The Wright State volleyball team defeated Chicago State 3-0 this afternoon (25-21, 25-22, 25-23) in the final match of the Chicago State Invitational, clinching the tournament title.

First Set Highlights

The beginning of the first set saw both teams fighting back and forth and keeping the score close.  With the score tied at 13-13 Chicago State was able to pull ahead to 16-13 after a 3-0 run with two of those points from their top hitter, Lauryn Dela Cruz.  Freshman Celia Powers ended the 3-0 run with a kill, but Chicago State answered back immediately by going on a 4-0 run and extending their lead to 20-14.  The lead didn't shake the Raiders and they ended up reclaiming their early lead by going on an impressive 10-0 run putting them within one point to win the match at 24-20.  Chicago State was able to get a quick kill to make the score 24-21 before senior outside hitter Katie Klusman ended the first set with a kill.  Klusman led the Raiders with seven of Wright State's 15 kills in the set. 

Second Set Highlights

Chicago State secured an early lead at 6-2 in the second set after going on a couple of 3-0 runs.  Klusman ended the second 3-0 run with a kill and shift the momentum to Wright State, which resulted in the Raiders going on a 7-0 run which put them in the lead at 9-6.  Chicago State stayed in the game and were able to tie the game at 12-12 before they pulled ahead and took the lead to 18-15.  Another impressive run by the Raiders allowed them to reclaim the lead and pull ahead at 21-18.  Wright State was able to hold the lead until the end and won the second set 25-22 after a kill from freshman Teddie Sauer.  Klusman led the Raiders with five kills while freshman Teddie Sauer posted four kills.  Overall, the Raiders had 15 kills for a solid .300 hitting percentage.  

Third Set Highlights

Wright State and Chicago State kept the score extremely close throughout the beginning of the third set never allowing the other to get more than one point ahead until an attack error by Chicago State pushed the Raiders ahead 8-6.  The score was tied three separate times at 8-8, 9-9, and 10-10 before Wright State was able to take a permanent lead after a kill from senior setter Maddie Lohmeier.  The Raiders pulled away from Chicago State and ended up winning the set 25-23.  Klusman led the Raiders with 14 kills while freshman Sauer posted seven kills for an impressive .400 hitting percentage.  Senior middle blocker Megan Hopkins recorded six kills for a solid .353 hitting percentage and also lead the team with four blocks.  Hopkins was named to the Chicago State Invitational Tournament Team and Lohmeier was named the tournament MVP.  

The impressive performance this weekend by the Raiders allowed them to take home the Chicago State Invitational Tournament Title.  The last tournament that the volleyball team won was the Holiday Inn Invitational in September of 2015.

What Coach Clements is Saying

"We had a great tournament and are feeling really good about how we performed this weekend.  If we can continue to compete to our level we will continue to improve."

Next Up

Wright State starts conference play on the road against IUPUI and Northern Kentucky next weekend.