Central Michigan University Athletics
Volleyball Looks To Right The Ship on Road Trip
10/20/2016 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Cullen Maksimowski, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. — At the midway point of the Mid-American Conference season, the Central Michigan volleyball team has come to grips with a harsh truth. The Chippewas need a different approach.
Looking to snap a three-match skid, CMU (8-12 overall, 2-6 in the Mid-American Conference) will hit the road this weekend for conference matchups with Buffalo (2-19, 1-7) and Akron (5-15, 0-8).
"It's a difference in the neck up in the way we go about our business," first-year CMU coach Mike Gawlik said. "I think that will result in us having some higher execution levels in our games. This is a big weekend for us in terms of redefining what we want to be as a program.
"This an opportunity for us to find our rhythm, 2-6 in the first half is not where we wanted to be, but our goals are still within our sight. We are still in a position to make it into the MAC Tournament and do some damage, so it's all about finding consistency going forward."
CMU plays at Buffalo at 6 p.m. on Friday. Saturday's match with Akron begins at 5 p.m.
Heading into Friday's matchup the with the Bulls, the Chippewas are sixth in the MAC in hitting percentage with at .204 clip.
CMU junior outside hitter Jordan Bueter leads the MAC in aces (32) and ranks sixth in the MAC in kills (3.14).
Junior middle blocker Paige Carey ranks seventh in the conference in blocking (0.96) and leads the team in hitting percentage at .284
Senior setter Kathia Sanchez leads CMU in assists averaging 8.24 per set. Freshman Libero Megan Kern leads the Chippewas defensively averaging 3.48 digs per set.
The Bulls, who have lost five straight, rank fourth in the league in blocking averaging 2.03 per set. Cassie Shadow ranks second in the MAC in hitting percentage (.394) and leads the team on the attack with 2.26 kills per set.
"(Buffalo) has a physicality about them that is really unmatched in the MAC right now," Gawlik said. "When they operate at full-strength they are a challenging team to beat."
After Friday's matchup with Buffalo, the Chippewas will see an Akron team that has yet record a league win but is still a team CMU needs to be wary of, Gawlik said.
"Akron has been taking sets off of really good teams and playing far better than their record would indicate," he said. "They've taken NIU to five sets, they snapped Miami's 28-set win streak so we are going to have our hands full."
