Vikings Sweep DePaul to Open Own Invitational
    CSU Plays IPFW and Duquesne on Saturday
    Amanda Medvetz

    Amanda Medvetz

    Sept. 9, 2011

    Final Stats

    Contact: Greg Murphy

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    CLEVELAND, Ohio - Kara Koch had 14 kills and Jordan Goad dished out 35 assists with eight digs to lead Cleveland State to a 3-0 win over DePaul in the first day of the CSU Invitational Presented by the Courtyard by Marriott Independence on Friday night in Woodling Gym.

    The Vikings improved to 6-3, while DePaul slipped to 3-5.

    Match scores were 25-15, 25-9, 25-23

    Duquesne opened the tournament with a 3-0 sweep over IPFW earlier on Friday.

    Koch just missed a double-double with nine digs. Jackie Dabbelt added nine kills and Marie Frease and Megan Barhorst added six each. Amy Grabiec made 16 digs and Brittany Holland added 10 for the Vikings.

     

     

    CSU wasted little time in jumping on DePaul in the opening set, using a kill by Goad and a service error for the first two points en route to a 5-2 lead early. The lead swelled to five points (10-5), forcing the Blue Demons to call timeout.

    DePaul used a 4-1 run out of the stoppage to pull back within two points (11-9), but the Vikings had an answer, using an 8-3 run to force another DePaul timeout as the Viking lead increased to 19-12 and an eventual win.

    It was much of the same in set two as the Vikings raced out to a 13-4 advantage in cruising to a 2-0 lead in the match.

    "We did a great job of serving to start the set and were in a good rhythm on offense, Voss said. "We played at a high level with a lot of intensity and energy and that is always fun to see."

    CSU had runs of 5-0 and 7-0 in the second set.

    The Vikings once again raced out to a quick lead in the third set, taking a 7-3 lead on a Jackie Dabbelt kill. This time, however, DePaul would rally back, scoring three straight points to pull within 7-6, and would eventually pull even at 13-13.

    DePaul took its first lead of the night (15-14) on a CSU attack error, but three straight Viking points put CSU back ahead, 17-15.

    The lead got to 19-16, but DePaul rallied with a 6-1 run to take a 22-20 lead. A Megan Barhorst kill stopped the run and pulled the Vikings within one (22-21). Following a DePaul kill, Koch answered with one of her own and a Viking block followed to tie it at 23-23.

    Dabbelt followed with a kill to set up match point and Dabbelt ended things with a kill.

    The CSU Invitational continues on Saturday with four more matches. Duquesne plays DePaul at 10:30 a.m., while the Vikings will play IPFW at 1:00 p.m. The tournament continues at 4:30 p.m. when DePaul and IPFW play and concludes with a 7:00 p.m. contest between CSU and Duquesne.