Big Weekend for CMU Volleyball
10/29/2015 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Cullen Maksimowski, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. — As the Central Michigan volleyball team progresses into the final stages of the season, the Chippewas are staring down a crucial weekend of Mid-American Conference competition.
CMU (10-13 overall, 5-5 in the MAC) will entertain Western Michigan (10-15, 6-4) Friday and Northern Illinios (12-10, 8-2) on Saturday. Both matches begin at 7 p.m. at McGuirk Arena.
NIU and Western hold the first- and second-place spots, respectively, in the MAC West. CMU and Ball State are tied for third.
In the overall standings, the Chippewas and Ball State are tied for sixth place. The top eight teams in the overall standings earn a tournament berth.
"The way the MAC has been this year, we're not out of the possibility of winning our division," associate head coach Theresa Beeckman said. "I think that we have the personnel on our team that we could.
"The way we are all beating up on each other right now in the conference, I certainly think that its anybody's game at this point."
The Chippewas won at Western on Sept. 26. The Broncos are 5-3 since, but have dropped their last two matches, to Ohio and Kent State. NIU is second in the overall standings behind East-leading Ohio. The Huskies swept the Bobcats last weekend and have won six of their last seven.
"We have to execute right from the beginning," said Beeckman. "We don't want it to be a game of runs, we want it to be a game where we assert ourselves throughout the match."
Western libero Hailey Knecht ranks forth in the MAC in digs per set. Middle blocker Nicole Kinser is fourth in blocks per set. NIU leads the MAC with a .239 hitting percentage (CMU is third at .222). The Huskies' T'ara Austin tops the league at 4.28 kills per set, while teammate Jenna Radtke is first in the conference in hitting percentage (.378) and blocks per set (1.26).
CMU sophomore outside hitter Jordan Bueter ranks second in the MAC in aces per set (.39) and sixth in kills per set (3.23).
CMU senior middle blocker Angie White has been sidelined the past two games nursing an ankle injury. Sophomore Paige Carey has seen her role increase as a result.
"Angie (White) has been a huge middle since her freshman year, so it's big shoes to fill," said Carey. "I can never be Angie but I do my best.
"I'd say my biggest strengths right now would probably be my quickness and my blocking. My energy comes from my team, I like playing with girls that have a lot of energy too, and I think we all work really well together. When we're all out there together screaming and cheering it's the best feeling."
White is questionable for this weekend.
Carey is part of a very talented group of Chippewa middle blockers. CMU ranks second in the conference in blocks per set.
"We try to run middles a lot, that's definitely one of our priorities," Carey said. "We also try to run a fast offense, so I think the quickness in general is really putting us up there."
Carey is tied for second on the team in blocks per set (.67) with senior Kalle Mulford. White leads the team with a 1.03 clip.
Beeckman said the thing that makes Carey unique is the amount work she puts in daily.
"Paige just continues to impress us every day with her work ethic and her improvement, I think she had a huge break though in her offensive connection today, I'm excited and we'll see where it goes," she said.
