Central Michigan University Athletics
Chippewas Open Season At Home
8/25/2003 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Aug. 25, 2003
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MOUNT PLEASANT -- The Central Michigan University volleyball team will kick things off the 2003 campaign this weekend when it hosts the Super 8 Classic. The tournament will be in Rose Arena. The Chippewas will face Wisconsin-Green Bay on Friday, Aug. 29, at 7 p.m. CMU will then play IPFW at 1 p.m., and Illinois-Chicago at 7 p.m., on Saturday, Aug. 30.
It is the second straight year that the Chippewas have opened the season hosting a tournament. Last year, CMU went 0-3 in the Chippewa Classic.
Fifth-year head coach Elaine Piha is ready to get the season underway after three weeks of practice.
"I am excited to get things started," said Piha. "We have spent a lot of time playing against each other in practice and I cant wait to see how we do against other teams." The Chippewas have plenty to be excited about this year with several top players from last season including six starters.
"I am pleased with the players that we have returning," said Piha. "They have shown good improvement and provide great leadership for our young players."
Piha brought in 10 freshmen to this year's squad to add depth to the strong core of veteran players.
The large freshman class has put in many hours of practice and is now ready to see action in the season-opening tournament.
"I can't wait to see our freshmen in live action on the court," said Piha. "They have put in their time in practice and I think they are ready to compete."
The advantage the Chippewa players, returnees and freshmen alike, will have this weekend is the home court advantage.
"Playing the first weekend at home is definitely going to help us out," said Piha. It will be nice for the players, especially the freshmen, to be able to sleep in their own beds."
ACROSS THE NET
The Chippewas run a style of offense that Piha feels will give the other teams at the Super 8 Classic some trouble.
"We run a fast offense," explained Piha. "The teams that we are playing aren't used to that style of play and we should be able to give them some trouble."
Wisconsin-Green Bay -
Under head coach Debbie Kirch, the UW-Green Bay volleyball team improved its win total for the fourth straight year in 2002, finishing 17-18.
Kirch and the Phoenix return a pair of first team All-Horizon League seniors, as well as a two-year starter at setter.
The third-place finish in Horizon League in 2002 was the best in school history, as Kirch and the Phoenix also advanced to the league tournament semifinals for the second straight season.
The Phoenix won the only meeting with the Chippewas in 1999, 3-1.
IPFW -
The Mastadons of IPFW are coming off a season in which they fell just short of a .500 winning percentage, going 16-18.
IPFW returns all six starters from last year's team. Senior Sarah Leffers returns after leading the team with 443 digs last season.
This is the first meeting between IPFW and CMU.
Illinois-Chicago -
Most would be hard pressed to find a tougher 1-2 punch among the volleyball ranks in the Horizon League than University of Illinois at Chicago senior outside hitters Teaha Shepperd and Lindsey Filkins.
The duo has accumulated more than 2,100 kills in their three seasons together and helped the Flames to a record of 20-14 in 2002, finishing the campaign ranked eighth in the Midwest Region.
Both figure to play a prominent role in UIC in 2003.
The Chippewas own a 4-1-1 all-time record versus the Flames.
CHIPPEWAS BY POSITION
Outside Hitters -
The outside hitting position has the most depth on the team. There are seven Chippewas listed at the position.
Melissa Reynolds (Port Huron/Sr.) and Emily Lovejoy (Traverse City/Jr.) are locked into the starting spots after both had strong performances last season.
Others competing at the outside position are Kristen Buter (Muskegon/Fr.), Katie Dum (Indianapolis, Ind./So.), Aislinn Hayes (Haslett/Fr.), Katie Kayga (Ortonville/Jr.) and Layla Gilmore (Ridgeway, Wis./Fr.).
Right Side Hitters -
The right side hitters have had more to practice and experiment with this year. Tamara Fant (New Baltimore/So.) was the only left-handed hitter on the 2002 squad. This season, Fant is joined by Jesse Miller (Paris/Fr.) who is also a lefty on the right side. JoAnna Ritsema (Charlotte/Fr.) will play the right side, too.
Defense -
CMU's defense will be led by sophomore Ali McCrite (New Albany, Ind.) who set a school record for digs last season as the starting libero.
Newcomer Mary Ochmanek (Wyandotte) will see time on defense and will provide the Chippewas with a scoring opportunity with her jump serve.
Middle Hitters -
The middle will be another strong position for CMU this season. Senior Liz Passen (Fishers, Ind.) is physically ready to perform after being sidelined with injuries last season.
Freshmen Meghan Moore (Elwell) will also see significant playing time in the middle. She is the most heralded of the 2003 recruiting class after being named "Player of the Year" by the Lansing State Journal, Saginaw News, and Morning Sun.
Setters-
Shaleene Glombowski (Marysville) returns for her senior season after having an outstanding junior year.
She served up the second-most assists in a season by a Chippewa in 2002 (1,491). Backing up Glombowski will be second-year player Jaimeson Whitman (Midland).
