Weekend Review: Four Tournament Titles for HL Volleyball Teams

Cleveland State Hosted CSU Invitational
Results:
Cleveland State def. High Point, 3-0 (25-15, 25-13, 25-22)
IPFW def. Cleveland State, 3-1 (25-17, 29-27, 17-25, 25-21)
Cleveland State def. UC Irvine, 3-2 (25-19, 20-25, 28-26, 16-25, 15-12)

The Vikings won two of three matches at their own Invitational to claim the tournament title. In Saturday’s tournament-clinching match, CSU handed UC-Irvine its first loss of the season. Ally Beck was named the MVP of the tournament after notching 31 kills, 23 digs and seven blocks in the three contests. Christina Toth was also named to the All-Tournament team after finishing with 24 kills, 12 digs and eight blocks.

Green Bay at Auburn Active Ankle Challenge
Results:
Green Bay def. Troy, 3-1 (20-25, 31-29, 25-23, 25-19)
Green Bay def. Auburn, 3-2 (27-29, 26-24, 17-25, 25-22, 15-12)
Green Bay def. Mercer, 3-0 (25-22, 25-16, 25-17)

The Phoenix won all three of their matches at the Active Ankle Challenge to win the title. Leah Van Zeeland (44 kills, .311 attack percent, 34 digs and nine blocks) was named the MVP of the tournament, while Katie Mroczenski (15 blocks) and Mikaela Gunderson (40 kills and 12 digs) joined Van Zeeland on the All-Tournament team.

Milwaukee at Akron Invitational
Results:
Milwaukee def. Niagara, 3-0 (25-19, 25-20, 25-18)
Milwaukee def. Tennessee Tech, 3-1 (25-21, 18-25, 25-20, 25-22)
Milwaukee def. Akron, 3-1 (25-17, 24-26, 25-21, 25-15)

The Panthers bounced back from a disappointing opening weekend to win all three matches at the Akron Invitational. Preseason Horizon League Offensive Player of the Year Rachel Neuberger (37 kills, .458 hitting percentage and nine blocks) was named MVP of the Akron Invitational. Taylor Golabowski (54 digs) and Nicole Latzig (20 kills and 11 blocks) joined Neuberger on the All-Tournament team.

Oakland at Syracuse’s Candlewood Suites Invitational
Results:
Oakland def. Rutgers, 3-1 (26-28, 25-23, 25-22, 25-17)
Colorado def. Oakland, 3-0 (25-22, 25-26, 25-22)
Oakland def. Syracuse, 3-1 (25-12, 18-25, 25-22, 25-16)
Oakland def. Stony Brook, 3-0 (25-13, 25-18, 25-23)

Oakland claimed three of its four matches at the Syracuse Invitational this weekend. Taylor Humm was named to the All-Tournament team after recording double-doubles in three of OU’s four matches. She finished the tournament with 52 kills and 54 digs.

UIC hosted UIC Invitational
Results:
UIC def. Marshall, 3-2 (25-22, 26-28, 25-23, 21-25, 15-13)
UIC def. Chicago State, 3-1 (25-14, 25-23, 13-25, 25-16)
Denver def. UIC, 3-0 (25-20, 25-23, 25-21)

The Flames won two of their three matches at their own invitational to finish in second place. MaryKate Imrie was named to the All-Tournament Team. Imrie, who is averaging 11.36 assists per set this season, finished the weekend with 143 assists, 21 digs, five kills, four total blocks and three service aces. Imrie currently ranks sixth in program history with 2,868 career assists.

Valparaiso hosted Popcorn Classic
Results:
Valparaiso def. Army, 3-1 (25-20, 22-25, 25-20, 25-19)
Valparaiso def. Eastern Michigan, 3-2 (26-24, 24-26, 25-20, 20-25, 15-5)
Valparaiso def. Rhode Island, 3-0 (25-23, 25-19, 25-23)
Valparaiso def. Iowa, 3-1 (25-19, 25-23, 24-26, 25-23)

Valparaiso won the Popcorn Classic to improve to 8-0 on the season, matching the best start in program history. The Crusaders improved to 8-0 by defeating Iowa, 3-1. It was the program’s first home win over a Big Ten team. Junior Morgan Beil (2.60 kills/set on .271 hitting and 13 blocks) was named Tournament MVP, while redshirt junior Kelsey Victor (40 kills and 18 blocks) and sophomore Kelsey Berrington (averaged 6.50 assists and 3.25 digs per set) joined Beil on the All-Tournament Team.

Wright State at Lafayette Tournament
Results:
Wright State def. Saint Peter’s, 3-2 (25-13, 19-25, 25-22, 15-25, 15-13)
Lafayette def. Wright State, 3-0 (27-25, 25-23, 25-19)
Lehigh def. Wright State, 3-1 (19-25, 25-18, 25-23, 25-20)
Wright State def. Fairleigh Dickinson, 3-1 (25-16, 25-21, 22-25, 25-9)

The Raiders went 1-1 on both days of the Lafayette Tournament to move to 3-6 on the season. Heidi Splinter paced WSU with 52 kills on the weekend, while Emily Meng had 172 assists in 16 sets (10.75 per set).

Youngstown State hosted YSU Invitational
Results:
Youngstown State def. St. Francis (Pa.), 3-1 (25-21, 25-18, 23-25, 25-14)
Tulane def. Youngstown State, 3-1 (18-25, 25-23, 25-18, 25-22)
Toledo def. Youngstown State, 3-2 (25-22, 17-25, 25-18, 19-25, 15-6)

Youngstown State opened its invitational by defeating St. Francis, 3-1, but the Penguins could not muster a victory on Saturday falling in two hard-fought matches. Missy Hundelt, a preseason All-Horizon League selection, recorded the 1,000th kill of her career during the match against YSU. She is just the 11th player in school history to eclipse 1,000 kills and currently stands in a tie for ninth in school history with 1,005.