Road Beckons CMU Volleyball Team

Mitch Vosburg, CMUChippewas.com

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. -- After suffering a pair of four-set losses last weekend, the Central Michigan volleyball team plays the first of four consecutive Mid-American Conference matches on the road on Friday at Akron.

The Chippewas complete the weekend on Saturday at Buffalo. Both carry a 7 p.m. start time.

CMU is 3-17, 0-8 MAC after falling last weekend at home to Bowling Green and then to Miami (Ohio). The Falcons and RedHawks are both 7-1 in conference play and share first place in the MAC East.

ROAD TRIP
The Chippewas are scheduled to travel 900-plus miles this weekend. Coach Mike Gawlik said he sees the road trip as an opportunity for his team to continue growing.

"It's a good time of the year for it, it's going to reconnect us from a chemistry perspective," he said. "Sometimes the one thing you need when you're struggling is an opportunity to reconnect on a level that's not on the court."

The Chippewas are also scheduled to travel next weekend, going to Eastern Michigan and then to Kent State.

CHIPPEWA LEADERS
Kalina Smith and Lyza Myers, both sophomore outside hitters, lead the Chippewas with 203 kills and 175 kills, respectively, while freshman outside hitter Savannah Thompson has posted 170 kills, 16 aces and 220 digs. Junior libero Megan Kern leads CMU with 250 digs.

SCOUTING
Akron is 10-9, 2-6, after three-set losses last weekend at Northern Illinois and at Western Michigan. Buffalo (12-8, 4-4) went 2-0 last weekend, beating Western Michigan in four sets and NIU in five.

Gawlik said he is less concerned about what the Zips and the Bulls bring to the table, but more on his Chippewas playing consistently at a high level.

"Our focus is going to be how we execute, limit our errors, and take advantage of opportunities," Gawlik said. "When we play well we know we're a hard team to stop."

The Zips, who are 6-3 at home, are led by senior outside hitter Kayla Gwozdz, who has a team-high 226 kills and is averaging 3.14 per set, which ranks eighth in the MAC. Akron's Emily Weigand, a sophomore setter, ranks second in the MAC with 38 service aces.

Buffalo, which plays host to Eastern Michigan on Friday, is led by Andrea Mitrovic, who averages a MAC-best 4.42 kills per set. Mitrovic also tops the conference in points at 4.99 per set.

NEXT
The Chippewas go to Eastern Michigan on Thursday, Oct. 20, and then to Kent State on Saturday, Oct. 27.

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Players Mentioned

Megan Kern

Lyza Myers

Kalina Smith

Savannah Thompson

Central Michigan University Athletics