Volleyball starts season with Maroon & Gold Game
The Central Michigan volleyball team opens the 2011 season on Saturday, with the Maroon and Gold match at McGuirk Arena.
“It’s kind of like a spring football game,” said head coach Erik Olsen. “There will not be referees, but there will be line judges.”
This will be the first season played inside at McGuirk Arena for the Chippewas.
The match will give them the chance to adjust to their new arena; seats out and fans watching.
Last season the team held its games at Finch Fieldhouse while McGuirk Arena was being prepared for the winter seasons.
“I like it (McGuirk arena) a lot,” said senior Kaitlyn Schultz. “It feels like a great place to play. The atmosphere feels great.”
But moving into a new arena has its downfalls.
“A big part of this event is to get our support staff ready for this building,” Olson said. “We have yet to play on this court with everything pulled out, which changes everything.”
The event also gives an opportunity for defensive coach Dave Zelenock and new offensive coach Thersea Beeckman to coach their athletes in a game setting.
Beeckman was recently a head coach at Delta College and an assistant at Ferris State University.
“She has been amazing,” Schultz said. “She is a great addition to our team.”
Since 2007, CMU has held an alumnae scrimmage, but this season is different because the alumnae weren’t able to find a team that could compete with the recent team.
A few alumni may play on defense, but the offense will stay the same.
This also will be the first time that the freshmen enter a game atmosphere at the collegiate level. CMU freshmen include, Haley Barker from Clarkston, Hallie Enderle from Minn. and Kaitlyn McIntyre from Wis.
The trio makes up CMU’s fourth straight nationally ranked recruiting class, meaning all 14 athletes on the roster are a part of a nationally ranked recruiting class.
