Central Michigan University Athletics
Chippewas Fall to Spartans in Home Opener, 3-1
9/20/2008 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
MOUNT PLEASANT Whitney Evers registered her 1,000 career kill, but Michigan State spoiled the celebration and Central Michigan’s home opener as the Chippewas dropped a hard-fought 3-1 (27-25, 25-15, 20-25, 26-24) decision to the Spartans at Rose Arena on Saturday.
“Michigan State did a great job pressuring us with their serves,” head coach Erik Olson said. “We did a good job attacking and spreading the ball around the court, but we have to get better when attacking single blockers.”
CMU had a 25-24 edge in the first set, but MSU battled back for the next three points to take a 1-0 advantage. The Chippewas were off-balance for the entire second set, hitting just .033 and fell behind 2-0. Evers registered her milestone kill in the second set, one of five for that frame, to bring the Chippewas within 17-10, but they would get no closer.
After the break, the Chippewas took the third set 25-20, in part thanks to six kills by freshman middle blocker Kaitlyn Schultz, as CMU hit .435 as a squad. Schultz finished with a team-high 12 kills, while Evers added 11.
In the fourth set, the Spartans ran off seven straight points with the Chippewas at set point for a 26-24 win to close out the match. MSU’s Vanessa King smashed three of her 17 kills over the match’s final seven points. Jenille Rathje’s 21 kills for the Spartans led all players.
Michigan State out-hit the Chippewas, .288 to .208. There were 21 combined blocks, with the Chippewas holding a 12-9 edge in stuffs. Evers paced the field with seven.
Four Spartans reached double-figures in digs, as MSU held a 54-41 edge defensively. Alexis Lonneman registered a team-high 15 digs for CMU.
Setter Stephanie Budde finished with 33 assists.
Central has now dropped four in a row after opening the year with victories in six of its first seven. CMU will play its final non-conference match prior to Mid-American Conference play on Tuesday, as the Chippewas face Illinois-Chicago at Rose Arena. The match is set to begin at 7 p.m.
“We wanted to create a tough early season schedule to prepare us for the MAC slate, and I feel we did that,” Olson said. “When I put the schedule together, I knew it would be a challenge but I’m happy with the progress we made. I just wish we could have picked up that signature win that would help progress the image of CMU volleyball.”
Notes
Whitney Evers now has 1,006 career kills. She is 63 behind Christie Gruszynski (1993-96) for 10th most in school history.
With her eight kills tonight, Kate Fissel now sits at No. 7 on the all-time CMU kills list with 1,127. She is 138 kills behind No. 6 Terri Phillion (1979-82) who has 1,265.
With the loss to Michigan State, CMU is now 4-1 under head coach Erik Olson in home openers.
The “Rock the Rose” promotion was a huge success, drawing 943 fans to Rose Arena to watch the Chippewas face the Spartans.
