Central Michigan University Athletics
Chippewas Look to Build on Momentum from Western Win
10/5/2016 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Cullen Maksimowski, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. — The Central Michigan volleyball team received a crucial shot in the arm last weekend.
After dropping a straight-setter to Northern Illinois to open the Mid-American Conference schedule, the Chippewas edged rival Western Michigan in five sets to claim their first league win and snap a four-match losing streak on Sunday.
"It was great to get a win against Western on a really big rivalry weekend for our campus," first-year CMU coach Mike Gawlik said. "Football didn't go our way so we wanted to make sure we did our part to win our rivalry and meet expectations.
"I thought we played really well at times, but we have a lot of areas we can improve upon. Overall I was real proud of our group to get a big win and hopefully we'll be able to use it as a springboard as we move forward."
CMU (7-9 overall, 1-3 MAC) will look to carry that momentum into Thursday's (7 p.m.) tilt against Eastern Michigan (7-10, 2-2) at McGuirk Arena.
Much like the Chippewas, who are beginning a new era under Gawlik, the Eagles are also in a transitional period under second-year coach Kimi Olson.
"I think Kimi does a great job," Gawlik said. "She's a little bit farther ahead in the process but they're kind of in a new era as well. I think Thursday night will be a big opportunity for both of us as coaches and our programs to put a stamp on the conference going forward."
CMU sits in fifth place in the MAC West and ranks fourth in the league in kills per set (12.6) and aces (72), and is fifth in hitting percentage (.215).
EMU is fourth in the West and ranks fifth in digs per set (15.29) and sixth in blocking at (1.90).
For the Chippewas to start gaining ground in the league standings, more consistent play from the outside hitting core is paramount.
Junior Jordan Bueter is the biggest piece of the puzzle at the position after leading CMU in kills and earning All-MAC Honorable Mention last season.
"Jordan is a great player and really brings six different skills to the table," Gawlik said. "I think maybe she can grow for us as a blocker a little bi, but when you look at her digging, passing and certainly her attacking and serving, she's constantly putting us into position to score points."
Bueter paces the conference in aces with 29 and ranks fourth in kills per set at 3.16.
Bueter, along with her teammates, has experienced some of the growing pains of learning a new system in the early part of the season.
She's turned a corner as of late, registering a combined 53 kills in her last three matches including a team-high 16 in the win over Western.
"I think you're starting to see her blossom and turn the corner as a player these last few games, but she needs to continue to grow because she is starting to rise to the top of the scouting report, if she wasn't already," Gawlik said. "Teams are realizing that she is a big gun for us and she's going to have to handle when she's got a double block in her face."
Alysa Sutton leads the attack for EMU, averaging 2.25 kills per set.
After Thursday's game, the Chippewas will head to Ohio for a league contest with Kent State (9-8, 2-2) on Saturday (6 p.m.)
The Golden Flashes hold the third spot in the MAC East and have won five of their last seven matches.
KSU ranks third in the in the league in kills per set (13.14) and fourth in opponent hitting percentage (.191). Kelsey Bittinger leads the attack, averaging 3.40 kills per set.
