Central Michigan University Athletics
Chippewas Are Champions at Thunder Invitational
9/21/2011 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
East Carolina Box Score | Marshall Box Score
HUNTINGTON, W.V. - Kaitlyn McIntyre finished the day with 29 kills leading the Central Michigan volleyball team to a tournament championship.
Starting off the day, the Chippewas (7-4) defeated East Carolina 3-1 followed by a win over Marshall 3-0. This is the first tournament championship for the Maroon and Gold this season.
Dulude took home Tournament MVP and her second all-tournament honor this season. Named to her third All-Tournament team this season was libero Jenna Coates while Kelly Maxwell earned her first all-tournament honor.
In the first set the Pirates (2-6) scored first, but it was the Chippewas who scored five straight points jumping out to an early lead. ECU battled back and the set was tied up at 9-9. CMU found itself down 9-11, but quickly turned things around with four straight kills from the front line giving the Chippewas a 19-16 lead. One final kill from Katie Schuette handed the Chippewas a 25-22 set one win.
In set two the Maroon and Gold bolted out of the gate to a 9-0 lead that was tapped off by five serving aces from Lindsey Dulude. With the score at 19-11, the Chippewas closed the set with kills from McIntyre and Danielle Gotham to win 25-12.
The Pirates would not go away quietly as they broke out to a 8-4 lead in set three, forcing CMU into a timeout. An ECU error and a kill from Gotham cut the lead to 8-6. A few errors on behalf of the Chippewas allowed the Pirates to break off to a 17-10 lead. The Maroon and Gold battled back with three kills from Dulude and one from McIntyre making the score 20-14. They continued to fight with big kills from Gotham and Hallie Enderle cutting the lead to 23-21. An ace from Maxwell and another Pirate error had the set at 24-24. Two quick points from ECU and set three went to the Pirates 26-24.
Similar to set two, the Chippewas took an early 6-1 lead. A kill by Schuette and two kills from Dulude pushed the Chippewa lead out 12-6. ECU rallied back cutting the lead to 13-12. Two attack errors from the Pirates and two kills from Gotham helped CMU push their lead back up to 20-15. Finishing the set with three straight kills, McIntyre handed the Chippewas the fourth set with a 25-16 win.
Match two of the day saw the Thundering Herd (2-9) and Chippewas facing off. CMU led the entire first set with kills from Dulude, Schuette and McIntyre to take the set 25-21.
After trailing early in set two, back-to-back blocks by Enderle gave CMU a 7-6 lead over the Herd. The lead was short lived as Marshall jumped ahead of the Chippewas 11-7. CMU fought back and, with a kill by Enderle, the match was tied up 15-15. The Maroon and Gold pulled ahead off of an ace from McIntyre. Two kills and a block by Dulude hand the Chippewas a 25-22 set two win.
Both teams traded points back and forth until the Chippewas went on a 5-0 run to gain a 12-9 lead over the Herd. Marshall rallied back to tie the set up 17-17. Schuette scored two of the final five points in the set giving CMU a 25-22 set three win.
Dulude finished the day with 23 kills and five services aces. Schuette chipped in on the CMU offense with 16 kills. Maxwell racked up 69 assists on the day while Coates finished up with 29 digs for the defense.
Against Marshall, the Chippewas had a season-high .448 hitting percentage and out hit their opponents in both matches.
Central Michigan takes to the court in its first Mid-American Conference game at Northern Illinios Friday, Sept. 23 at 8 p.m.
