Volleyball 2018: Onward, Upward

Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – It's always a step-by-step process.

The Central Michigan volleyball program took a big step last season, its second under coach Mike Gawlik, finishing above .500 (15-14) and earning a Mid-American Conference Tournament berth. It was the first time the Chippewas have accomplished either feat since 2012. In addition, CMU finished third in the MAC West, its best placing since 2009.

"I feel like we made pretty significant progress," said Gawlik, whose team opens this weekend at the UIC Invitational in Chicago. "In order to get where you need to go you need to experience some bumps along the way. I feel like our first couple of years we had a little bit of that going on. They (the players) were trying to figure out me, and I was figuring out them.

"I thought we worked hard there, but now that we got a group that's heard the same message for three years we have a little bit more of an understanding."

PERSONNEL
The Chippewas will take on a decidedly youthful appearance with 12 underclassmen on the 16-player roster. Just two seniors, defensive specialist/outside hitter Emily Wenglikowski and setter Marissa Grant, dot the roster.

"Our upperclassmen really helped (the younger players) to prepare," Gawlik said. "Even though we're trending young, i think we have a lot of skill. The juniors and sophomores can help us lead."

Jordan Bueter, one of the top players in program history, has graduated.

But there is plenty of talent in the pipeline, led by sophomores Kalina Smith, Lyza Meyers and Grace Butler, junior Megan Kern and Wenglikowski.

Smith, an outside hitter who on Wednesday was named to the Preseason West All-MAC Team, came on strong in 2017, finishing fourth on the team with 191 kills. Her 2.22 kills-per-set average ranked second among the Chippewas behind Bueter's MAC-best 3.99.

Butler, the Chippewa setter, averaged 10.53 assists per set a year ago, fifth in the MAC and second among league freshmen. Kern posted a team-best 409 digs.

TAKING SHAPE
Gawlik said he has focused his first two recruiting classes on well-rounded players, and that should pay dividends as those recruits take center stage.

"This group was crafted from the ground up with ball control -- the ability to attack the ball, defend the ball," he said. "I feel like when you add players who can do a lot of different things, you can play a highly efficient level of volleyball. Our hitters are good passers and defenders. Our middle is big and physical at the net and they can dig and pass the volleyball. … We'll have depth and youth. The biggest challenge will be playing with maturity."

MAC POLL
The Chippewas were picked to finish third in the West in the preseason poll of league coaches. Ball State was named on 10 ballots to finish first in the West and collected 70 points in the polling. Western Michigan, with two first-place votes and 59 points, was second, followed by the Chippewas (43), Eastern Michigan (30), Northern Illinois (29) and Toledo (21).

Ohio was picked to win the East Division and as the overall regular-season champion. The Bobcats received nine first-place votes and 68 points, and were named on eight ballots to finish as the overall regular-season champion.

Bowling Green, with three first-place votes and 60 points, was selected to finish second in the East, followed by Buffalo (45), Miami (Ohio) (42), Kent State (22) and Akron (15). Bowling three received three votes to finish as the overall regular-season champ.

Ohio received a league-high five votes to win the MAC Tournament and earn the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Miami and Western Michigan received two votes each, while Bowling Green and Ball State received one each.

THE SCHEDULE
The Chippewas open at UIC on Friday against Maryland Eastern Shore. On Saturday, they are scheduled to play Bryant and the host Flames.

The following weekend, CMU welcomes Valparaiso, DePaul and La Salle for the Chippewa Invitational. The Chippewas play in two road invitationals, one at Purdue Fort Wayne, the other at Nebraska, and then return to McGuirk Arena for the MAC-opening weekend against Eastern Michigan (Sept. 20) and against Ohio (Sept. 22).

Central Michigan University Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Jordan Bueter

Grace Butler

Marissa Grant

Megan Kern

Kalina Smith

Emily Wenglikowski

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