Central Michigan University Athletics
Bobcats Slip Past Chippewas 3-2
11/6/2011 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
ATHENS, Ohio - Kaitlyn McIntyre had a career high 24 kills as the Central Michigan volleyball team lost a close 3-2 match against Mid-American Conference East Division leader Ohio Saturday night.
The final set had both teams trading points until the 9-9 mark. The Bobcats (18-9, 10-3 MAC) were able to generate a 5-1 run, with two blocks from Katie Post, to take a 15-10 set five win.
"It was a good night because we were able to get our outside hitters going," said head coach Erik Olson. "We were without our three-time All MAC Player, Kaitlyn Schultz due to injury, so I thought that Lindsey Dulude and Kaitlyn McIntyre both played outstanding. Our outside hitters had to grow up tonight, and they did. As the match went on we were a little too outside driven, thus allowing OU to tally too many blocks toward the end of the match."
The Chippewas (14-11, 7-7 MAC) took an early lead in the first set following two kills by McIntyre. The Bobcats went on a 6-0 run to claim their first lead of the night at 12-10. Following a CMU timeout later in the set, McIntyre recorded two kills along with Danielle Gotham who added one and the set was tied at 20. OU made the final push and claimed a 25-23 set one win.
The visitors once again jumped out to an early 5-2 lead in set two. OU put together another small 5-0 run and built a 10-9 lead, but CMU responded with a 5-0 run itself and the set was tied at 20. Lindsey Dulude finished the set for the Chippewas as she hammered home back-to-back kills and set two went 26-24 in favor of CMU.
After falling victim to a 5-0 run from the Bobcats and trailing 12-8 in set three, Gotham made sure her team responded. The Chippewas went on a 9-0 run in large part to four block assists and three kills from Gotham. Jocelyn VerVelde added a kill and finished the set with a block solo as the Maroon and Gold won set three 25-18.
Following an 8-0 spurt midway through the fourth set, OU found itself with a comfortable 16-8 lead. A block by Kelly Maxwell stopped the run, but it was too late as her team fell 25-15 in set four.
As a team the Chippewas recorded 62 kills, four more than their opponent. They out dug the Bobcats 82-76 but it was OU who recorded more blocks and aces.
Dulude and McIntyre combined for 42 out of the team's 62 total kills. Gotham added nine kills while hitting .304 and adding eight block assists. Jenna Coates was once again the match-high dig leader with one shy of her career best, 27 digs.
The Maroon and Gold have two matches left to try to claim a spot in the MAC tournament when they travel to Toledo and Ball State next weekend, with both matches beginning at 7 p.m.
