Central Michigan University Athletics
Chippewas Open Volleyball Season At Amerihost Classic
2/15/2000 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Aug. 27, 1999
The Central Michigan University volleyball team (0-0, 0-0 Mid-American) begins the 1999 season on Sept. 3-4 at the Amerihost Classic, a tournament hosted by Wisconsin-Green Bay. The Chippewas open on Friday, Sept. 3, against IUPUI (0-0, 0-0 Mid-Continent) at 5 p.m. The tournament continues on Saturday, Sept. 4, when CMU faces host Wisconsin-Green Bay (0-0, 0-0 Midwestern Collegiate) at 2 p.m., and Montana (0-0, 0-0 Big Sky) at 7 p.m.
The Chippewas feature a youthful lineup in 1999 with only four letterwinners returning from last year's squad that finished with an 11-16 overall record and an 8-10 MAC slate. The returning letterwinners include senior right side hitter Tennille Hileski (Allegan), senior defensive specialist Erin LeSage (Livonia), junior middle hitter Jennifer Mitchell (Lake Odessa) and junior setter Jessica Rocho (Honolulu, HI).
Head coach Elaine Piha begins her second season at the helm of the Chippewa program. She guided Central to the 11-16 finish last season as an interim head coach. The 1998 team made a four-match improvement in the win column from the previous year. Piha was a CMU assistant for two seasons before assuming the head job. She came to CMU from Missouri Valley College where she was a head basketball coach and assistant volleyball coach. Piha is joined by second-year assistant Teri Wilholt and first-year graduate assistant Sara Plinska.
GEARING UP: Central began preparations for the 1999 season on Aug. 15th when it started two-a-day practice sessions. "We've been pleased with what we've seen in the practices," Piha said. "The team is working hard and we're battling a lot of minor injuries right now. We've had a great deal of camaraderie even though there is a lot of competition for positions."
FRESH ATTITUDE: The Chippewas hope to use their youthful energy and attitude to surprise some teams this season. "Our young team has come in with a lot of confidence about the season. The newcomers came in and were not intimidated but respectful of the veterans and the returners are doing a great job leading the team," Piha said. "We are going to be a new team to most opponents -- they will probably only remember Hileski and Mitchell. People are going to be surprised by our power."
FIRST CHALLENGE: Central faces a challenging non-conference schedule with three tournaments and a two-match series against Oakland. The Chippewas are looking to jell before the MAC season begins. "We'd like to get through the lineup and see who plays well together side-by-side," Piha said. "We are going to be a young, solid team so consistency is going to be important. We hope to establish that consistency early by maintaining ball control and setting the pace of the match."
TOP GUN: Junior Jennifer Mitchell returns as CMU's top offensive threat. She is the leading returner in both kills and blocks after averaging 2.69 kills and 0.98 blocks per game. The 6-0 middle hitter also posted 1.94 digs per game a year ago. She has started all 53 matches in her young career.
AT THE NET: Tennille Hileski joins Mitchell as CMU's one-two punch at the net. Hileski was third on the team with 0.58 blocks per game last season. She will be counted on more offensively after notching 98 kills in 1998.
RUNNING THE SHOW: Jessica Rocho will control the tempo of CMU's offense from the setter position. The junior saw action in 31 games in 1998 after starting 14 matches as a freshman. Rocho averaged 9.19 assists per game last year.
SOLID STARTER: Senior Erin LeSage returns as a starter at defensive specialist. She is CMU's returning dig leader after notching 2.40 digs per game last season. The versatile LeSage can play several positions and she is one of the top servers on the team.
STEPPING UP: With only four returning letterwinners, the Chippewas are looking for some new faces to step up and contribute. Sophomores Kristin Tack (Saginaw) and Jodi Jesion (Oregon, OH) have a year of experience under their belts and will have the opportunity to contribute. Middle hitter Kendra DeVries (Fremont) and right side hitter Suzanne Smith (Kalamazoo) headline a handful of redshirt freshmen who will be counted on this season. Also in their first seasons of competition are outside hitters Stacy Bida (Royal Oak), Meghan Jourden (Howell) and Jennifer Trott (Canton).
STEPPING IN: Newcomers Leslie Schroeder (McComb, OH), Jenny Young (Plymouth) and Shaleene Glombowski (Marysville) are all true freshmen who Piha sees stepping into the lineup immediately. Front liners Schroeder and Young provide power at the net while setter Glombowski could see time in more of a defensive role.
THE CRYSTAL BALL: The Chippewas were picked to finish fifth in the MAC West Division according to the preseason coaches poll. Miami was the favorite to win the East Division and the postseason tournament and Ball State was the pick in the West. " We're right where I would expect us to picked," Piha said. "The other schools will look at us as losing most of our starters They are a big loss, but this young group feels they can come in and be contenders in the conference race. It will be a slow process and we know that, but this team believes in itself."
MAC STACKS UP: The MAC had four teams receive votes in the preseason national poll. Miami was the top vote getter with 17, followed by Northern Illinois (five), Ball State (two) and Ohio (one). "Having four teams receive votes in the national poll says a lot for the level of competition we will face in the MAC this season," Piha said.
MAKING THE GRADE: The Chippewa spikers also work hard in the classroom. The team was just honored for their accomplishments in the classroom last season. CMU was one of 25 Division I schools to receive the AVCA Team Academic Award. The Chippewas carried a 3.33 grade point average and were one of only four MAC schools to be tabbed. "This is one of the most prestigious awards we can receive," Piha said. "The award shows our athletes are competitive in all walks of life, not just on the court. It demonstrates that our athletes are responsible and can handle the pressures of being both a student and an athlete."
