Volleyball 9/9/2017 5:52:00 PM Corey Miggins, Sports Information Director

Volleyball Sets New School D-I Records, Wins EIU Panther Classic

The Cougars defeated Eastern Illinois and Alabama A&M to win the EIU Panther Classic today for its first D-I in-season tournament title since 2004.

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

CHARLESTON, Ill. – Chicago State volleyball accomplished more historic feats here today at Eastern Illinois' Lantz Arena as it closed the EIU Panther Classic with a five-set win over the host Panthers and a three-set sweep of Alabama A&M in its tournament finale.

The Green and White set new school Division I records by posting the longest winning streak at six matches and also the best start to a D-I season at 7-3. CSU also produced its first tournament title since 2014 and won its first D-I tournament since capturing the Youngstown State Invitational in 2004.

Chicago State opened the EIU match with a dominating 25-14 first-set win before Eastern won the next two sets by scores of 25-18 and 25-17. After recording a close 30-28 win in the fourth set to send the match into the fifth and deciding set, the Cougars rode the hot hand of junior Lauryn Dela Cruz (Provo, Utah/Timpview) (five kills) to earn a 15-11 win in the stanza to capture the match.

Dela Cruz notched 24 digs and a match-best 21 kills to pace CSU, while fellow classmate Carmen Carvajal (Lugo, Spain/I.E.S Lucus Augusti) also posted a double-double with 20 digs and 12 kills. Sophomore Alexandria Cliff (Manitowoc, Wis./Roncalli) contributed a career-best 11 kills and six blocks (two solo, four assisted).

Freshman Lacee Adams (Muncie, Ind./Muncie Central) dished out a match-leading 49 assists, sophomore Megan Klavitter (Fenton, Mich./Linden) added 20 digs and junior Ludmila Bomfim (Belo-Horizonte Minas Gerais, Brazil/Escola Estadual Pedro II) added a season-high 16 digs for the Cougars.

Eastern Illinois (4-4) were led by Taylor Smith, who tallied a triple-double with 26 assists, 16 digs and 12 kills on the day.

Chicago State continued its momentum from the EIU match to win the match by scores of 25-15 in the first set, 25-23 in the second stanza and 25-14 in the third set.

Dela Cruz finished with another double-double of a match-high 15 kills and 11 digs to lead the Cougars, while Cliff recorded 10 kills and a match-leading five block assists. Adams posted a match-best 41 assists and Klavitter finished with 22 digs.

Meredith Sleck paced Alabama A&M (0-7) with a double-double of 26 assists and 11 digs.

CSU finishes off the weekend tomorrow afternoon with an inter-city battle against host UIC at the Flames Athletic Center in a live broadcast on ESPN3 beginning at 4 p.m.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

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

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

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

#6 Carmen Carvajal: OH; 5' 10"; Junior

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

#10 Ludmila Bomfim: S; 5' 9"; Junior

Players Mentioned

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

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

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

#6 Carmen Carvajal
: 5' 10"; Junior
: OH

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

#10 Ludmila Bomfim
: 5' 9"; Junior
: S

Scoreboard

Players Mentioned

Players Mentioned