BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Chicago State volleyball officially opened Northeast Conference play on Friday evening, battling LIU on the road at the Steinberg Wellness Center. The Cougars showed strong stretches in each set before ultimately falling 3-0 (25-12, 25-16, 25-15).
Nayella George led the way at the net with nine kills and added three blocks to pace the Cougar attack. Leah Linares Castro contributed a team-best seven digs and two service aces, while Zeynep Ertam tallied seven kills and eight digs, providing consistency on both sides of the ball. Setter Alyssa Ferreira anchored the back row with a team-high 14 digs and chipped in two assists.
Chicago State's blocking presence continued to be a bright spot, finishing with 5.0 team blocks, including key stops from George and Vasiliki Dagre. The Cougars also recorded four service aces on the night, showing their ability to pressure opponents from the line.
With the first taste of NEC play now behind them, the Cougars (0-11, 0-1 NEC) turn their attention to continuing conference action on the road, looking to build on Friday's performance and translate their defensive strengths into sustained offensive momentum as they return to action on Saturday, September 27th to close out the series against LIU.
