Central Michigan University
Toledo
Chippewas Capture MAC Opener
9/21/2017 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Lindsay Gerber, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - The Central Michigan volleyball team won its Mid-American Conference opener for the first time since 2014, as it took down Toledo in five sets on Thursday in McGuirk Arena.
The Chippewas (9-4, 1-0 MAC) will look to keep the momentum going as they host Ball State on Saturday (8 p.m.). The Cardinals are 8-5 and play their first MAC contest on Friday against Eastern Michigan.
"We went 1-0 tonight," CMU coach Mike Gawlik said. "We have to go 1-0 Saturday night. We then have to do it again the next game. We just have to try to win the match that's next."
CMU swiped the first two sets, 25-19, 25-23, before Toledo fought back to take the next two, 25-18, 25-10. The Chippewas jumped to a 3-0 lead in the fifth and final set and never trailed en route to taking the set and the match, 15-11.
"You have to fight frustration and fight the idea of letting 2-0 slip away," Gawlik said. "We were up 2-0 and set five is just a fresh start. If you played great up until the start of set five, it really doesn't matter. It matters what happens in that final set."
Senior Jordan Bueter led the Chippewa offense with 20 kills on a .237 attack percentage. She also tallied three aces, moving her up to third all-time in CMU history with 141 career aces.
Freshman setter Grace Butler had 47 assists for CMU while Taylor Robertson dominated at the net with six blocks. Freshman Miani Bolden added nine kills and led the Chippewas with six blocks, while Megan Kern finished with a team-high 26 digs.
Chloee Kleespies had 18 kills for the Rockets while Rachel Vidourek tacked on 17.
