Cougars Volleyball Top Belmont 3-1

The Chicago State volleyball team earned a 3-1 victory over the University of Belmont Bruins Friday afternoon in its second match of the UIC Invitational volleyball tournament, defeating Eastern Michigan 3-0 earlier in the day. The Cougars improve to 6-2 and face tournament host UIC Saturday at 3 p.m.

Yanlis Feliz led all players with 21 kills while Berenice Almeyda added 17. Jaclyn Inclan had 47 assists and three service aces while Andrea Calderon had 22 digs, Nailah Jones 12 and Maria Lopez Torres Tapia 10.

In the first set of the match, the Cougars jumped out to a five-point lead, 11-6, when the Bruins responded with a five-score streak to tie the game at 11-11, forcing a Cougars timeout. The teams exchanged points before CSU extended its lead to 21-18 and closed out the first set with a Yanlis Feliz kill, a Jaclyn Inclan service ace and won the first set, 25-20, following a Belmont service error.

In the second set, the Bruins jumped out to a 6-0 advantage and, when CSU closed to within two at 6-4, Belmont reeled off three consecutive points for a 9-4 lead. The teams exchanged points and with Belmont leading 11-6, the Cougars scored seven consecutive points to turn a five-point deficit into a two-point advantage, 13-11. The Bruins re-took the lead, scoring five of the next six points for a 16-14 lead. Tied at 22-22, Belmont scored three consecutive points for a 25-22 second set win. 

In a back and forth third set, Chicago State scored seven consecutive points and 10 of 11 to pull out to a 18-13, then 21-14 lead. CSU eventually led 24-18 before Belmont closed to within 24-21 but a Feliz kill sealed the third set win, 25-21.

In the fourth and final set, the Cougars and Bruins exchanged points before the Cougars scored eight of 10 for a 12-6 lead. Belmont pulled to within three, at 13-10, before another CSU run, this time five consecutive points, for an 18-10 advantage. WIth Chicago State leading 21-17, the Cougars scored four of the final five points of the match for the 25-18 fourth-set win.

About Chicago State

Chicago State University Athletics is comprised of 15 intercollegiate teams involving over 150 student-athletes that compete in basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis, indoor and outdoor track and volleyball. CSU held memberships in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and NCAA Division II before transitioning to NCAA Division I in 1994. Melvin Bland was the first CSU student-athlete to gain NAIA All-American status in 1974 as a wrestler. Fred Evans became the first black swimmer ever to win a national championship in 1975. CSU's women's basketball team earned a spot in the 2011 Women's Basketball Invitational and CSU's men's basketball team won the 2013 Great West Conference Tournament title and made an appearance in the CollegeInside.com Postseason Tournament (CIT).  The Men's Outdoor Track & Field 4x100-Meter Relay team were 2019 Honorable Mention All-Americans and WAC Champions. Their feat marked the first time the Chicago State's men's track & field program was represented at the national meet. 

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