Central Michigan University Athletics
Volleyball Enters Stretch Run Needing Wins
11/3/2016 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Cullen Maksimowski, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. — Simply put, it's do or die for the Central Michigan volleyball this weekend if it wants to keep alive its postseason aspirations.
Heading into the final four-game stretch of the Mid-American Conference season, the Chippewas (9-15 overall, 3-9 in the league) sit in a three-way tie for eighth place in the MAC stadings with Western Michigan (8-17, 3-9) and Eastern Michigan (8-17, 3-9). The top eight teams advance MAC Tournament.
CMU plays at Western on Friday at 7 p.m. and at MAC West-leading Northern Illinois (19-5, 11-1) at 8 p.m. on Saturday. The Chippewas close the regular season with games against Eastern Michigan and Ohio.
"We've put our backs against the wall here against some teams down the stretch, Western Michigan being one of them," CMU coach Mike Gawlik said. "We need to separate ourselves from the pack and we've got a couple opportunities in our last four to play head-to-head with some of those teams.
"Our future is within our own hands and that's the position you want to be in coming down the stretch. We just have to play some high-level volleyball and really execute on our side of the net."
The Chippewas defeated the Broncos, 3-2, at McGuirk Arena on Oct. 2. Two nights before, the Chippewas were swept by Northern Illinois.
"It a rivalry game," said Gawlik, who is in his first season as the CMU coach. "I know they're going to be excited, we'll be excited for it and I'm expecting a lot of passion. I'm going to Kalamazoo for the first time and I expect it will be a well-fought match"
CMU junior outside hitter Jordan Bueter leads the conference in aces with 44 and ranks fourth in kills, averaging 3.42 per set.
Senior setter Kathia Sanchez leads CMU with 735 assists and freshman libero Megan Kern has 332 digs to lead the Chippewas defensively. Junior middle blocker Paige Carey leads CMU in blocking, averaging 0.92 per set.
Sydney LeMay leads the Western Michigan attack and ranks fifth in the MAC averaging 3.32 kills per set.
NIU dropped its first MAC match last weekend to Miami (Ohio), ending its win streak at 14 games. The Huskies rank first in the MAC in hitting percentage (.263), blocking (2.50) and are second in opponent hitting percentage (.189).
Jenna Radtke leads NIU and ranks second in the league with a .390 hitting percentage.
