Chippewas Drop MAC Match To Western

Mitch Vosburg, CMUChippewas.com

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Inconsistency bit the Central Michigan volleyball team on Friday as it dropped a three-set Mid-American Conference match to rival Western Michigan at McGuirk Arena.

The Broncos took the match, 25-19, 31-29, 25-22, improving to 12-7, 2-3 MAC. The Chippewas have dropped eight straight in falling to 3-14, 0-5.

HOW IT HAPPENED
CMU coach Mike Gawlik said his team needs to learn to maintain a high level of consistent play. CMU committed 31 attack errors to the Broncos' 13.

"There were strings of points in set two and at the end of set three where we did have some really good fight and played well as a team," he said. "There were times where we were just bleeding points, and I feel like that's the sign of a team that needs to mature quite a bit."

Western Michigan jumped to a 7-2 lead in the first set and forced a CMU timeout while holding a 13-8 edge. The Chippewas hung in, and were as close as four, 19-15, but could never get closer.

Western Michigan seized the early lead in the second set, leading by as many as six points. But the Chippewas, feeding off the energy of a loud home crowd, hung in, and squared the set at 22-22 and then managed to stave off five set points during a roller-coaster ride to the finish before succumbing.

Western Michigan took control of set three, capitalizing on six-straight CMU attack errors and an ace in jumping to a 9-1 lead. CMU rallied to within two at 9-7, but couldn't get over the hump as Western pulled away.

LEADERS
Junior libero Megan Kern finished with a team-high 15 kills to lead CMU, while sophomore outside hitter Kalina Smith posted 11 kills on a .304 attack percentage. Freshman setter Kendall Braate added 10 kills. Grace Butler finished with 20 assists and Braate added 18.

Sophomore outside hitter Rachel Bontrager finished with 16 kills to pace the Broncos.

NEXT
The Chippewas play host to Northern Illinois in a MAC match on Saturday (7 p.m.) at McGuirk Arena. Fans holding a ticket from Saturday's football game with Buffalo may use that ticket for admission to the volleyball match.

Next Event

Team Stats

Kalina Smith

Savannah Thompson

Lyza Myers

Megan Sivertsen

Players Mentioned

Kendall Braate

Grace Butler

Megan Kern

Kalina Smith

Players Mentioned

Kendall Braate

Grace Butler

Megan Kern

Kalina Smith