CMU volleyball aims to hit stride against MAC East opponents
The Central Michigan volleyball team looks to hit its stride this week with all the players back in the lineup.
The team travels to face Bowling Green and Miami (OH), a pair of Mid-American Conference East opponents.
“We’ve got some girls back coming off of injuries and we’re playing to be us,” said sophomore libero Jenna Coates. “Going out there and being us is our main focus.”
CMU has faced three injuries to senior middle blocker Kaitlyn Schultz, junior outside hitter Val DeWeerd and junior right side hitter Jocelyn VerVelde.
“We’ve only been coaching this group for four weeks,” said head coach Erik Olson. “We’re getting better and we know we haven’t peaked yet.”
The Falcons are playing for more than just a MAC Championship this season.
“Bowling Green is playing for their coach (Denise Van De Walle), who is retiring after this season,” Coates said. “They’re playing hard ball and putting up a fight.”
The MAC East division brings on a new challenge for CMU because it’s used to the fast offense in the MAC West. The East division tends to run slower offenses and Olson said slower doesn’t necessarily mean worse.
“They do some weird things and I think it’s just to throw off defenses by creating chaos and confusion,” Olson said. “They play hard and run a slower offense.”
Miami
The Chippewas get the RedHawks on Saturday.
“Miami always seems to play together as a team,” Olson said. “They pass much better than last season.”
The Chippewas haven't seen a MAC-East team this year and Bowling Green and Miami are .500 in conference play.
CMU sits fifth of of six in the Mac West division and can't afford to lose ground, Coates said.
“These games are pretty big,” Coates said. “They are both in the East and we just have to take these two.”
This week marks the first time the Chippewas hit the road since their five-week road trip that ended two weeks ago.
“It doesn’t really bother us,” Coates said. “It’s nice being at home, but as long as we stay together and positive, we’ll be fine.”
