Central Michigan University Athletics
Volleyball Bounces Back With Sweep of Huskies
11/8/2008 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
DeKALB, Ill. -- Lauren Krupsky led three Central Michigan volleyball players in double-figure kills as the Chippewas rebounded from a tough loss with a 3-0 win over Mid-American Conference foe Northern Illinois on Friday.
The sophomore is averaging 3.50 kills over her past eight sets after tallying 13 in the sweep of the Huskies. Freshman Kaitlyn Schultz added 11 kills (.529 hitting percentage) and Sarah Warner 10 (.381) in the victory. Kaitlyn Hurt continued her season of efficiency, spiking six kills in eight swings (.750).
"Lauren's biggest attribute is that she's so aggressive, but what impressed me tonight was that she had great shot selection," head coach Erik Olson said. " Her potential is so high, she just seems to keep getting better."
CMU hit .322 while holding NIU to .145, getting revenge for a Huskies sweep earlier in the season.
"We were outstanding at the net tonight," Olson said. "We used our defense in conjunction with our block very well. We also served a lot tougher."
Alexis Lonneman tallied 20 digs to pace Central’s defense which also got 10 from Whitney Evers, who approached a triple-double for the second time in three matches (nine kills, 10 digs, six blocks). Lonneman has registered 20 digs in three straight matches (74 total).
The two teams traded points throughout the first set, with only one lead greater than three points. Tied at 24, a Huskies attack error gave CMU a chance to claim the victory, but a service error and attack error swung the momentum and the lead to NIU, 26-25.
Tied at 29, the Chippewas’ talented middle blockers Schultz and Hurt claimed the set for CMU with back-to-back kills and a 31-29 victory. The kill was Schultz’s sixth of the set. Warner and Krupsky each added five.
The second set saw CMU grab a 14-9 lead and never look back, claiming a 25-13 victory. Krupsky’s seven kills spurred the lopsided victory as the Chippewas hit .571 in the set.
Evers helped close out the match with six kills in the third set, along with three blocks. Hurt added four blocks, as CMU used a 17-11 cushion to claim a 25-22 victory and the sweep.
Setter Stephanie Budde tallied 43 assists in the win, along with a pair of service aces.
"We grew as a team in terms of our mental toughness after last night's loss," Olson said. "Tonight we shifted into another gear, and we were the more aggressive team. We didn't let up, and it paid off with a well played match."
The win keeps Central (18-9, 11-3 MAC) within a game of first-place Western Michigan in the West Division with two games remaining. CMU closes the regular season next week with a road match against Eastern Michigan and a home tilt versus Ohio.
