Central Michigan University Athletics
Spikers Finish Preseason, Begin MAC Season Play
9/17/2001 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Sept. 17, 2001
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MOUNT PLEASANT -- The Central Michigan University volleyball team is looking to get back into action in its final preconference match and opening MAC matches.
"We're excited to get back on the court. Practice within the squad is getting old," said head coach Elaine Piha.
Central plays at Oakland on Sept. 18 at 7 p.m. "You never know how Oakland will do. The team has improved from last year. We know that we have to go in and play hard," said Piha.
CMU takes on Akron as its first MAC opponent Sept. 21 at 7:30 p.m. "We're calling this 'Surprise Week' because we think we'll do well considering that we have so many new people. This weekend will be a good gauge on what the conference will look like," said Piha.
Akron took a tournament victory, 3-0 sweep, at the Hokie/Nike Classic at Virginia Tech. "Akron is defense oriented and aggressive. It is a young team, too, and tends to run a quick offense. We will try to serve to take Akron's middle out of the offense," said Piha.
CMU rounds out the weekend at Eastern Michigan on Sept. 22 at 3 p.m. "Eastern has eight new people, but its setter is back. I'm not sure what we'll see from Eastern. Our plan is to keep a rhythm from starting. We need to control the match from the start," said Piha.
The Chippewas were set to take on Michigan, Virginia Tech and Montana at the Michigan Nike Invitational Sept. 14-15. The event was canceled due to the tragedy that took place Sept. 11 in New York and Washington D.C.
The Chippewas look to improve on their 3-3 (0-0 MAC) record after competing in the Marquette University Challenge in Milwaukee, Wis., Sept. 7-8.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS: CMU takes on Oakland Sept. 18 on the road. Oakland is 4-3 overall after finishing 2-2 at the Cleveland State Invitational. Senior Cloretta Porter was named to the all-tournament team. She posted 43 kills, 17 digs and seven total blocks at the tournament. She currently leads the team in kills with 73.
Akron's Katie Kuzior was named MAC "Player of the Week" and MAC Scholar-Athlete after taking Tournament MVP honors at the Hokie/Nike Classic at Virginia Tech Sept. 7-8. Kuzior posted 30 kills, 15 digs, nine total blocks and notched a hitting percentage of .634. The Zips swept the tournament 3-0 beating host Virginia Tech, East Carolina and University of Maryland-Baltimore County for the tournament title. Akron is now 6-1.
Eastern Michigan played last at the Pepsi Volleyball Challenge hosted by the University of Michigan Sept. 7-8. The Eagles finished 1-2 in the tournament and are 4-2 overall. Senior Courtney Huffman had a strong showing with 34 kills, 18 digs and two aces. Shayna Munson tallied 30 kills, four block solos and four block assists at the tournament.
THE SERIES: CMU is 14-0 against Oakland. They played twice last season. Central won the first match 3-0 and the second match 3-1.
The Chippewas are 9-7 versus Akron. The last time the two played was Oct. 20, 2000. Central lost in three games.
CMU is 44-7 against Eastern Michigan. Central won both matches against Eastern last season, 3-2 and 3-1.
HEAD COACH ELAINE PIHA: CMU head coach Elaine Piha is in her fourth season as head coach. Piha was a CMU assistant for two seasons before assuming the head job on an interim basis for the 1998 season. Piha is joined by second-year assistant Kathy Jewell and first-year graduate assistant Jessica Phillips. Piha sports a 35-58 career coaching record.
UP NEXT: Central faces Western Michigan on the road Wednesday, Sept. 26, and returns to Mt. Pleasant for the home opener on Sept. 28 against Miami. The Chippewas will also take on the Kent State at home on Sept. 29.
ON THE TUBE: Select CMU home volleyball matches will be airing on CMU's student television station, MHTV, Channel 34, on a tape-delay basis. Following is a list of the games scheduled to be televised:
Sept. 28 vs Miami (OH), Oct. 10 vs Toledo, Oct. 27 vs Buffalo
