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EDINBURG, Texas – In the Cougars' first five-set match of the season, Chicago State volleyball dropped a 3-2 (25-22, 25-23, 23-25, 27-29, 15-13) Great West Conference contest at Texas–Pan American on Saturday (Oct. 13) afternoon. Four Cougars finished with double-digit kills as the Cougars nearly rallied from an 0-2 deficit.
“We didn't give up today,” CSU head coach Bob Eskew said. “Which was great to see.”
One Cougar in particular who didn't give up was freshman
Alyssa Podwell (Homer Glenn, Ill./Providence Catholic) (Homer Glenn, Ill./Providence Catholic). She suffered from four hitting errors in the first set, but bounced back to record 10 kills with only four errors and two aces in the rest of the match.
“Alyssa had a real tough first set but came back to do a great job,” Eskew said.
Powell, junior
Paula Sioto (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Instituto Educacional Raphael Di Santo) (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Instituto Educacional Raphael Di Santo/Martin Methodist College), senior
Sydney Van Munster (Hudsonville, Mich./Portland) (Hudsonville, Mich./Portland/Grand Rapids CC) and sophomore
Valeria Desiderio (Chicago Heights, Ill./Bloom) (Chicago Heights, Ill./Bloom) each had double-digit kills. Sioto recorded her second triple-double of the year with 28 assists, 11 digs and 10 kills. Van Munster had a career-high 18 kills thanks to a .406 hitting percentage. Desiderio totaled a double-double of 16 digs and a season-high 14 kills.
“We got some help on the outside today as Valeria was outstanding,” Eskew said.
All of the impressive individual stats resulted in a contest with 44 ties and 28 lead changes. Four of the five sets were decided by the minimum two points. The only set that didn't go the maximum, was the first, when UTPA won by three points.
After dropping the first two sets, the Cougars found themselves trailing the third 7-3 and 16-14. The Cougars were able to respond thanks to Podwell's four kills in the frame. She had kills for the Cougars' final two points in the set. Junior
Mysta Townsell (Gardnerville, Nev./Douglas) (Gardnerville, Nev./Douglas) notched seven of her 28 digs in the third set.
In the fourth, the Cougars were down 12-7 and 20-16. The Cougars then went on an 8-3 run. Van Munster notched two kills in the push. UTPA turned away the Cougars' first two set points, only to earn match point at 26-25. The Cougars went to the senior Van Munster to tie the score at 26. At 27-26, it was Desiderio notching a kill to keep the Cougars alive. Her kill was followed by one from Podwell and then another Desiderio kill to win the set for the Cougars.
Things looked good for the Cougars in the fifth after CSU took a 5-3 lead. However before they knew it the Broncs were leading 13-9. Chicago State rejected another pair of UTPA match points until the Broncs' Michelle McNamee delivered a kill to end the match.
UTPA moves to 8-12 (2-1 GWC). The Cougars fall to 2-20 (0-3 GWC). The Cougars travel to GWC-favorite Utah Valley on Friday (Oct. 19).
