Box Score HTML Box Score
CHICAGO – Junior
Julia Menhart (Augsburg, Germany/FOS Friedberg) recorded 29 digs for Chicago State volleyball in a 3-1 (19-25, 25-14, 25-12, 25-17) setback to Utah Valley in a Western Athletic Conference match at the Jacoby Dickens Center on Monday (Nov. 4) evening.
The Cougars won the opening set thanks to limiting Utah Valley to a -.133 attack percentage in the frame. Chicago State also benefited from quality serving, recording four aces while allowing just one to the Wolverines. The serving of junior
Valeria Desiderio (Chicago Heights, Ill./Bloom) helped the Cougars jump out to a 7-0 advantage. It forced Utah Valley to use a timeout just six points into the match. Utah Valley eventually took a 13-12 lead but the Cougars rallied with five straight points to grab a 17-13 advantage. They would hold the lead the rest of the set. Desiderio delivered a kill for point 25 of the set.
Set two was a complete flip. Chicago State was out-hit by the Wolverines .290 to -.029 as Utah Valley tied the match at a set each. Utah Valley stayed hot in the third, winning the frame by 13 points and going up two sets to one. The fourth set was tighter. A kill by senior
Madeleine Radtke (Stevensville, Mich./Lakeshore) followed by a Utah Valley attack error advanced the Cougars within three points at 13-10. It was still a three-point game at 18-15 when the Wolverines pulled away down the stretch.
The Cougars were led offensively by senior
Paula Sioto (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Instituto Educacional Raphael Di Santo)'s match-high 16 kills. Junior
Valeria Desiderio (Chicago Heights, Ill./Bloom) added 12 digs and a pair of aces.
Cassie Wahlin and Kalani Norris each recorded 13 kills for Utah Valley.
Utah Valley joined the WAC with Chicago State this season after both were in the Great West Conference last season. Utah Valley was a perennial power in the GWC. Monday's opening set victory was the first time Chicago State had won a set from Utah Valley after being swept in the first 13 matches. The Cougars fall to 2-25 (0-12 WAC). Utah Valley improves to 16-12 (10-2 WAC). Chicago State is back in action on Thursday (Nov. 7) at UTPA.
