Chippewas Split On Day 1 At Central Florida

Friday, September 16

Orlando, Fla.

10:00 AM

Central Michigan University

Central Arkansas

9/16/2016 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball

Sept. 16, 2016

Box Score

Cullen Maksimowski, CMUChippewas.com

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Central Michigan volleyball team split its first two matches Friday in the Holiday Inn Orlando East/UCF Challenge, losing to Central Arkansas in the opening round before defeating UNC Asheville.

The Chippewas (6-5) fell in straight sets to the Bears, 25-18, 25-20, and 25-17, ending their win streak at four. They bounced back to top the Bulldogs in straight sets, 25-17, 25-18, 25-19.

CMU is scheduled to play host Central Florida at 4 p.m. Saturday in its tournament finale.

"To be honest, I don't think we played very well in our first match against Central Arkansas," CMU coach Mike Gawlik said. "I don't think we came out with enough energy and I definitely think we kind of needed a wakeup call.

"I thought we responded really well in our second match against UNC Asheville. We came out with a lot more energy and did a much better job with our passing."

The Chippewas finished with a .190 hitting percentage against Central Arkansas. The Bears hit .390 for the match. Against UNC Ashville, the Chippewas improved to .239 while the Bulldogs finished at .056.

Junior outside hitters Jordan Bueter and Taylor Robertson led the Chippewas with six kills each against Central Arkansas (5-7). Senior setter Kathia Sanchez led the CMU with 17 assists, and libero Megan Kern topped the Chippewas with eight digs.

Haley Tippett led Central Arkansas with 12 kills.

Bueter and Robertson finished with 10 kills apiece in the victory over UNC Asheville, while Sanchez picked up 31 assists, and Kern finished with 23 digs.

Cara Guthrie had eight kills to lead UNC Asheville (5-4).

"They are a real physical and experienced team," Gawlik said of Saturday's opponent, UCF (9-3), which defeated Central Arkansas in four sets in the final match of the night on Friday. "They have two older players that have been all-conference for them and that's something we will have to be prepared for."