ST. GEORGE, Utah — Playing its second match in 19 hours, the Chicago State women's volleyball team (0-6, 0-6 WAC) fell to Dixie State (9-8, 8-8 WAC), in straight sets.
The Cougars and Trailblazers battled in a nailbiting first two sets, with Dixie State winning 26-24 and 28-26. The Trailblazers then rolled in set three, 25-16.
"The attitude was a lot better," head coach Tanio Trifonnov said. "Those kids are fighters, and they continue playing. But when you get to the end of a set, you need the confidence to close. And we lack that confidence."
Chicago State won the first four points of the first set, punctuated by two Berenice Almeyda putaways. Yanlis Feliz responded to a small Dixie State run, posting two kills to bring Chicago State ahead, 6-2. Dixie State proceeded to claw back and pull to within one, at 13-12, after a Kate Hardy Kill.
The Cougars then unleashed three consecutive points, with Maria Lopez Torres Tapia tallying back-to-back kills at one point to force a Dixie State timeout. As they did all afternoon, the Trailblazers responded, scoring five of the next seven points to to make the score 18-17 Cougars.
The Cougars continued to hold onto their lead, not relenting until a Whittnee Nihipali kill evened the set at 23. An attack error by the Trailblazers forced a Chicago State set point at 24-23, but the Trailblazers reeled off three-straight point wins to clinch the first set, 26-24.
Chicago State started strong in the second set, as well, earning the first two points behind a Feliz kill and a DSU attack error. Once Dixie State led, 5-4, the score remained within a point until Dixie State pulled ahead, 12-10. Feliz continued to dominate, rattling off six kills in the first half of the set.
The two teams were later tied, 20-20, when a service error by Dixie State pulled the Cougars ahead, 21-20. A small Trailblazers spurt during Nihipali's serve pulled Dixie State ahead, 24-22, forcing set point.
However, the Cougars punched back. Nailah Jones delivered a kill, and a subsequent DSU attack error tied the score at 24. Then, Jones committed an error to give Dixie State another set point.
This time, it was Lopez Torres Tapia's turn to answer, as she spiked a kill to tie the score at 25. Dixie State then forced set point for the third time on a Kate Hardy kill, but a service error tied the set back up at 26.
However, the fourth time proved to be the charm, as Dixie State won back-to-back rallies to earn a 28-26 second-set win.
The third set proved to be Dixie State's most dominant. The Trailblazers leapt out to a 4-1 advantage, not once allowing the Cougars to claw ahead. A 6-0 run in the middle points, powered by Lauolive Tonga, all but sealed the match for Dixie State, which won the third set, 25-16 to cap off a sweep.
Feliz's 12 kills led Chicago State, while Almeyda racked up 10 kills with a .350 hitting percentage. Lopez Torres Tapia and Mesalina Severino each tallied eight kills and hit .389 and .353, respectively.
Feliz and Paola Fragalle both earned service aces, while Andrea Calderon's 18 digs led the Cougars. Grace Zambrano engineered Chicago State's setting, doling out 31 assists.
For the second consecutive match, errors proved Chicago State's undoing, as the Cougars committed nine more attack errors than the Trailblazers.
The Cougars now return to Chicago, where they'll face New Mexico State at 6 p.m. CT on Monday, then at 1 p.m. on Tuesday. The matches will be carried live on the WAC Digital Network.
"New Mexico State will be tough," Trifonov said. "They're the best team in the league, but it's a chance to get better.
"I can see the program's culture and mentality changing, regardless of losses."
