Sept. 16, 2003

Box Score

CLEVELAND - Cleveland State (9-4) fell in five games to Eastern Michigan (8-1) in volleyball action Tuesday night in Woodling Gymnasium. The Vikings opened up the match by taking the first two games 30-27, 30-25, however the Eagles roared back to win the final three frames 30-24, 30-25, 15-12.

"We got tentative in a couple of facets of the game and we're not a good team when we are tentative," said CSU head coach Chuck Voss. "Eastern Michigan is a good team with seniors and we've got some growing pains to work out with our younger players."

CSU led 10-8 in the deciding game, but EMU rallied to take the next four points on a pair of kills, an ace and a Viking attack error. CSU would get within one at 12-11, but the Eagles scored three of the final four points to complete the comeback.

"I was just hoping Cleveland State would cool off at some point," EMU head coach Kim Berrington said about the Vikings hitting .338 the first two games. "I thought we showed a lot of patience and did a great job of getting back into the match."

Junior middle hitter Jamie Bouyer (Bedford Heights, Ohio/Chanel) led Cleveland State with 21 kills and nine blocks. Sophomore outside Alisa Hatcher (Bellefontaine, Ohio/Bellefontaine) tallied 11 kills, three aces, 14 digs and five blocks, while junior setter Kelly Crain (Perrysburg, Ohio/Perrysburg) added 56 assists and 11 digs.

Junior middle hitter Emily Busch paced the Eastern Michigan attack with 21 kills. Senior outside Jen Nighswander recorded 13 kills and 28 digs, while senior middle Katie Wagenmaker posted 17 kills and three aces.

Cleveland State is in action again on Saturday when it travels to Blacksburg, Va. for the Virginia Tech Invitational. The Vikings will face Northern Illinois at 10:00 a.m. before battling the host Hokies at 3:00 p.m.