Central Michigan University Athletics
Offense Ignites As Chippewas Sweep Akron
10/25/2009 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
MOUNT PLEASANT -- Up 1-0 in the first set, senior Kaitlyn Hurt went back to serve for the Central Michigan volleyball team.
She didn't stop until CMU had piled up a 22-0 lead in the opening frame and the Chippewas swept the Akron Zips in Mid-American Conference action at Rose Center on Saturday.
CMU hit .579 in the opening set and .313 in the match, while holding UA (11-13, 3-7 MAC) to -.450 in the first frame and .031 in the match.
"We're playing well as a team right now," head coach Erik Olson said. "Earlier in the year we were getting great play from a few people at various times but couldn't put it all together. Now everyone is starting to come together. With 11 underclassmen on this roster, we knew that was a process we'd have to go through and with the schedule we've had, where we are right now is a real credit to this team's toughness."
Junior Lauren Krupsky paved the way with 15 kills and sophomore Kaitlyn Schultz added 11 in just 20 swings and chipped in seven blocks. CMU had 45 kills on 99 swings in the match. Hurt and Lindsey Dulude each had three aces.
"A big part of tonight's match was our serving," Olson said. "We were very tough and aggressive and that created a lot of free balls. We were very good in the first set and we had to play hard the last two sets, but we maintained a high level of play."
Stephanie Budde (31 assists) drove the offense and added four blocks, three kills and two digs.
"Our middles have really come alive the last two weeks and Krupsky has been playing well all season," Olson said. "We've played very well offensively the last two weekends, and you have to give a lot of credit to Budde for that."
Senior Alexis Lonneman had a match-high 12 digs to pace the defense.
The Chippewas (13-7, 6-4 MAC) are now 4-0 at home this season and will host Eastern Michigan and Kent State next week.
