CMU volleyball splits pair with Ohio in nearly identical matches
Central Michigan volleyball was in Ohio this past weekend to take on the Ohio Bobcats. Playing in two exciting five-set matches, it split the series, which brought its overall record to 19-6 and its Mid-American Conference record to 10-3.
Match 1
Down two sets to none and at risk of getting swept for the first time this season, CMU found itself in trouble.
The Chippewas bounced back to win the next two sets and force a fifth set.
In a tight fifth set that featured 12 ties in the first 24 points, CMU finished on a 3-1 run to get its first win against the Bobcats in four years, bringing its win streak to six.
“We’ve gotta have a quicker start and not put ourselves in that position,” head coach Mike Gawlik said. “I was really proud of our team’s grit and our ability to just weather the storm and come back fighting in sets three and four, and ultimately in set five as well.”
CMU’s offense saw familiar faces making an impact. Senior outside hitter Lauren Schrock who had 12 kills, junior outside hitter Natalia Rejment with 14 kills, freshman middle blocker Grace Thomas with 12 kills and redshirt junior outside hitter/middle blocker Abby Olin with 15 kills.
Match 2
In almost identical fashion, the Chippewas fell in the first two sets, but rallied back to take the next two.
The result was not the same though. Up 7-5, Central Michigan gave up a 6-0 run that eventually doomed the comeback as it lost 15-13, coming up just short of two straight reverse sweeps.
Showing up on offense once again was Schrock with 17 kills, Olin with 16 kills, and Thomas with 11 kills. After winning the defensive player of the week, Rejment anchored the defense with 17 digs and five blocks.
“It's a quick turnaround, but it's a quick turnaround for Eastern as well, nobody cares that we’re tired,” Gawlik said. “The priority for us has to be to recover, certainly physically after playing five sets in back-to-back days. So we’ve gotta make sure we recover our bodies, but we gotta recover our minds too because it's an emotional rollercoaster to be in matches like that.”
CMU travels to Ypsilanti on Tuesday to face the Eastern Michigan Eagles. The match starts at 6 p.m.
