Box Score OREM, Utah — In the program's first-ever trip to the WAC Volleyball Tournament, the Chicago State volleyball team swept UTRGV, 3-0 (25-17, 25-21, 25-22), on Thursday evening.
The Cougars served a season-high nine aces in the onslaught, also hitting a season-best .273.
"This is a huge win for our program and our university," head coach Tanio Trifonov said. "I'm extremely proud of the fight and heart our team showed. It's the first time in program history Chicago State is in this tournament, so we're thrilled to make it to the semifinals."
Chicago State dominated the first set, setting the match's tone.
Behind freshman Grace Zambrano at the service line, the Cougars won the match's first three points, with Zambrano delivering one ace. After UTRGV then tied the set at three, the Cougars rallied for six consecutive points, with Maria Lopez Torres Tapia and Yanlis Feliz registering kills during the onslaught.
After a UTRGV timeout, the Vaqueros won back-to-back points before another 6-0 Chicago State run. This time, it was Andrea Calderon delivering two aces to energize the Cougars, who led 15-5 before UTRGV again scored. After another Vaqueros timeout, the two teams then battled more evenly. Nailah Jones, Berenice Almeyda and Mesalina Severino all struck kills to extend the lead to 23-12. Then, UTRGV gained some momentum, scoring four more points to force a timeout at 23-16.
Moments later, facing set point for a second time, the Cougars earned a first-set victory as Jones slammed in her fourth kill to seal it, 25-17.
"I think we were taken by surprise at how easy the first set went," Trifonov said. "That's why we struggled to start the second set."
Indeed, UTRGV came out with a vengeance in set two. After the Cougars scored the first two points, punctuated by a Feliz kill, the Vaqueros reeled off ten straight points during Victoire Nama's serve to take a 10-2 lead. But after trading a few points to make the score 14-5, it was the Cougars' turn to storm back. Behind Almeyda and Zambrano aces, Chicago State took nine of the next 10 points to pull to within one, 15-14.
UTRGV extended the lead to 16-14 before Severino, Jones, Feliz and Almeyda all answered back with kills to push Chicago State ahead, 20-18, and force a timeout. After a small Vaqueros surge, with the match tied at 20, Chicago State reeled off five of the final six points to steal the second set. Down the stretch, Almeyda registered an ace and Severino stuffed a kill to deliver a 25-21 set two victory after trailing by eight early on.
The third set featured a powerful Almeyda slam to start, with three subsequent Chicago State winners delivering a 4-1 opening surge. UTRGV, however, battled back, with effective serving from Pamela Moreira delivering a 6-6 tie. Jones then continued her hot play for Chicago State, striking a kill to make it 7-6 before three more UTRGV points. The Vaqueros then led, 9-7.
Minutes later, the UTRGV advantage had extended to three before another Almeyda ace highlighted a 5-0 Chicago State run, powering the Cougars ahead, 14-12, and forcing a timeout.
After the stoppage, the two squads dueled in an intense stretch, with each team's top outside hitter, Nama and Feliz, playing a starring role. The score was deadlocked at 16 when Lopez Torres Tapia delivered a kill to kickstart a Chicago State surge. The Cougars won five of six points to take a 21-17 edge.
UTRGV fought back with a 4-0 run to tie the match at 21 before Chicago State stormed right back. A Jones ace later set up match point at 24-21. Nama secured a kill for UTRGV to pull to within two, but then a Feliz kill on the next point secured a 25-22 set win and a 3-0 sweep.
Feliz powered Chicago State with 13 kills one a season-best .346 hitting percentage.
"We knew what to expect from Yanlis," Trifonov said. "We were waiting for this game from her."
Almeyda and Jones each tallied eight kills, with Lopez Torres Tapia securing seven.
From the service line, the Cougars dominated with nine aces — three from Almeyda and Calderon, two from Zambrano and one courtesy of Jones.
Chicago State's win marked its first of the season in its WAC Tournament debut. The Cougars will now face first-seeded New Mexico State tomorrow at 6:00 p.m. CT. The match will be carried live on ESPN+ with live stats available here.
"Now, we still have to worry about New Mexico State," Trifonov said. "But we're excited to be in the semifinals."
