Volleyball looks to get first win in Youngstown State tournament
The Central Michigan volleyball team looks to improve upon this season’s slow start when it competes in a three-team tournament this weekend at Youngstown State in Ohio.
Although hampered by a 0-3 start to the season, the Chippewas look to rebound at 4 p.m. today when they take on Niagara. CMU will also play a pair of games at 1:30 and 7 p.m. Saturday against Howard and host Youngstown State, respectively.
Head coach Erik Olson feels that his team is ready for the next step in what he calls the ‘process,’ and is hopeful that his team has improved enough this week to be ready for that step.
“The thing we always emphasize to our team is the process and I want to see our process be great,” said Olson. “I am confident that if that process goes well, the by-product will be winning.”
The first team on the tournament docket for the Chippewas is a 2-2 Niagra squad. The Purple Eagles come into the tournament with wins against Hartford and La Salle. Junior Sam Morgan was named Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference player of the week after recording 63 digs last weekend at the LaSalle Invitational.
The other teams on the schedule, Howard and Youngstown State, are a combined 0-7, with YSU fresh off a loss against Mid-American Conference opponent Akron.
Despite an easier schedule than last weekend, sophomore middle blocker Jocelyn Vervelde said that the team is focused more on improving their own skills instead of worrying about their opponents.
“We have been working on keeping the ball alive from the defensive side and being more aggressive on our blocks,” Vervelde said.
Vervelde will look to maintain her strong performance from last weekend, in which she helped pace the team offensively with 18 kills.
Olson feels like this week’s practice has been very important in correcting some areas of inconsistency.
“(In) practice we’re working on continuing to get better and better on one- and two-man blocking and playing a defense around that,” Olson said.
CMU will also look to improve upon a defensive effort that has fluctuated at times, but Vervelde said the practice time has corrected some of those issued and she is confident about the tournament.
“We’re doing well — getting ready for the tournament this weekend,” Vervelde said. “And I am just looking forward to some good competition this weekend.”
