Valparaiso, CSU and YSU Off to Strong Starts in Volleyball

The 2013 volleyball season got off to a good start for almost all eight Horizon League teams as seven of the teams won at least one match in their season-opening tournaments. The Valparaiso Crusaders opened the year by winning all four matches at the UCF Invitational to claim the tournament championship. Cleveland State and Youngstown State also got off to fast starts as both squads lost only one match in the opening weekend.

Here's a team-by-team look at their opening weekend.

Cleveland State at Golden Griffin Invitational
Results:
Cleveland State def. Hartford, 3-0 (28-26, 25-20, 25-13
North Carolina State def. Cleveland State, 3-0 (25-18, 25-20, 25-17)
Cleveland State def. Eastern Michigan, 3-1 (27-25, 23-25, 25-19, 32-30)
Cleveland State def. Canisius, 3-0 (25-12, 25-19, 25-20)

The Vikings finish the Golden Griffin Invitational with a 3-1 record, behind tournament champion NC State who finished at 4-0. Junior Maggie Hannon earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team, following her outstanding offense performance over the four matches. For the weekend, Hannon had 40 kills on a .416 hitting percentage (40-8-77), while also adding 13 blocks and three service aces.

Green Bay at NIU Invitational
Results:
Northern Illinois def. Green Bay, 3-2 (25-18, 25-13, 22-25, 26-28, 15-11)
#23 Ohio State def. Green Bay, 3-2 (29-27, 22-25, 25-19, 23-25, 15-13)
Green Bay def. Liberty, 3-0 (25-23, 25-21, 25-20)

The Green Bay volleyball team wrapped up the NIU Invitational with a 1-2 record after dropping two hard-fought 3-2 matches to begin the tournament. The Phoenix ended the tournament by sweeping Liberty to win mark the first in the career of new Phoenix head coach Michaela Franklin. Sophomore libero Jillian Bauer was awarded with a spot on the NIU Invitational All-Tournament Team after a strong first weekend with the Phoenix. Bauer had 20 or more digs in all three matches this weekend, including 21 in the three-setter against Liberty, racking up 63 total.
Milwaukee at Holiday Inn West Invitational
Results:
#rv Oklahoma def. Milwaukee, 3-0 (25-16, 25-17, 25-11)
Western Michigan def. Milwaukee, 3-2 (20-25, 25-18, 25-18, 22-25, 15-11)
Northwestern def. Milwaukee, 3-2 (23-25, 25-16, 25-20, 23-25, 15-7)

Milwaukee got off to a rough start to the 2013 season with three tough losses to open the season. After dropping Friday’s match to Oklahoma, the Panthers lost both of their matches on Saturday in five sets. Horizon League Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Rachel Neuberger led the Panthers with 35 kills and hit a team-best .333 in the tournament.

Oakland hosted Golden Grizzlies Invitational
Results:
Oakland def. Central Michigan, 3-1 (16-25, 26-24, 25-22, 25-21)
Villanova def. Oakland, 3-1 (21-25, 25-20, 25-21, 25-21)
Oregon State def. Oakland, 3-0 (25-16, 25-20, 25-23)

The Golden Grizzlies went 1-2 to open the season at their own Golden Grizzlies Invitational. OU battled back to win the opening match of its season, but fell to Villanova and Oregon State on Saturday. Sophomore Cassie Pelloni led Oakland with 41 kills on the weekend to earn a spot on the All-Tournament team.

UIC at Kristen Dickmann Invitational
Results:
UIC def. Elon, 3-1 (26-28, 25-18, 25-20, 25-21)
Navy def. UIC, 3-1 (25-18, 25-22, 20-25, 25-23)
UNC-Wilmington def. UIC, 3-1 (25-21, 25-16, 24-26, 25-21)

UIC opened the season Friday with a 3-1 victory over Elon at Navy’s Kristen Dickmann Invitational, but could not sustain the success on Saturday as the Flames dropped two matches by identical scores of 3-1. Freshman Kara Johnson paced the Flames with 40 kills, while junior Sara Sternard chipped in 38 kills and had a team-best .365 hitting percentage.

Valparaiso at UCF Invitational
Results:
Valparaiso def. Central Florida, 3-2 (25-18, 25-17, 19-25, 25-21, 15-10)
Valparaiso def. Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 3-0 (25-15, 25-17, 25-15)
Valparaiso def. Alabama State, 3-0 (25-16, 25-18, 25-22)
Valparaiso def. North Florida, 3-0 (25-15, 25-19, 25-13)

The Crusaders opened the 2013 season by winning the UCF Invitational. Valpo opened the tournament by holding on for a 3-2 win over Central Florida. After that match, the Crusaders did not drop another set in the tournament.  Senior Sarah Dooms (31 kills, .320 attack percent) was named tournament MVP, while senior Ellen Vanden Berg (22 kills, 11 blocks) and freshman Morganne Longoria (38 digs) joined Dooms on the All-Tournament Team.

Wright State at Western Carolina Invitational
Results:
Western Carolina def. Wright State, 3-0 (25-17, 25-18, 25-20)
UNC-Asheville, def. Wright State, 3-1 (18-25, 25-19, 29-27, 25-9)
Boston College def. Wright State, 3-1 (22-25, 26-24, 25-20, 25-17)
Wright State def. USC Upstate, 3-0 (25-18, 25-19, 25-14)

The Raiders went 1-3 at the season-opening Western Carolina Invitational, dropping their first three matches of the tournament before knocking off USC Upstate in their final match. Heidi Splinter recorded two double-doubles in the tournament and finished the first four games with a League-best 57 kills.

Youngstown State at Coastal Carolina Tournament
Results:
Youngstown State def. Coastal Carolina, 3-2 (25-20, 23-25, 20-25, 25-21, 16-14)
Iowa def. Youngstown State, 3-2 (20-25, 25-16, 23-25, 25-18, 15-11)
Youngstown State def. Wofford, 3-2 (15-25, 18-25, 25-21, 25-16, 15-13)

Youngstown State opened the season with a successful trip to South Carolina for the Coastal Carolina Tournament as the Penguins went the full five sets in all three matches. After opening the tournament by beating Coastal Carolina and dropping the middle match to Iowa, YSU battled back from a 2-0 deficit to close the tournament with a win over Wofford. Missy Hundelt made the All-Tournament team after recording 38 kills and 55 digs - including a career-high 30 against Iowa – in the three matches.