(GREEN BAY ATHLETICS) DAYTON, Ohio – In a five-set battle on Sunday afternoon, the Green Bay volleyball team fell in the Horizon League Championship to the No. 3 seeded Cleveland State Vikings (25-11, 25-27, 25-27, 25-18, 11-15). It’s the second consecutive year the Phoenix have been HL Tournament runner-ups.
Diane Pichelman and Cora Behnke each put up double-doubles to lead the Phoenix. Pichelman had 13 kills and 11 blocks, and Behnke had 17 kills and 12 digs. Danilynn Schell and Katie Schulz also helped out the offense, finishing with 16 and 14 kills apiece. Gardner once again finished with 20+ digs, racking up 25. Calli Gentry had 23 digs of her own to go with 46 assists.
The Vikings won their sixth HL championship in program history and were led by a game-high 23 kills by Liberty Torres. Cleveland State will find out who they play in the NCAA Tournament during tomorrow night’s selection show.
HOW IT HAPPENED
SET 1 | The Phoenix grabbed control of the set-one lead at 2-1 and dominated the rest of the way, taking the set 25-11. Green Bay’s largest lead was 15 points at 24-9. The Phoenix was hot offensively, racking up 13 kills with a .448 hitting percentage.
SET 2 | The Phoenix started the second set hot as well, jumping out to a 6-1 lead after a Behnke kill gave GB the five-point lead. The Vikings stabilized, bringing it back just two at 24-22 when they scored five out of the last six points to take the second set, 27-25.
SET 3 | Cleveland State made it two sets to one by taking the third set by the same score as the second, 27-25. The third was very similar to the second set, with the Phoenix holding a 24-19 lead before a late CSU run won it for the Vikings.
SET 4 | Green Bay broke their two-set losing streak and forced a fifth set with a 25-18 victory in set number four. The Phoenix never trailed after they jumped out to a 7-2 start to the set. GB’s defense was a key to success, blocking five Vikings attacks in the frame.
SET 5 | Cleveland State won the fifth set comfortably 15-11. With the two teams tied at 3-3, CSU rattled off a deciding 6-1 run en route to their HL Championship win.
GAME NOTES
» Pichelman, Behnke, and Gentry each secured double-doubles.
» Green Bay had four players in double figures in kills.
» Green Bay had four players in double figures in digs.
» Gardner had a team-high three aces.
» Pichelman had a match-high 11 blocks for the second time in the HL Tournament.
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