Volleyball schedule filled with 20-plus-win records
The Central Michigan volleyball team will have ample opportunities to play quality competition in 2011.
The upcoming schedule includes five teams that won 20-plus games in 2010.
Head coach Erik Olsen wants CMU to have “its defining moment” in 2011 like other Mid-American Conference teams had last season.
In-state rival Eastern Michigan defeated Michigan State in East Lansing, and Toledo beat the University of Michigan.
“I think that’s a big hurdle to get past and beat those types of teams,” Olsen said.
The opening weekend won’t be as daunting of a task as it went through last season in the Purdue Mortar Board Premier, but it includes good competition in the Iowa Invitational on Aug. 26 in Iowa City, Iowa.
“I think that might have been too much of a full throttle start out the gate,” Olsen said about last season’s tournament game against Purdue. “We’re not opening up easy on opening weekend, but it’s not going to be quite as top notch as last season.”
The opening tournament will include games against Iowa, Marquette and Saint Louis.
The Chippewas travel to four different tournaments in the early part of the season before they gets their first opportunity to play at McGuirk Arena.
Last season, their run was completed by the time McGuirk Arena was ready to be opened for use, so the team made do with Finch Fieldhouse.
“(McGuirk Arena is) a gorgeous facility,” Olsen said. “I like the fact that we’ll be playing in air conditioning.”
Its first McGuirk Arena game will be held at 7 p.m. against Eastern Michigan in the Chippewas' third MAC game.
There’s no question that CMU faces a lot of talented teams in 2011, but Olsen does not schedule games for no reason. He expects his team to play well against teams that won 20-plus games last season.
“I expect to compete really well on opening weekend and I hope to see us really take some strides in the pre-season.”
