CHICAGO, Ill. — The Chicago State volleyball team showed grit and determination Friday night inside the Jacoby Dickens Center, pushing Central Connecticut State to four competitive sets in a spirited matchup that highlighted the Cougars' depth and resilience.
Despite falling 3–1 (25–19, 20–25, 25–19, 25–14), Chicago State delivered several standout performances.
Nayella George led the offensive charge with 10 kills and a .292 hitting percentage, while
Jocelyn Carter added 12 kills and contributed on the block with two solo efforts. Setter
Leah Linares Castro kept the offense flowing with 16 assists and chipped in six digs.
Defensively, libero
Alyssa Ferreira anchored the back row with 15 digs and a service ace, while the team combined for 14 total blocks, showcasing their presence at the net.
Zeynep Ertam and
Nia Cummings were key contributors in the front row, each tallying multiple blocks and kills to keep the Cougars within striking distance throughout the match.
The Cougars showed their strongest sideout efficiency in the second set, converting at a 65% clip and securing a 25–20 win to even the match. The team's energy and hustle were evident in long rallies and clutch plays that kept the home crowd engaged.
Chicago State will return to action tomorrow at 1 p.m. to close out the series against Central Connecticut State, once again inside the Jacoby Dickens Center. Fans are encouraged to come out and support the Cougars as they look to bounce back and finish the weekend strong.
