CHICAGO - The Chicago State volleyball team opened its Western Athletic Conference schedule here this morning in the first match of the Chicago State Tournament, but fell to visiting Grand Canyon by a close 3-2 (21-25, 25-18, 25-18, 25-23, 7-15) margin at the Jacoby Dickens Center. The Cougars also battled tough against Mountain West Conference member San Jose State in a 3-1 defeat during their second match of the tournament later in the day.Freshman Sarah Metcalfe (Huntington Beach, Calif./Los Alamitos) recorded a double-double of 31 assists and 10 digs, while senior Julia Menhart (Augsburg, Germany/FOS Friedberg) prouduced match highs of 19 digs and four service aces. Juniors Jana Kunz (Olten, Switzerland/Kantonsschule Solothurn) and Essence Jackson-Jones (Muskegon, Mich./Muskegon) each posted five blocks for the Cougars.
The Antelopes were led by senior Shannon Dugan, who recorded a double-double of a match-best 14 kills and 12 digs. Also recording double-doubles for GCU were sophomore Michelle Steagall (37 assists, 11 digs) and senior Hayley Friemoth (15 digs, 11 kills).
Woinowsky recorded a double-double of 14 kills and 13 digs to lead the Green and White in the San Jose State  match. Jackson-Jones added 11 kills and a match-leading five block assists, while Metcalfe dished out 23 assists and Menhart finished with 15 digs.
The Cougars return to action tomorrow when they play their final two matches of the tournament. CSU opens the day against UMass Lowell at 12 Noon before closing out the tournament against South Dakota State at 7 p.m.
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