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#1 Chicago State 3, #2 FDU 0
(25-16, 25-17, 25-19)
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Chicago, IL — The Cougars are still roaring.
 
Just days after they claimed their first-ever Northeast Conference (NEC) regular season crown and cleaned up shop in the league’s postseason awards, Chicago State went the distance and put the exclamation point on an impressive debut season in the conference by hosting the tournament trophy for the first time.
 
The top-seeded Cougars accomplished the feat in convincing fashion with a straight-set sweep of second-seeded FDU.
 
Most impressively, Chicago State nearly pulled off the victory in wire-to-wire fashion. The Cougars faced just one deficit on Championship Saturday when FDU took a 6-5 advantage in the eventual decisive set. The home squad would eventually fire off a commanding 7-0 run in that set to stretch a one-point lead to seven and at 18-11 and ultimately put the set — and match — out of reach.
 
Chicago State, which went 13-1 in its first season in the league, brings a 19-9 overall record into its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance. The Cougars lone defeat during conference play came in the second regular-season matchup with FDU.
 
The Cougars were powered by an all-around team effort, highlighted by NEC Player of the Year Patrycja Lagida, who added another plaque to her trophy case by earning NEC Tournament Most Valuable Player honors. The sophomore outside hitter followed a 25-kill effort against LIU in Friday’s semifinal with eight kills to finish with 33 on the weekend. 
 
Lagida, who also earned All-Tournament Team honors, was joined on the post-tournament awards podium by Wiktoria Zagumny and Andrea Calderon. The NEC Setter of the Year, Zagumny notched a match-best 31 assists, while Calderon registered 14 digs to tie a match high. 
 
Also putting together spectacular performances were All-NEC members Julieta Sandez and Karly Klaer. The duo finished with 10 kills apiece, with Klaer adding14 digs to complete the double-double.
 
FDU, which was led by NEC All-Tournament Team member Eleonora Tosi, concluded its season with a 22-9 mark. Tallying 10 kills to tie a match-high effort, Tosi was joined on the All-Tournament Team by Emily Van O’Linda, who had 18 digs and six assists on the night.
 
Chicago State will learn its NCAA Tournament opponent during the NCAA Selection Show, which is set to air on ESPN on Sunday, Dec. 1 at 6 p.m.

NEC ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Patrycja Lagida, Chicago State (MVP)
Andrea Calderon, Chicago State
Wiktoria Zagumny, Chicago State
Eleonora Tori, FDU
Emily Van O'Linda, FDU
Camelia Melendez, LIU
Kori McClure, Saint Francis U