Central Michigan University Athletics
CMU Looks to Ride Momentum Wave
9/18/2014 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
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Jared Porter, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - After recording its first two victories of the season last weekend, the Central Michigan volleyball team looks to keep momentum going as it heads to the Cincinnati Invitational on Friday and Saturday.
"We knew we had the ability to win," junior middle blocker Angelique White said after practice Wednesday. "But actually getting it done let us know that we have the potential that we knew we had all along.
"It also gives us momentum going into this next weekend. We have the mindset to go in and 3-0 every team."
The Chippewas (2-7), who went 2-1 last weekend at the Evansville Invitational, play Charleston Southern (5-6) on Friday morning, then take on Tennessee State (4-7) Friday afternoon. CMU concludes the invitaitonal Saturday morning against host Cincinnati (6-3).
Then it's on to Mid-American Conference play. The Chippewas are home for their first two league matches, Eastern Michigan on Thursday, Sept. 25, and Ball State on Saturday, Sept. 27.
"This weekend is very important because it is our last competition before we begin MAC play," White said. "We need to build as much momentum as we can before we start conference play."
"Our job this weekend is to go out and assert ourselves," coach Erik Olson said. "As individuals, our job is to put our best foot forward. The strong voice has to overcome the weak voice. We need to ask ourselves, are things happening to you, or are you making things happen? Those are the things we're trying to teach to a young team."
Olson said there are areas the Chippewas upon which the Chippewas must improve.
"We're continuing to try to work on serve-receive and work out our defensive deficiencies," he said. "We got a lot of balls up last weekend, but I didn't like the quality of the digs. We couldn't run a great transition offense because of it."
Defensively, the Chippewas are averaging 15.1 digs per set, and they have tallied 81.5 blocks this year, an average of 2.3 per set.
Olson said he is pleased with CMU's blocking thus far, but he continues to keep his team focused on technique as they face opponents with different attack styles.
"We've worked on blocking this week against different offensive schemes," Olson said. "Our blocking stats are good right now. However, this team could be better. I would like to see this team in the top two or three (in the MAC) this season in blocks. Kristen Reenders is one player that is doing a phenomenal job for us. She continues to get better every single day with her digs."
Reenders, a junior defensive specialist, is averaging 4.86 digs per set, which ranks 39th nationally.
Junior outside hitter Siraya Windsor leads Charleston Southern with 153 kills, averaging a team-best 3.92 per set, while junior middle blocker Meredith Parrot has recorded 146 kills.
Tennessee State has struggled defensively, recording 50 total blocks compared to their opponents' 100. The Tigers have 255 errors when on the attack, 59 more than their opponents.
Cincinnati is riding a four-match win streak, the final three of which came last season at the Art Carmichael Invitational, hosted by Rhode Island. Emma Roberson leads the Bearcats with 109 kills (a 3.41 per-set average).
"We're going to face a diverse field of competition this weekend and we have to come out ready," Olson said, adding that the fact that the Chippewas are scheduled to play a morning match, on back-to-back days, could pose a challenge.
"We had a difficult time in our morning match last weekend against IUPUI," he said. "It's tough playing morning matches, but we have to overcome that because the majority of our matches this weekend will be in the morning.
"There are three parts to this game: mental, physical and emotional. Emotionally in the morning, you've got to go hard. I can't change our practice slot. We have classes. We're student-athletes. The only thing I can do is challenge them."
Olson said he is excited for his team's opportunity to execute this weekend and he is particularly looking forward to redshirt freshman outside hitter Taylor Robertson's opportunity to "spread her wings."
"Robertson has had a great week of practice," he said. "I worked with her one-on-one with her blocking for about an hour on Monday and she did a great job. She is a game-changer and a beast when she gets things going. If you put some boxing gloves on her, then she is going to knock out some people."
