Box Score
PALOS HEIGHTS, Ill. – Chicago State volleyball received a pair of double-doubles from junior Mazvita Maziveyi (Harare, Zimbabwe/Hillside (NC)) (Durham, N.C.) and freshman Valeria Desiderio (Chicago Heights, Ill./Bloom) (Chicago Heights, Ill.) in its Great West Conference opener here today, but dropped a thrilling five-set battle (23-25, 25-27, 25-21, 25-17, 15-6) to NJIT at the Palos Courts. The Cougars fell to 0-14 (0-1) on the year, while the Highlanders improved their season record to 2-9 (1-1).
Maziveyi posted a career-high 16 kills and tied another career high with 11 digs, while Desiderio tallied a season-high 16 kills and a match-best 24 digs for CSU.
Senior Shandella Darring (Chicago, IL/Kentucky State) (Chicago, Ill) recorded a career high of 11 kills, senior Hanya Minta (Eden Prairie, MN/Eden Prairie) (Eden Prairie, Minn.) posted a match-high 40 assists and junior Alexandra Mason (Beaverton, OR/Harper College) (Beaverton, Ore.) posted a career-best seven blocks (two solo, five assisted). Freshman Mysta Townsell (Gardnerville, Nev./Douglas) (Gardnerville, Nev.) recorded a season-best 22 digs for the Cougars.
NJIT had three players record double-digit kills, led by senior Baaba Hughes' match-high 18 kills. Sophomores Anna Mercado (31 assists and 14 digs) and Janet Snell (17 digs, 14 kills) each produced a double-double of their own, while fellow classmate Fernanda Lima posted 10 kills. Freshman Carly Ziemer dished out 19 assists and junior Audrey Snell had 22 digs for the contest.
The Cougars step away from Great West competition this Tuesday night when they travel to downstate Illinois to battle SIU Edwardsville with the first serve set for 7 p.m.
~CSU~
