Complete Weekly Release
Chicago State volleyball (2-11, 0-0 Great West) competes in the Rambler Challenge hosted by Loyola this weekend. The Cougars will play Loyola at 2 p.m. on Friday, USC Upstate at 11 a.m. on Saturday and DePaul at 2 p.m. on Saturday. Live stats for all three matches will be available.
LAST TIME OUT
– The Cougars dropped a three set match at Western Illinois on Tuesday. Freshman
Alyssa Podwell (Homer Glenn, Ill./Providence Catholic) had six kills. The Cougars played their third consecutive match without kills leader
Sydney Van Munster (Hudsonville, Mich./Portland). She is nursing an ankle injury.
LOOKING FORWARD
– Following this weekend's tournament at Loyola, the Cougars travel to Dayton for a match at Wright State on Tuesday, Sept. 18. The Cougars have a rare weekend off before returning to the court on Sept. 29 for a home match against Houston Baptist. It will be the Cougars' first Great West Conference match of the year.
I'M HONORED
– Senior middle blocker
Sydney Van Munster (Hudsonville, Mich./Portland) was named the Great West Conference Offensive Player of the Week on Tuesday (Sept. 3). She helped The Cougars to victories over North Carolina A&T and Coppin State at the Coppin State Invitational. Van Munster tallied 57 kills in five matches last week for a 3.17 kill per set average. The middle blocker also posted a .389 attack percentage on the week and received all-tournament honors at the Coppin State Invitational. She hit .484 with a career-high 17 kills against tournament host Coppin State.
AGAINST THE FIELD
– In the Division I era (1982) he Cougars are 2-12 all-time against Loyola, 0-2 against USC Upstate and 0-11 against DePaul. Chicago State played all three clubs last year, dropping the contests in three sets. However the Cougars played the three clubs in different locations. Chicago State played Loyola at Iowa's tournament, USC Upstate at Radford's tournament and DePaul on the Blue Demons' home court.
MAKE A CAREER OUT OF IT
– Senior middle blocker
Sydney Van Munster (Hudsonville, Mich./Portland) has twice set new career highs in kills this year. She first recorded 13 kills with no errors against Judson on Tuesday (Aug. 28). Van Munster did even better on Sept. 1 against Coppin State, pounding down 17 on a .484 attack percentage.
DOUBLE TROUBLE
– The Cougars have two double-doubles this year.
Angelica Brewer (Indianapolis, Ind./Pike) notched a double-double of 28 assists and 13 digs against Judson (Aug. 28).
Valeria Desiderio (Chicago Heights, Ill./Bloom) totaled 16 digs and 12 kills against Coppin State (Sept 1).
SHE'S BACK
– Redshirt sophomore
Valeria Desiderio (Chicago Heights, Ill./Bloom) missed last season due to an injury. In her freshman season of 2009, she recorded a team-high 198 kills.
PACK YOUR BAGS
– Chicago State will get used to the road for the next few weeks as more than a month will pass from the Cougars' first home volleyball match (Aug. 28) to their next (Sept. 29 with Houston Baptist).
SHE'S A FRESHMAN!
– The 2012 roster features just one true freshman, middle blocker
Alyssa Podwell (Homer Glenn, Ill./Providence Catholic). The New Lenox, Ill. Native and Providence Catholic graduate was a Southtown Star All-Area and All-South Suburban Catholic League selection as a senior. Her teammates call her “Pods.”
NEW TO THE CREW
– Joining Podwell as newcomers on the roster are four transfers. Middle blocker
Madeleine Radtke (Stevensville, Mich./Lakeshore) is from Sauk Village, Ill. but was most recently at Prairie State College. Setter
Paula Sioto (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Instituto Educacional Raphael Di Santo) is a native of Brazil and comes to CSU with junior status. Outside hitter Kimberly Linder of Antigo, Wis. spent a season at Colby CC.
Mya Williams (Indianapolis, Ind./Pike), a 6-4 middle blocker from Indianapolis was last at Delaware State. Linder and Williams have sophomore status.
LETS SETTLE THIS
– The Cougars have a new setter in 2012. Last year Emily Kramolisch led CSU with 783 assists. Sophomore
Angelica Brewer (Indianapolis, Ind./Pike) and junior transfer
Paula Sioto (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Instituto Educacional Raphael Di Santo) are seeing time at the spot as the Cougars have run a 6-2 for most of the season.
CAN YOU DIG IT
– Sophomore libero
Mia Townsell (Gardnerville, Nev./Douglas) began the 2012 season with 10 consecutive matches of double-digit digs. Her high during the stretch was 28 against North Carolina A&T (Aug. 31).
ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM
– Sophomore
Mia Townsell (Gardnerville, Nev./Douglas) picked up all-tournament team honors for her play in the Hawkeye Challenge to start the year. She recorded averaged 4.75 digs over the four matches and recorded a career-high 20 against Southeast Missouri State.
ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM (X2)
– Senior
Sydney Van Munster (Hudsonville, Mich./Portland) earned all-tournament team accolades at the Coppin State Invitational. Van Munster averaged 3.14 kills per set with a .344 attack percentage. She also added 10 block assists in the 14 sets of play.
ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM (X3)
– Sophomore
Kimberly Lindner (Antigo, Wis./Antigo) earned all-tournament team honors at the Miami Best Western/Sycamore Inn Invitational. She posted 21 kills in the Cougars' three matches against Temple, Miami (Ohio) and Indiana State.
YOU AGAIN?
–
Angelica Brewer (Indianapolis, Ind./Pike) and
Mya Williams (Indianapolis, Ind./Pike) attended Pike High School together in Indianapolis, Ind. Brewer came to CSU directly from Pike while Williams attended Delaware State in 2011 before coming to Chicago State this season.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
–
Sydney Van Munster (Hudsonville, Mich./Portland) transferred to CSU from Grand Rapids CC, however her first collegiate stop was far, far, far from her home of Hudsonville, Mich. in southwestern Michigan. The 6-2 middle blocker started her collegiate career in 2009 at Alaska Fairbanks. She recorded 96 kills and 33 blocks in 18 matches for the Division II Nanooks.
YES THEY'RE SISTERS
– Junior
Mysta Townsell (Gardnerville, Nev./Douglas) and sophomore
Mia Townsell (Gardnerville, Nev./Douglas) are each liberos/defensive specialists… they're also sisters. Mysta averaged 4.48 digs per set last year with a total of 493. Mia added 222 digs.
FOLLOW ALONG
– All home Chicago State volleyball matches now feature live stats. The link to follow at home is: www.sidearmstats.com/csu/wvball/ Those looking to keep up on their phone can do so at the mobile version link: http://www.sidearmstats.com/csu/wvball/mobile.aspx
FOR THE TITLE
– The 2012 Great West Conference Volleyball Championship will be hosted by Utah Valley on Nov. 14-17.
