Volleyball wins final match of weekend
It was a tale of two matches for the Central Michigan volleyball team this weekend.
After coming out slow against Oakland University (3-2), eventually losing the match, the Chippewas (2-3) came out strong against Wright State (0-5). They swept the Raiders, winning 25-14 in game one, 25-13 in game two and 25-21 in the game three while resting players.
“Our offense was crisper and Wright State committed a lot more errors,” said head coach Erik Olson. “Oakland was a lot better and it had a lot more options.”
The offense may have been crisper, but the CMU defense was strong in its match against the Raiders.
Sophomore defensive specialist Jenna Coats recorded 12 digs and was named to the All-Tournament team.
“It’s a big deal for a libero to make the All-Tournament team, it’s normally hitters and setters on there,” Olson said. “It wasn’t necessarily because of her digs, it was about her passing and setting. They have been outstanding.”
Coats wasn’t the only Chippewa named to the All-Tournament team. Freshman outside hitter Kaitlyn McIntyre was as well.
“I really have my teammates to thank," McIntyre said. "We passed the ball very well and that opened up a lot of things. We established our middle and that opened up somethings and we had good setting.”
Sophomore middle blocker Danielle Gotham recorded nine kills and five block assists while fellow sophomore, setter Kelly Maxwell, lead the team with 32 assists.
CMU came out to another slow start against Oakland, losing games one and two 25-18 and 26-24.
But once again the Chippewas would battle back, winning games three and four 25-19 and 25-21 respectively, forcing a decisive game five, but lost 15-12.
“We need to do a better job at game five,” Olson said. “Game fives are important because those championship games are five set and we need to do a better job at that.”
So far this season CMU is 0-2 in game fives and 3-12 since 2009. The last time CMU won a match that went to five games was Nov. 17, 2009 against Eastern Michigan.
“In the locker room he (Olson) told us we’re going to get it done and we did that, but we didn’t win game five so it was another heartbreaker,” McIntyre said.
Despite the loss it wasn’t all bad.
“We passed the best all season and (Catherine) Ludwig made a lot of good choices,” Olson said.
The senior setter Ludwig had 45 assists, five digs and two block assists.
The two All-Tournament team members posted big numbers with Coats recording 20 digs and McIntyre posting 20 kills.
“We gained more experience and learned how to come out right away and getting things done our way,” McIntyre said. “That’s going to be the main thing, learning how to play with urgency.”
