CMU volleyball swept by BGSU
After a promising first set, Central Michigan volleyball(11-7, 4-3) never found its footing as Bowling Green State(11-7, 5-1) completed the sweep (28-26, 25-15, 25-17) on Friday.
“I thought we came in ready,” said head coach Mike Gawlik. “I felt like the first set was a nail-biter, kind of either way. It was a well-played set. I thought it was probably the best set of volleyball that we've played in MAC play for both sides.”
While CMU shined early, Gawlik believes the Falcons' pressure on the service line propelled them past the Chippewas.
“They just got out in front of us in the (second) set,” Gawlik said. “They really put pressure on us from the service line early and forced us into some tentative swings that they were able to convert into big points… We have to rebound for tomorrow. I think we're a far better team than we brought to sets two and three. And I really thought we played some excellent volleyball in set one. But it's got to be more of a group offensive effort tomorrow.”
Going forward, Gawlik wants to see more production from CMU's middle blockers.
“I think offensively we have to be ready to answer earlier,” Gawlik said. “We never really got our middles going in the game. And Claire Ammeraal usually provides some offense for us as well. And I felt like that connection between our setters and middles just wasn't where it needed to be tonight. We had far too many sets to our left side attackers, it just put so much pressure on them to have to create offense for us, which is difficult against a good defensive squad.”
Freshman outside hitter Natalia Rejment led the team in kills with 11 while adding 11 digs.
Following a tight battle to begin the first set, BGSU went on a five-point run to put them ahead 18-14, causing a Chippewa timeout. CMU came alive following the break and produced a six-point run that started on a kill from senior outside hitter Mallory Hernandez. However, the Falcons held on, taking set one, 28-26.
BGSU continued to roll in the second set, jumping out to a 9-2 lead. The Falcons kept their foot on the gas and extended their lead to 20-9. The Chippewas couldn’t respond as BGSU secured a 25-15 victory in set two.
The Falcons took charge again in the third set, but sophomore outside hitter Krystina Kasson turned things around for the Chippewas. She added four kills in the set to bring them within two BGSU 17-15. However, BGSU continued its momentum and completed the sweep, 25-17.
“We know that (Kasson) can come in and contribute,” Gawlik said. “She brings great energy to the floor. And we believe that people can come off our bench and help influence games, so I thought she did a nice job coming off the bench for us and creating some opportunity.”
The Chippewas will have to rebound quickly as they face Bowling Green on Saturday at 4 p.m.
“We've got to regroup,” Gawlik said. “We've been in the situation the last couple of weeks, losing game one and rebounding for match two and I think we are gonna have to do that again and try to get the split.”
