Central Michigan University
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Western Michigan
Chippewas Rally, Down Western for First MAC Win
10/2/2016 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Zach Libby, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - The Central Michigan volleyball team rallied from a 13-11 deficit in the fifth set Sunday to beat Western Michigan at McGuirk Arena and claim its first Mid-American Conference victory of the season.
Jordan Bueter had 16 kills and Laura Wilson added 14 was CMU nailed down its first five-set victory of the season and snapped a four-match losing streak. The Chippewas improved to 7-9 overall, 1-3 MAC. It was the fourth straight loss for Western Michigan, 5-12, 0-4.
"It was an exciting match," said CMU coach Mike Gawlik, who coached his first match in McGuirk Arena on Friday, a 3-0 MAC loss to Northern Illinois. "I thought both teams played really well at times and I liked the result of our group. A couple of big-time plays happened in our favor; we were fortunate for maybe a couple big breaks and I thought we stepped up in the moment."
The Broncos used a 14-3 run to take the first set, 25-18. CMU rebounded to claim the second, 25-19, and the third, 25-11. Western came back to take the fourth, 25-9, as CMU committed 13 errors.
"We got blown out in set four, it wasn't pretty," Gawlik said. "Honestly, I addressed the elephant in the room. We weren't good that set. But it doesn't really matter heading into set five, we needed to refocus in a similar way that Western Michigan found a way to refocus after dropping the ball in set three."
The Chippewas surged past the Broncos, scoring the final four points of the fifth set. Senior setter Kathia Sanchez, who had 41 assists, closed it out with her fourth kill of the game.
Freshman Megan Kern led Central Michigan with 28 digs, while Beuter had 17, and Paige Carey recorded six blocks. CMU hit at a .130 clip in the match.
CMU plays host to Eastern Michigan on Thursday, Oct. 6, at 7 p.m., and then goes to Kent State on Saturday, Oct. 8. Both are MAC matches.
