By Patrick Stumpf
GREEN BAY, Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) – The Green Bay volleyball team returned to Carol's Court inside the Kress Center for the third time in seven days on Friday night, falling to conference-leading Cleveland State in four sets, 25-17, 23-25, 17-25, 18-25.
For the second time in three nights, the Phoenix battled not only one of the premier teams in the Horizon League, but a team inside the top-100 RPI in the NCAA, with the Vikings checking in at 78 as of Oct. 19. Oakland, who Green Bay played on Wednesday, is currently seeded 99th.
The Phoenix (14-9, 5-5 HL) jumped out to a fast start to begin the match, recording an opening set win after holding the top-hitting team in the league to just a .093 percentage (12-for-25). Cleveland State, now 19-4 and 8-1 in Horizon League, wouldn't be kept down for long, however, as it progressively found its groove in the final three sets by hitting .333 (16-for-39), .414 (15-for-29) and .517 (16-for-29) to close it out.
Junior Megan Powers led the way offensively for Green Bay, tallying 15 kills in 26 attacks (.538 percentage), while freshman outside hitter Jessica Wolf (13 kills) and sophomore middle blocker Lydia DeWeese (11 kills) also ended in double-figures. Seniors Emily Riese (team-high 36 assists) and Jillian Bauer (team-high 18 digs) continued their ever-steady play as two of the Horizon League's top players at their respective positions as well.
The Vikings were paced by junior outside hitter Grace Kauth (17 kills/.437 percentage) and junior middle hitter Aaliyah Slappy (13 kills/.632 percentage).
BOX SCORE – CLEVELAND STATE 3, GREEN BAY 1
UP NEXT
The Phoenix will wrap up its longest homestand of its season tomorrow afternoon against the Youngstown State Penguins. First-serve is slated for 4 p.m. The match will be broadcast on ESPN3, available for your viewing pleasure here.
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