With Mid-American Conference play finally here, it’s unclear who returns to action this weekend as the Chippewas hit the road to face Northern Illinois and in-state rival Western Michigan.

There are three significant injuries that have sidelined potential starters for some time, and this week expects to be no different.

Junior middle blocker Jocelyn VerVelde began the season with an injured finger, but returned for the Maroon and Gold Match at the beginning of the season. It was sometime around then where she suffered a rib injury. She has been in and out of the lineup since, but expect her to be doubtful for this weekend's matches against NIU and WMU.

Senior middle blocker and preseason All-MAC nominee Kaitlyn Schultz injured her calf during the second tournament at Oakland University. She saw some playing time in the Butler Tournament, but didn’t play at all in the Marshall Tournament one week later. However, she has been practicing this week, but didn't scrimmage.

Another player out last week, but practicing this week, is junior outside hitter Val DeWeerd. She also is suffering through a calf injury, a similar injury she faced earlier in her career, but on the opposite leg. She didn't scrimmage as well.

All three aren't expected to play, but no decisions have been made.

“We’ve had more people play off our roster than ever before,” said head coach Erik Olson. “We’ve got a lot more experience going into MAC play than normal.”

The injuries have almost been a blessing in disguise to Olson, and yes he would love to say Schultz, VerVelde and DeWeerd are certain to play this week but they’re not. However, he can say that the team rallied around them and performed the best volleyball yet in their absence, winning their last four matches.

“I think it’s always good to get other players experience on the floor,” said junior outside hitter Lindsey Dulude. “The game atmosphere is a bit different then practice.”

Sophomore defensive specialist Jenna Coates, who as a libero, has earned All-Tournament awards in each of the last three weeks.

“I always tell our defensive specialist that they are the backbone of the team,” Olson said. “If we don’t pass the ball, then we can’t run our offense.”

Olson has witnessed the development of sophomore setter Kelly Maxwell. She earned her first All-Tournament award last weekend and now ranks No. 125 in the nation in assists per set with an average of 9.70 and a total of 320.

“She is learning and she is getting better every day,” Olson said. “She has done a great job of learning on the run and (Catherine) Ludwig has done a great job helping her.”

Olson calls junior outside hitter/middle blocker Katie Schuette one of the most athletic girls he has seen, recalling a standout moment for her during the end of a set against Marshall.

“She says to us on the bench before game point, ‘I want the ball,’ and I don’t get that very much,” Olson said. “They put a triple block on her and she went shoulders over the top of the net and crusheed the ball straight down over the block.”

Sophomore middle blocker Danielle Gotham has stepped up in the absence of Schultz and VerVelde. Gotham was named to the Hawkeye Challenge All-Tournament team and has a few double-digit kill matches.

“She played outside her comfort zone this weekend, playing right side, but she played well,” Olson said. “She’s a very solid offensive blocker.”

Dulude put together a nice match despite the team's injuries, being named tournament MVP at Marshall with 24 kills, five aces and 17 digs against George Mason.

“I don’t feel like there is any added pressure (with injuries) to be honest,” Dulude said. “This weekend it didn’t feel any different with the new lineup because we always practice together.”