Central Michigan University Athletics
Volleyball Wins Loco's Invitational
9/17/2006 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
CMU vs. South Alabama Box Score
CMU vs. Birmingham Southern Box Score
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A total team effort led the Central Michigan University volleyball team to the Loco’s Invitational title in dominating fashion as CMU won every game on the way to a 3-0 record in the event.
The Chippewas now stand at 9-2 after tallying three-game wins over South Alabama and host Birmingham Southern on Saturday. The squad had three members honored for their performance over the weekend as junior setter Courtney Kersten was named the tournament MVP while senior middle blocker Alison Baker and senior opposite Mary Ochmanek earned all-tournament honors.
CMU would average 16.33 kills, 16.11 digs, 2.64 blocks, 2.89 service aces and hit .263 as a team over the weekend with five players averaging at least 2.75 kills per game. CMU’s defense was also stout as it allowed opponents just 10.11 kills per game and a attacking mark of .064.
This is tournament victory also caps the best start since 1985 when CMU opened the year 10-1 over the team’s first 11 matches. The Chippewas also remained undefeated in neutral site matches this season and the victory over Birmingham Southern was the squad’s first true road victory since a win at Buffalo in 2004.
CMU 3, South Alabama 0 (30-27, 30-18, 30-24)
A trio of players reached double-digits in kills to lead CMU to a victory over South Alabama. Kate Fissel led the way with 14 kills while Baker had 13 and Sarah Warner tallied 11. Baker also shared the top hitting percentage with Ochmanek as both hit .500 on the night. The Chippewas would finish with 55 kills and an attacking percentage of .274.
Kersten tallied 48 assists in the victory while adding two service aces, a team-high she shared with Whitney Evers and Warner. Alexis Lonneman led the defense with a match-high 12 digs and Ochmanek chipped in 11 digs.
In the team stats, the Chippewas would finish with more kills (55-37), digs (48-46), service aces (7-2) and hitting percentage (.274-.147) while South Alabama had more blocks (7.0-4.0).
CMU 3, Birmingham Southern 0 (30-26, 30-27, 30-19)
Late rallies in the first two games against Birmingham Southern helped CMU wrap up a perfect weekend.
The Chippewas trailed in game one, 26-24, before the squad put together a 6-0 run the capture the game. That comeback was led by senior Kristen Wiloch, who came off the bench to serve CMU to the victory. BSC again had a lead late in game 2, 27-26, but again the Chippewas prevailed as CMU ran off four-straight points. Ochmanek was the key force in this rally with two kills, an assist and a block to win the game.
Baker led the offense with 13 kills and a hitting percentage of .391 while Ochmanek added 11 kills and an attacking mark of .421. Warner and Evers both added nine kills with Evers also tallying a team-high five service aces and four blocks.
Kersten was again solid with 47 assists and eight digs while Lonneman was a force in the back row with a match-high 22 digs.
CMU dominated most of the team stats as the team finished with more kills (52-32), digs (61-48), service aces (8-5), blocks (8.0-4.0) and hitting percentage (.250-.062).
The Chippewas return home next weekend to face a pair of MAC rivals. The squad hosts Western Michigan on Friday at 7 p.m. and Northern Illinois on Saturday at 7 p.m. Both matches will be in Rose Arena.
