Photo by: Benjamin Suddendorf
Volleyball Hits The Court
8/13/2019 3:36:00 PM | Volleyball
Chippewas complete first practice; open season in New York
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Every year brings renewed enthusiasm, excitement, hope.
In the case of Central Michigan volleyball, there is legitimate optimism as coach Mike Gawlik enters his fourth year in charge of the program and his philosophy and style have taken root.
"I feel like everybody in our gym knows what they signed up for, they know what they're here to do and now it's a matter of going out and executing the game plan," Gawlik said on Monday after the Chippewas concluded their first day of practice. "We've got a lot of people who know what we're looking for and I think they share in that vision of where we want to go."
CMU opens the season on Aug. 30-31 at the St. Francis Brooklyn Terrier Classic in New York. The Chippewas will face Maryland-Eastern Shore, Saint Peter's and NJIT in the event, which kicks off a 28-game schedule.
The Chippewas open Mid-American Conference play with a Sept. 27-28 trip to Northern Illinois and Western Michigan, respectively. The home opener is the Sept. 6-7 Chippewa Invitational, during which CMU welcomes Eastern Illinois, North Dakota State and Illinois-Chicago.
CMU's 19-player roster is deeper than any that Gawlik has put together during his time in charge of the program. Jayla Wesley and Meg Kern, the only two seniors on the roster, headline the returnees.
There are plenty of others who saw ample playing time a year ago including the likes of juniors Grace Butler and Kalina Smith along with sophomores Kendall Braate, Megan Siverston and Maddie Whitfield.
The experience those younger players gained a year ago should pay off in 2019.
"We need to be able to bounce back and learn from every time we're not successful and at the same time be a team that is really tough to score one point against let alone 25 points against," Gawlik said. "To win the MAC championship we have to be good for an eight-10 week span, not peak one random night in the middle of October.
"I feel like young teams tend to peak certain nights and not show up on others and I feel like we've got to play with that maturity and that experience that says we're in this for the long haul.
"As a young team a year ago we had shades of brilliance and really had some great matches and some really great sets and a lot of time played great points. But to be a great team you've got to link that together. You have to have a short memory when things aren't going your way and the ability to turn the tide when the momentum isn't on your side and it's an ability to stay focused and maintain momentum when you get it."
In the case of Central Michigan volleyball, there is legitimate optimism as coach Mike Gawlik enters his fourth year in charge of the program and his philosophy and style have taken root.
"I feel like everybody in our gym knows what they signed up for, they know what they're here to do and now it's a matter of going out and executing the game plan," Gawlik said on Monday after the Chippewas concluded their first day of practice. "We've got a lot of people who know what we're looking for and I think they share in that vision of where we want to go."
CMU opens the season on Aug. 30-31 at the St. Francis Brooklyn Terrier Classic in New York. The Chippewas will face Maryland-Eastern Shore, Saint Peter's and NJIT in the event, which kicks off a 28-game schedule.
The Chippewas open Mid-American Conference play with a Sept. 27-28 trip to Northern Illinois and Western Michigan, respectively. The home opener is the Sept. 6-7 Chippewa Invitational, during which CMU welcomes Eastern Illinois, North Dakota State and Illinois-Chicago.
CMU's 19-player roster is deeper than any that Gawlik has put together during his time in charge of the program. Jayla Wesley and Meg Kern, the only two seniors on the roster, headline the returnees.
There are plenty of others who saw ample playing time a year ago including the likes of juniors Grace Butler and Kalina Smith along with sophomores Kendall Braate, Megan Siverston and Maddie Whitfield.
The experience those younger players gained a year ago should pay off in 2019.
"We need to be able to bounce back and learn from every time we're not successful and at the same time be a team that is really tough to score one point against let alone 25 points against," Gawlik said. "To win the MAC championship we have to be good for an eight-10 week span, not peak one random night in the middle of October.
"I feel like young teams tend to peak certain nights and not show up on others and I feel like we've got to play with that maturity and that experience that says we're in this for the long haul.
"As a young team a year ago we had shades of brilliance and really had some great matches and some really great sets and a lot of time played great points. But to be a great team you've got to link that together. You have to have a short memory when things aren't going your way and the ability to turn the tide when the momentum isn't on your side and it's an ability to stay focused and maintain momentum when you get it."
Players Mentioned
Setter/Opposite
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Setter
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Outside Hitter
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Middle Blocker
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Middle Blocker
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