Chippewas Face Ball State, Toledo On Final Home Weekend

Friday, November 2

Mount Pleasant, Mich.

7:00 P.M.

Central Michigan University

Ball State

Tickets

11/1/2018 11:32:00 AM | Volleyball

CMU honors two seniors before Saturday's match

By: Mitch Vosburg, CMUChippewas.com

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. -- Seniors Marissa Grant and Emily Wenglikowski will play their final home match as members of the Central Michigan volleyball program this weekend as the Chippewas welcome Ball State and Toledo for a pair of Mid-American Conference matches.

The Chippewas, 5-19, 2-10 MAC, host the Cardinals, 19-6, 10-2, on Friday and then entertain Toledo 9-14, 4-8, on Saturday. Both games begin at 7 p.m. Wenglikowski and Grant will be honored before Saturday's game.

Ball State leads the MAC West, while the Rockets are ninth overall in the MAC. The top eight teams in the final overall standings earn a berth in the league tournament.

CHIPPEWA LEADERS
Sophomore outside hitter Kalina Smith leads the Chippewas with 276 kills. Setters Kendall Braate and Grace Butler have combined for 722 assists, while freshman outside hitter Savannah Thompson has contributed 208 kills, 20 aces and 291 digs, trailing only Megan Kern (329) for the team lead in digs.

SENIOR SEND-OFF
With their final home matches on deck, CMU coach Mike Gawlik said he is appreciative of Wenglikowski's and Grant's dedication to the program.

"My heart goes out to Emily and Marissa for sticking through," said Gawlik, who is in his third year in charge of the program. "It's not easy to change throughout your career. We have a young group, but we've always look to them for senior leadership.

"Regardless with (whether we make) the MAC Tournament and the end of our year, we want to send them out on a positive note, give them what they deserve and have an opportunity to put their final chapter of McGuirk in a positive light."

SCOUTING
Ball State enters Friday's match having won nine of its last 10 matches. The Cardinals swept CMU in three sets on Sept. 29 in Muncie, Ind.

Ball State is led by senior outside hitter Ellie Dunn, who has posted 343 kills this season. Senior middle hitter Meg Starling and junior middle hitter Sydnee Vanbeek have combined for 415 kills on hitting percentages of .322 and .319, respectively. Junior setter Amber Seaman has accumulated 940 assists this season.

The Rockets are 1-7 away from home on the season, and are 2-7 in their last nine matches. Toledo, which faces Eastern Michigan in Ypsilanti on Friday, swept the Chippewas in Toledo on Sept. 28.

Sophomore outside hitter Chloee Kleespies leads the Rockets with 298 kills, while junior middle hitter Zoe Birnbrich is second with 265 on a .324 hitting percentage. Senior setter Carly Townsend leads the Rockets with 771 assists.

WHAT'S NEXT
CMU plays its final two regular-season matches next week at Northern Illinois and at Western Michigan.