Central Michigan University Athletics
Chippewas Defeated at Akron, 3-1
10/21/2012 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
AKRON, Ohio – The Central Michigan volleyball team fell in four sets to the Akron Zips Saturday evening, 3-1.
The Chippewas (12-9, 6-4 MAC) showed their regular form in a strong second set 25-12 victory to tie the match, 1-1, with the Zips (12-10, 5-5 MAC), but couldn't complete the comeback in the final two sets with narrow 25-20 and 26-24 set losses to close the match. The Zips also claimed the first set 25-19.
Sophomore Kaitlyn McIntyre led the way with 11 kills, followed closely by senior Lindsey Dulude, junior Danielle Gotham and freshman Angelique White with 10 apiece. White also recorded six block assists and a solo block. Junior Kelly Maxwell recorded a game-high 41 assists and junior Jenna Coates dug a game-high 24 attacks.
Neither team led by more than four points in the back-and-forth final fourth set, coming when the Chippewas at one point took a 14-10 advantage, and the two teams were three points apart on just seven rallies. Behind three early kills apiece from Gotham and Dulude, the Chippewas did not trail in the fourth set until the Zips scored six straight to take a 16-14 lead.
The Chippewas battled back to tie the match at 20-20 on a kill by freshman Jordan Timmer and took the lead on the next point with a kill by Dulude. After an Akron kill and a CMU attacking error gave the Zips a 22-21 advantage, the Chippewas responded with another kill from Dulude to tie the match. Back-to-back kills by Akron set up match point at 24-22, which the Chippewas successfully fended off twice to tie the match, 24-24. Back-to-back errors by the Maroon and Gold sealed the set and the match, 26-24.
Dulude finished the set with six kills, while White and Gotham tallied four each as the Chippewas hit their game-high .218 in the set.
A slow start in the first set doomed the Chippewas, falling behind 10-3 early and as far back as 19-9. From that point on the Chippewas made a comeback to pull within four at 23-19, but the Zips scored two to claim the set. McInture led the way with five kills.
The two sides traded points in to open the second set, playing to an 8-8 tie in the early going. From that point on the Chippewas took command of the set, rattling off a 17-4 run to close the set and to regain the momentum. Senior Val DeWeerd slammed three kills, while McIntyre, Dulude and White had two apiece. The Chippewa defense recorded six blocks, including three block assists by White, to limit the Zips to a -.250 attack percentage.
Central Michigan started slow in the third set to fall behind 5-1 before going on a 9-2 run to claim a 10-7 lead. The Chippewas continued to lead until the Zips pulled even at 15-15 and scored on six successive rallies to take a 21-15 lead. The Chippewas pulled within four, 23-19, on a service ace by Dulude and fought off a set point on 24-19 to again pull within four, 24-20, but the Zips finished off the set with a kills for a 25-20 victory. Gotham led the Chippewas with four kills and a block assist.
The Chippewas continue Friday at 7 p.m. at Western Michigan in the third match of a five-match road tour.
