By Michael Comodeca
The Cleveland State women’s volleyball team has won three consecutive Horizon League Championships over the past three years. Additionally, the team has made the national tournament four times overall with the last three coming over the past three years. The Vikings have not been able to secure victory in those national tournament’s games so far, but look to get that ever elusive first national tournament victory this season.
After going 22-8 last season, Cleveland State won the Horizon League regular season and conference tournament, which marked the third year in a row achieving those accomplishments.
The Vikings have several key players returning this season who played major roles in last years regular and conference championship. A few of those contributors are Sara Skeens, Emily DeGeorge and Coach Chuck Voss.
Skeens earned Honorable Mention All-Horizon League during the regular season and Horizon League Volleyball Tournament Most Valuable Player in the tournament, while DeGeorge was named to the All-Freshman Team and Coach Voss is the reigning HLVB Coach of the Year.
The Vikings hosted the Cleveland State Invitational to open the season. Cleveland State won the tournament by winning their three matches over Binghamton, Montana State and Canisius.
This past weekend Cleveland State traveled to the state up north to compete in the Michigan Invitational.
They played well but came up short only winning one match while losing two. Cleveland State lost to host Michigan, who was ranked No. 23, beat Harvard and was defeated by Eastern Michigan.
Cleveland State does not compete in its first conference game until Sept. 21 against Youngstown State University. This will be the first game for the Vikings on their journey towards winning their fourth regular season title in a row.
Cleveland State has 11 letter winners returning, including four starters from last year’s championship team. Coach Voss has manned the sideline for the past 19 seasons, which includes nine straight winning seasons and seven 20-win campaigns during his tenure.
The Vikings won their fifth Horizon League Regular Season and fifth Tournament Championship under Coach Voss. They also became one of two teams to win three straight Horizon League Tournament titles.
Cleveland State’s seniors are attempting to win their fourth straight conference and tournament championships this season. This would be a first in the Vikings volleyball history that a graduating class won all four years while competing on campus.
Cleveland State was unanimously voted to win the Horizon League regular and Conference championships this year by the coaches of the Horizon League.