Chippewas Battle Before Falling to Defending Champs

Mitch Vosburg, CMUChippewas.com

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. -- The Central Michigan Volleyball team concluded its four-match homestand on Saturday, dropping four-set Mid-American Conference match to Miami (Ohio) at McGuirk Arena.

The RedHawks, the defending MAC Tournament champions and two-time defending regular-season league titlists, topped the Chippewas, 28-26, 25-16, 20-25, 25-20. CMU is 3-17 overall (0-8 MAC). Miami is 14-5, 6-2.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Set one was even until CMU opened a 24-22 lead, one point away from taking the set. Miami called a timeout and finished the set with a 6-2 run.

"Anytime you play a top, perennial team in the league you have to be playing your best volleyball," CMU coach Mike Gawlik said. "I thought we played a really good set, I thought we were killing the ball at a high rate, but our errors were too high. We let (Miami) steal set one."

CMU came out of the gates flat in set two, trailing 5-1 before Gawlik burned his first timeout of the set. The Chippewas fought, but proved unsuccessful to bounce back, falling into a 2-0 deficit entering intermission.

The Chippewas changed their lineup for set three, playing junior middle blocker Jayla Wesley. The West Bloomfield native made her presence felt with three kills, two aces, two digs and two blocks in the final two sets, creating a needed spark for the Chippewas to take set three.

Set four showed an even battle where every point was earned. The RedHawks eventually pulled away with a 6-0 run to take the set and the match 3-1.

LEADERS
Sophomore outside hitters Kalina Smith and Lyza Myers finished with 12 kills each to lead CMU. Junior libero Megan Kern contributed 14 digs, while freshman outside hitter Savannah Thompson added 13.

CONFIDENT CHIPPEWAS
Despite a 3-18 record, Gawlik said he believes the Chippewas have improved during the four-game homestand.

"I know our record right now puts us in a position that counts us out, but I feel like as a group we feel strongly about the strides we've made," he said. "I feel like we're a better volleyball team then we were three or four weeks ago.

"Nobody's looking at our record and feeling bad for themselves; they're getting better each day, and I'm proud of that. All we need is a spark to light a fire; we're getting more sparks and it's about to catch here shortly."

Myers said the Chippewas' confidence has improved since a three-set loss to Western Michigan Oct. 5.

"I think we're finally getting into gaining our confidence and realizing that we can win, we have the answers," she said.

NEXT
The Chippewas go to Akron on Friday, Oct. 19, and then to Buffalo on Saturday, Oct. 20. Both are MAC matches, the first of four straight on the road.

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Team Stats

Kalina Smith

Maddie Whitfield

Lyza Myers

Kendall Braate

Players Mentioned

Megan Kern

Lyza Myers

Kalina Smith

Savannah Thompson

Jayla Wesley

Players Mentioned

Megan Kern

Lyza Myers

Kalina Smith

Savannah Thompson

Jayla Wesley