Central Michigan University Athletics
Chippewa Volleyball Team Leads Off Weekend With MAC Heavyweight
10/13/2016 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Cullen Maksimowski, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. — The good news? The Central Michigan volleyball team starts a two-game homestand on Friday. The bad news? It's against two of the top teams in the Mid-American Conference.
The Chippewas (8-10 overall, 2-4 in the MAC) run into MAC East-leading Miami (Ohio) (14-4, 6-0) on Friday at 7 p.m., followed by a matchup with Bowling Green (13-6, 3-3) on Saturday (7 p.m.) at McGuirk Arena.
"It's a big home weekend for us," CMU coach Mike Gawlik said. "Miami comes in probably as good of a MAC team that I've seen so far. What makes them so good is their balance in every area of the game.
"They've got five players that average over two kills per set and five players that average over two digs per set so they share the load both offensively and defensively. It can be a challenge to game plan when you play teams like that."
The Redhawks started the season 1-4, but come to Mount Pleasant riding a 13-match win streak. They had won 28 consecutive sets until dropping the third in a four-set win at Akron last Saturday.
Miami ranks second in the MAC in kills per set (13.22) and digs (16.43), and are third in hitting percentage (.241), assists (12.8) and blocks (2.10)
CMU enters the weekend ranked sixth in the MAC in hitting percentage (.207) and aces per set (1.26).
Junior outside hitter Jordan Bueter leads CMU in kills this season averaging 3.22 per set and tops the MAC with aces 31.
Junior middle blocker Paige Carey leads CMU with a .289 hitting percentage and ranks sixth in the league in blocking at .98 per set.
Senior setter Kathia Sanchez leads CMU with 529 assists and freshman libero Megan Kern leads the Chippewa defense, digging 3.34 balls per set.
Miami middle blocker Paige Hill leads the MAC in blocking (1.19) and is third in hitting percentage. Katie Tomasic leads the team in kills (2.66).
Following Friday's matchup with the Redhawks, the Chippewas will see a Bowling Green team with a much different style of play.
"I think Bowling Green might be a little bit less balanced than Miami, but still a really tough team to contend with," said Gawlik. "There are a lot more straight forward with what players are getting the ball for them and we need to answer that call."
The Falcons come in leading the league in hitting percentage (.259), assists (13.34), kills (14.19) and digs (16.82).
BGSU's Jelena Sunjic leads the MAC in kills (4.38), Katie Scholten leads the MAC in assists (10.65), and Madeline Garda leads the MAC in digs (6.63).
"We just need to find some consistency when we are playing these types of teams," Gawlik said. "We've played tough against some really good teams and had some tight sets with with NIU and Kent State.
"I think our good is very good and when we are playing at our best we're a tough team to beat. We just need to find a way to get there more consistently."
