Volleyball Opens MAC Play At Home

Andy Glezen, CMUChippewas.com

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – After playing in front of nearly 8,000 people at the Husker Invite in Lincoln, Neb., last weekend, the Central Michigan volleyball team is ready to begin Mid-American Conference action.

The Chippewas (3-9) play host to Eastern Michigan on Thursday (7 p.m.) and Ohio on Saturday (8 p.m.). Both matches will be played at McGuirk Arena.

"When you make the decision to go to Nebraska you know you're getting an opportunity to play in front of a pretty awesome fanbase and pretty electric environment," CMU coach Mike Gawlik said. "Your heart's beating fast and you got a lump in your through, but it kind of minimalizes every other situation you're in from there on out."

TRANSITION TO THE MAC
The biggest change going into MAC play is preparing for one game at a time, as opposed to going into a weekend tournament or invitational, when the Chippewas play three matches over two days.

Gawlik said he likes his team's ability to lock in for one match at a time and the familiarity they have with the MAC.

CMU are slated to play every team in the MAC at least once, and will have a home-and-home with every MAC West opponent.

MYERS
Although she is just a sophomore, Lyza Myers is playing like a seasoned veteran, Gawlik said, and it's necesary for the Chippewas to have success.

"She is a force on the right side of the court," he said. "We don't have a whole lot of experience up in the front row and I think Lyza has done a good job of stepping up into a veteran role."

Myers leads the Chippewas with a .254 hitting percentage and is second on the team with 113 kills and 25 blocks.
As a freshman, Myers hit .161 recording 138 kills and 35 total blocks.

SCOUTING
Eastern Michigan is 8-6, but enters Thursday's match with three consecutive losses. The Eagles went 0-3 at the Robert Morris Invitational last weekend, falling to Houston, Robert Morris and Duquesne.

The Chippewas will need to keep an eye on senior Jordan Smith who leads EMU with 174 kills on the season as well as Cassie Haut (125).

Ohio is 5-8 but has faced six teams from Power-5 conferences. Among the Bobcats nonconference opponents are fourth-ranked Nebraska, Texas A&M, Virginia Tech and Missouri. The Eagles are coming off a sweep of Texas A&M- Corpus Christi at the Mizzou Invitational.

Ohio was picked to win the MAC East, MAC regular-season and MAC Tournament titles in the preseason poll of league coaches. Eastern Michigan was selected to finish fourth in the MAC West, one spot behind the Chippewas.

Jaime Kosiorek, Lizzie Stephens and Katie Nelson all have 100-plus kills on the season to lead a balanced Ohio attack.

NEXT
Central Michigan hits the road next weekend for MAC matches at Toledo (Friday, Sept. 28) and at Ball State (Saturday, Sept. 29).

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Players Mentioned

Lyza Myers