CSU Heads South to Atlanta This Weekend for GSU Invitational

Sophomore Summer Farris and the CSU volleyball team heads to Atlanta this weekend for the GSU Invitational

Match #9
Chicago State (4-4) vs. Ole Miss (6-1)
Friday, Sept. 7, 2018 – 3 p.m.
GSU Sports Arena – Atlanta, Ga.
Live Stats

Match #10
Chicago State at Georgia State (2-4)
Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018 – 11 a.m.
GSU Sports Arena – Atlanta, Ga.
Live Video – Live Stats

Match #11
Chicago State vs. Sam Houston State (3-3)
Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018 – 3 p.m.
GSU Sports Arena – Berkeley, Calif.
Live Stats

GSU Invitational Match Notes

CHICAGO -

Opening Serve – The Chicago State volleyball team looks to continue its winning ways this weekend with a trip down south to Atlanta for the Georgia State Invitational, held at the GSU Sports Arena. CSU opens the tourney on Friday afternoon against SEC member Ole Miss at 3 p.m. before taking on the host Panthers (11 a.m.) and Sam Houston State (3 p.m.) on Saturday.

Scouting the Cougars – CSU brings a season record of 4-4 and a three-match winning streak to the ATL this weekend coming off a three-set sweep of city rival UIC Tuesday night in its home opener at the Jacoby Dickens Center. The Green and White are led by senior outside hitter Lauryn Dela Cruz (Provo, Utah/Timpview) as she is posting a team-leading average of 3.86 kills per set to go along with 2.86 digs a set. Junior defensive specialist Megan Klavitter (Fenton, Mich./Linden) leads the Western Athletic Conference in digs with an average of 5.21 per set, while sophomore setter Lacee Adams (Muncie, Ind./Muncie Central) paces the Cougars in assists (5.82 aps) and service aces (nine).

Scouting the Rebels – Ole Miss come into this weekend's action sporting a 6-1 record after sweeping through its own Rebel Invitational last week with wins over Samford (3-0), Ohio State (3-2), Little Rock (3-1) and Southern Miss (3-2). Junior outside hitter Emily Stroup leads the Rebels with 4.41 kills a set and is tied for the team lead in service aces with junior defensive specialist Nicole Purcell. Senior defensive specialist Caroline Adams (3.86 dps) and freshman middle blocker Aubrey Sultemeier (1.18 bps) are guiding the Ole Miss defense followed by sophomore setter Lauren Bars dishing out an average of 5.21 assists per set.

Scouting the Panthers – Georgia State holds a season record of 2-4 entering its own invitational this weekend after dropping all three of its matches in three sets last weekend in Chicago at the Rambler Challenge to Marshall, host Loyola Chicago and Furman. Junior outside hitter Morgan Hash leads GSU in kills per set with an average of 2.80 and is tops in service aces with eight. Senior setter Sarah Renner is recording 584 assists and 264 digs per set, while sophomore middle hitter Meisheia Griffin ranks first on the team in blocks (18 – three solo, 15 assisted) and blocks per set (1.06 bps), and freshman defensive specialist Lauren Bandera is averaging 3.86 digs a set.

Scouting the Bearkats – Heading into the weekend with a 3-3 record, Sam Houston State looks to break a two-match losing streak after finishing 1-2 at the Louisiana Tournament with a 3-0 win over Mississippi Valley State before falling to Houston (2-3) and the host Ragin Cajuns (0-3). The Bearkats are led by senior middle blocker Taylor Cunningham, who is currently averaging 3.65 digs, 3.05 kills and 1.00 blocks a set, while junior defensive specialist Addison Miller ranks first on the team in digs (3.90 dps) and senior setter Jaclyn Ward has posted a team-best average of 5.90 assists per set.

WAC Leader – Klavitter ranks first among the WAC dig leaders with an average of 5.21 per set which also ranks her 34th in the current NCAA Division I national leaders.

Cougars' Block Party – Last week, Chicago State averaged 2.29 blocks per set while senior opposite hitter Gabby Pearl (Farmer City, IL/Blue Ridge) and sophomore middle blocker Summer Farris (Farmington Hills, Mich./North Farmington) each averaged 1.33 blocks per set on 16 block assists. Pearl and Farris tallied eight block assists, respectively, in helping the Cougars defeat Delaware in the FIU Panther Fest finale last Saturday.

Up Next – The Cougars travel to DeKalb, Ill., on Tuesday, Sept. 11 for a non-conference battle at Northern Illinois with a start time of 7 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

#6 Lacee Adams: S; 5' 7"; Sophomore

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

#1 Summer Farris: MB; 6' 2"; Sophomore

#4 Megan Klavitter: L/DS; 5' 3"; Junior

#15 Gabby Pearl: OPP; 6' 2"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#6 Lacee Adams
: 5' 7"; Sophomore
: S

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

#1 Summer Farris
: 6' 2"; Sophomore
: MB

#4 Megan Klavitter
: 5' 3"; Junior
: L/DS

#15 Gabby Pearl
: 6' 2"; Senior
: OPP

Scoreboard

Players Mentioned

Players Mentioned