ERIE, Pa. — Chicago State women's volleyball wrapped up its 2025 campaign on Saturday afternoon, showing grit and stretches of strong play in a three-set battle on the road against Mercyhurst (27–25, 25–18, 25–18).
The Cougars opened the match with one of their best starts of the season, trading points throughout a thrilling first set that featured nine ties and multiple lead changes. Chicago State built early momentum behind the front-row presence of
Zeynep Ertam,
Graci Littlejohn, and
Vasiliki Dagre, who combined for several key blocks as CSU tallied
5.0 team blocks in the opening set.
Nayella George added timely kills, helping the Cougars push the set deep before Mercyhurst narrowly claimed it, 27–25.
Offensively, Ertam paced Chicago State with
seven kills, while Littlejohn and Dagre each provided sparks at the net.
Leah Linares Castro contributed a steady all-around performance with kills, assists, and nine digs, and libero
Alyssa Ferreira anchored the back row with a team-high
15 digs.
Chicago State continued to compete throughout the afternoon, with
Tarcy Mayah,
Jocelyn Carter, and
Tenese Buttry adding valuable production across the second and third sets. George once again showcased her athleticism, finishing with a team-best
13 digs while adding kills and serving pressure.
Despite the final score, the Cougars' energy, defensive tenacity, and togetherness highlighted the growth of a young lineup that battled throughout the fall. Chicago State closes the 2025 season with a foundation built on resilience, development, and promise for the future.
