CMU volleyball plays first match in McGuirk Arena
The Central Michigan volleyball team was finally able to get back on the court on Saturday, after a disappointing loss in the first round of the Mid-American Conference tournament last November.
The Chippewas hosted their first game at McGuirk Arena after playing the entire regular season at Finch Feildhouse during renovations to the arena.
CMU hosted Ferris State University, which finished the 2010 season with a 18-10 overall record and a 13-6 mark in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, in its annual spring game and were able to pull out a hard fought victory in five sets, 23-25, 25-16, 23-25, 25-22 and 15-13.
“It was really nice getting back into our normal locker room and facilities,” said CMU head coach Erik Olson. “It’s really helped our off-the-court chemistry which is so important for a women’s team.”
This spring has proved to have been a dramatic improvement over last year, when the Chippewas were dealing with several different challenges. It was during that time they learned they would not be able to play their home games in the new arena and would have to locate elsewhere.
“Last spring was almost a negative time for us," Olson said. "Just being displaced and dealing with a young team was difficult. This spring, training has just been going well — everyday we walk out of the gym and feel like we’re getting better and better.”
The small crowd that was in attendance at McGuirk Arena got a sneak peak at next year’s team. The Chippewas featured a balanced attack led by sophomore Katie Schuette and junior Kaitlyn Schultz. CMU also got strong performances from sophomores Jocelyn VerVelde and Lindsey Delude.
Another bright spot for CMU was the play of the young defensive specialists, including Jenna Coates, who saw significant playing time last fall, and Jordan Hinkle, who was redshirted last year.
“This is the importance of the spring game," Olson said. "It gives us a chance to grow as a team and play some players that usually don’t get to play that much.”
The Chippewas will continue spring training throughout March and will be joined by the freshman class this summer in preparation for the new season, set to begin in the fall.
Back in November, three players signed national letter of intents to join the program for the 2011 season. Middle blocker Hallie Enderle (Mankato, Minn.), outside hitter Kaitlynn McIntyre (Beaver Dam, Wis.) and defensive specialist Haley Barker (Clarkston) consist of the Chippewas' recruiting class.
