Volleyball Opens WAC Play at Home Against CSUB and GCU

Match #16
CSU Bakersfield (6-8, 0-0 WAC) at Chicago State (9-6, 0-0 WAC)
Thursday, Sept. 21, 2017 - 7 p.m.
Jacoby Dickens Center - Chicago, Ill.
Live Video - Live Audio - Live Stats

Match #17
Grand Canyon (5-7, 0-0 WAC) at Chicago State
Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017 - 12 p.m.
Jacoby Dickens Center - Chicago, Ill.
Live Video - Live Audio - Live Stats

CHICAGO -

This Week: The Chicago State volleyball team kicks off Western Athletic Conference play this week at the Jacoby Dickens Center as part of its seven-match homestand. CSU begins this week's slate on Thursday night versus CSU Bakersfield with the first serve set for 7 p.m. then welcomes Grand Canyon to the Windy City two days later on Saturday at 12 noon. Both matches will be broadcast live on the WAC Digital Network.

Scouting CSU: Chicago State brings a WAC-leading season record of 9-6 into conference play after going 2-2 last in its first home tournament in three seasons at the Chi State Volleyball Invitational. The Cougars claimed a pair of five-set wins over Eastern Michigan and Southeast Missouri State while falling to Louisiana (1-3) and Wright State (0-3). Junior outside hitter Lauryn Dela Cruz (Provo, Utah/Timpview), a two-time WAC Player of the Week honoree, leads CSU with a WAC-best average of 4.71 kills per set to go along with 3.76 digs a set and 12 double-doubles. Freshman setter Lacee Adams (Muncie, Ind./Muncie Central) is dishing out a 10.58 assists a set, while the Cougar defense is paced by sophomore libero Megan Klavitter (Fenton, Mich./Linden) (4.88 dps) and sophomore outside hitter Alexandria Cliff (Manitowoc, Wis./Roncalli) (42 blocks – 0.71 bps).

Scouting CSUB: CSU Bakersfield heads into the week with a 6-8 record after finishing with a 2-2 record last week. After dropping a five-set mid-week decision to Fresno State, the Roadrunners then posted a 2-1 mark in the UC Irvine Tournament with wins over San Francisco (3-0) and Montana State (3-0) coupled with a three-set loss to host UC Irvine. Redshirt senior Haylee Roberts leads CSUB in kills per set (2.65), blocks per set (1.04) and hitting percentage (.297). Senior setter Fabiana Andrade is dishing out a team-best average of 5.47 assists a set, while senior libero/setter Emily Lopes is producing 5.73 digs per set to lead the team.

Scouting GCU: Entering its first full-fledged season as an NCAA Division I member, Grand Canyon brings a 5-7 record into this week's Midwest swing that begins Thursday night at UMKC. The Antelopes finished with a 1-2 record last weekend at the Bradley Tournament in Peoria, Ill., with a 3-0 win over South Dakota State followed by losses to UConn (0-3) and the host Braves (1-3). Leading the Lopes in kills is freshman outside hitter Claire Kovensky with an average of 3.33 per set to go along with 3.33 digs a set, while sophomore setter Heidi Carpenter dishes out 5.70 assists per set. Sophomore libero Emma Ahern is currently producing a team-leading 4.41 digs a set for GCU.

Another Program First: Heading into conference play this week, CSU has achieved another D-I program first by sitting in first place in the current WAC standings.

Let's Do It Again…Part 2: Dela Cruz received her second all-tournament team honor of the season last weekend as she averaged 5.47 kills and 2.94 digs per set last weekend at the Chi State Volleyball Invitational. She recorded a season-high 30 kills in the tournament finale against Southeast Missouri State and posted 29 kills versus Eastern Michigan.

Up Next: CSU steps away from conference play on Monday as it takes on Missouri Valley Conference member Drake to close out its homestand beginning at 6 p.m. The match will be broadcast live on both the WAC Digital Network and the Chicago State Radio Network.

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Players Mentioned

#9 Alexandria Cliff: OH; 6' 0"; Sophomore

#4 Megan Klavitter: DS; 5' 3"; Sophomore

#2 Lacee Adams: S; 5' 7"; Freshman

#8 Lauryn Dela Cruz: OH; 5' 8"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#9 Alexandria Cliff
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: OH

#4 Megan Klavitter
: 5' 3"; Sophomore
: DS

#2 Lacee Adams
: 5' 7"; Freshman
: S

#8 Lauryn Dela Cruz
: 5' 8"; Junior
: OH

Scoreboard

Players Mentioned

Players Mentioned