Oct. 17, 2005

CLEVELAND - Cleveland State senior opposite Nickole Kennedy has been named Horizon League Player of the Week for the period from Oct. 10-16. Kennedy hit .441 with 11 blocks to lead the Vikings to three wins last week, including a weekend league sweep for the first time in 10 years.

On Tuesday against Oakland, the Sunbury, Ohio native tallied four blocks and a season-high .714 hitting percentage, ripping 10 kills on 14 errorless attempts. Kennedy then notched a match-high 17 kills three days later to help the Vikings snap a 15-match losing streak against Loyola. She hit .536 versus the Ramblers, adding five blocks. After struggling to just one kill in the opening game against UIC, Kennedy hit .438 (8-1-16) as CSU swept the next three games to hand the Flames their first league loss of the year.

This marks the first time in her career that Kennedy has received the league's weekly honor. She joins teammates Danielle Siefker (Sept. 5) and Jenni Ramminger (Sept. 19) as Vikings to be recognized this season.

Cleveland State (13-6, 5-2 HL), which currently stands in second place in the Horizon League, continues its six-match homestand with a pair of contests this week. On Friday, Oct. 21, the Vikings will host Wright State at 7:00 p.m., followed by a Saturday afternoon match against Butler at 4:00 p.m. in Woodling Gymnasium. Call (216) 687-4848 for ticket information.