CMU volleyball goes 3-0 on opening weekend
Central Michigan volleyball traveled to Normal, Illinois, for the opening weekend of the 2024 season where it went 3-0 in the Linda Herman classic.
Match 1
In the first match, the Chippewas took down the Lindenwood Lions in five sets. The first set was back and forth the whole way. Down 22-20, CMU went on a 5-0 run to take the first set.
Central Michigan had firm control over the second set from start to finish, leading by as much as eight at one point.
The Lions took an early lead in the third set and held onto it until the Chippewas turned the tides late and took the lead, but a late push from Lindenwood gave it the third-set victory.
The fourth set was close and hard-fought. Tied at 24, the Lions got two-straight kills to win the set, forcing a fifth set.
The fifth set was just as tight as the fourth. Tied at 14 and facing match point, CMU got two straight kills to win the match.
Junior outside hitter Natalia Rejment came up big for the offense with 20 kills. Freshman defensive specialist Hannah Langton and freshman middle hitter Grace Thomas powered the defense with Langton’s 34 digs and Thomas’s 10 blocks.
Match 2
In the second match, Central Michigan beat the Illinois State Redbirds in four sets. The Chippewas took the first set 25-15 in part thanks to a 7-0 run and later a 4-0 run that secured the victory.
Set two was a game of runs, highlighted by an 8-1 run as Central Michigan took set two 25-20.
The third set was a close battle with 10 lead changes and 16 ties. ISU pulled away late to take the 27-25 victory.
In the fourth set, CMU used a 9-1 run to jump into the lead. The Redbirds made a late push, but CMU closed it out with a 4-1 run to win the set.
Junior setter Allie Korba found her teammates all night long with 23 assists.
Match 3
In their final match, the Chippewas beat the Bellarmine Knights in straight sets. CMU was dominant throughout, winning 25-10 in the first set, 25-12 in the second set, and 25-15 in the third set.
The communication was on point for the offense as the Chippewas had 36 kills on 36 assists.
Central Michigan is back in action next weekend at the SUNY-UAlbany Tournament in Albany, New York. Match one starts at 11:30 a.m. on Friday.
