haute, Ind., with a non-conference contest at Indiana State with the first serve set for 6 p.m., Central time.
~CSU~
