Central Michigan University
Akron
Volleyball Wins in Dramatic Fashion After Letting Lead Slip
9/24/2004 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Sept. 24, 2004
MOUNT PLEASANT - After letting a two-game lead slip away, the Central Michigan University volleyball team shook off a slow start in the deciding set to defeat Akron, 3-2, on Friday night.
Game scores were 30-18, 30-28, 14-30, 28-30 and 16-14.
The Chippewas improve to 4-8 overall, 1-1 in the MAC while Akron falls to 8-5 overall, 0-1 in MAC play.
CMU used a .338 hitting percentage in the first two games to take the openers, but the Chippewas took a step back in game three with a -.075 mark. Game four was tight throughout and CMU trailed 26-23 before battling back to tie it at 28 each. However, following a timeout, Meghan Moore committed a serving error and Emily Lovejoy followed with an attacking error to send the match to a dramatic game five.
The Chippewas trailed by a three-point margin on two occasions early in the frame but managed to tie it at 11. The teams exchanged points up to 14 when it was locked again. An Emily Lovejoy tip attempt was blocked but it fell out of bounds by inches giving CMU a one-point advantage. The Chippewas then scored the winning point after CMU blocked an Akron attempt back into the Zips' court. An Akron scramble ensued and in the scramble, Akron tried getting a free ball attempt over, but instead, it went into the net ending the match.
"We're happy with this win," head coach Erik Olson said. "We're still trying to prove to ourselves that we can play some great ball. We're going to have to learn to sustain it for longer periods. A week ago it was just a game and a half. Tonight we started off with two good games in-a-row. Now we've got to work towards three-in-a-row."
Lovejoy led CMU with 24 kills and 12 digs while Melanie Klein added 15 kills and three block assists. Jesse Miller 10 kills and five block assists as CMU's three leading attackers all hit over .300 for the match.
Jaimeson Whitman set CMU to the victory with 58 assists and nine digs. Meghan Moore notched eight kills and seven block assists.
Akron hit .224 for the match compared to CMU's .218 mark and the Zips outblocked the Chippewas, 12-10.
CMU was led defensively by Ali McCrite's 16 digs while Jillian Bouchey added eight digs.
Three Akron players were also in double figures in the kill department with Emily Kocinski posting 20, including the Zips' final two points in game five. Jenn Stewart added a double-double of 18 kills, 16 digs and five block assists.
The Chippewas complete a three-match homestand on Saturday night when Kent State invades Rose Arena. Match time is set for 7 p.m.
