Chippewas Hit the Road for Two MAC Matches

Oct. 29, 2014

Brent Schriber, CMUChippewas.com

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - As the Central Michigan volleyball team embarks on its second straight Mid-American Conference weekend road trip, the Chippewas are in the same boat they inhabited a week ago.

They need wins to stay in the hunt for a league tournament berth.

The Chippewas (9-13 overall, 4-6 MAC) go to Eastern Michigan (14-10, 5-5) on Thursday, and then to Kent State (12-11, 4-6) on Saturday. Eight teams make the tourney, and CMU is currently among three teams tied for the seventh spot.

The Chippewas defeated Eastern in four sets at McGuirk Arena earlier this season in a match that typifies much of how CMU has performed this season.

"Against Eastern at home, set one and two we were celebrating every point," coach Erik Olson said. "Set three everyone's dead to the world. In set four we brought that energy back and the team was good again. That (energy) is really important to this team's success. They're a feel-good emotional group.

"We're not looking over (Eastern). It's very rare that you sweep, especially Eastern. I don't know how many years you go back. Maybe it's happened only once each way in the last six years where a team swept the other."

The Chippewas have split their two MAC weekend road trips this season. Last weekend, they won at Akron then lost at Buffalo. In early October, they won at Toledo then lost at Ball State.

Senior Katilyn McIntyre continues to lead the Chippewas. She is averaging 3.19 kills per set, which ranks sixth in the MAC. Freshman Jordan Bueter is 10th in the league at 2.87, while Chippewa setter Kylie Copple, another freshman, is in the conference in assists per set at 9.59.

Junior Kristen Reenders ranks second in digs per set at 4.71, while junior Angelique White is tied for the top spot in the league at 1.16 blocks per set.

A key for the Chippewas is consistency.

"I think if this team can get into the tournament, we can do a lot of damage," Olson said.