CSU volleyball stumbles with eight losses to start season – The Cauldron
Cleveland State University (CSU)’s volleyball team has kicked off its 2025-26 season.
It has been a struggle this year for the Vikings. In precedent, Cleveland State volleyball has been a bright spot for the school’s athletic program. This year, however, that does not appear to be the case.
The standing record is 2-14, 2 wins and 14 losses. CSU has not had a campaign opener this bad since 2008, where only one win was had after 10 games of play.
What’s wrong?
CSU has experienced numerous issues with hitting percentage this year.
A generally good percentage for a volleyball team falls somewhere between .250 and .350. The highest hitting percentage the Vikings have achieved in a game this campaign is .222 in just their second winning match this campaign against Kent.
The attack efficiency is also unfortunately represented in the form of errors over the course of the campaign. In 1,226 attempts across their first ten games, CSU has committed 204 errors, leaving their hitting percentage .113 for the campaign, while their opponents have been at a fairly healthy .240.
One particularly rough match saw CSU hit at a negative percentage, -.044, while Tulsa University, an admittedly strong team, posted a percentage of .405. Cleveland State has been decisively behind in almost every major statistical category.
Teams like The University of Colorado, The University of Tulsa and American University are stiff competitors for any college team in America.
Not over until it’s over
This is not to say that the Vikings are without hope. Following a two-game win streak over Duke University and Kent State University in mid September, a wind of change may have blown behind them.
Head Coach Chuck Voss, entering season 26 with CSU volleyball, boasts a resume that few in the league can match. With five Horizon League regular-season titles, six tournament crowns and multiple 20 win seasons, Voss is a proven coaching veteran.
Also, Cleveland State Defensive Specialist Vayda Delventhal (Sophomore) has been a force on defense, having been named one of the Horizon League volleyball players of the week after averaging nearly 20 digs a game across three matches.
The week thereafter, CSU saw 2022 newcomer of the year Laken Voss (Now senior), record her one thousandth career kill.
Is it over?
However bright the September stretch of back-to-back wins has seemed for Cleveland State volleyball, the team has yet to really leave the hot-seat. To open this year’s Horizon league tournament, CSU has yet to win a game, dropping five straight matches.
For faithfuls of Cleveland State volleyball, this season does not appear to be one to remember, as the chance of a comeback slips further and further away.The team’s next match will be Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, at 7 p.m. against Purdue Fort Wayne.