Central Michigan University Athletics
Thursday, February 11
Kalamazoo, MI
7 P.M.
Central Michigan University
at
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Western Michigan
Photo by: Keara Chaperon '22
Volleyball Looks To Capitalize On Momentum Against Rival Western Michigan
2/10/2021 3:41:00 PM | Volleyball
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Two wins over Northern Illinois last weekend lifted the Central Michigan volleyball team to .500.
It was an important turn for the Chippewas, who started the season 1-3 and had dropped three-consecutive matches and nine of their previous 10 sets entering their series with NIU.
They gutted out a five-set win in the opener with the Huskies and then took a four-setter – looking dominant at times – in the second match.
Next for CMU is a two-match set at Western Michigan, beginning on Thursday (7 p.m.) and concluding on Friday (2 p.m.). The Chippewas are 3-3 both overall and in the league and sit in third place in the West Division.
After this weekend, the Chippewas will be one-third of the way through their 22-match schedule.
"I'd rather be 6-0, but I think that we're growing as a team," said CMU coach Mike Gawlik after the Chippewas' completed the sweep of NIU. "I feel like (Western Michigan is) where our focus has to be.
"As a (coaching) staff and as a team we're not looking around the league and we're not wishing for other teams to win or lose; we don't care. There are going to be surprises, there are going to be upsets, and we have to win matches that are in front of us. We need to care of business on our side. That's where we're at."
Good Numbers
Two Chippewas, sophomore Anna Erickson and junior Savannah Thompson, posted career highs in kills in the wins over Northern Illinois. Erickson had 25 in the first win in the series, while Thompson had 19 in the second.
The Chippewas finished with a season-high 14 blocks in their second win over Northern Illinois and had a combined 24 in the two matches with the Huskies. The 24 blocks were by far the most the Chippewas have recorded in any two-match set this season.
Leaders
CMU senior Lisbeth Rosario-Martinez ranks second in the MAC with a .392 hitting percentage, while Thompson is eighth with 3.63 kills per set.
Numbers
The Chippewas and Western both average 13.29 kills per set. CMU has posted a .215 hitting percentage on the season, while the Broncos stand at .201. They rank fifth and sixth, respectively, in the league.
Scouting
Western Michigan is 4-2 after sweeping Eastern Michigan last weekend in Ypsilanti. The Broncos sit in second place in the division.
Western's Rachel Bontrager ranks third in the MAC with 4.10 kills per set and teammate Andelyn Simkins is third with 0.48 aces per set.
Next
The Chippewas are scheduled to go to Buffalo on Thursday and Friday, Feb. 18-19. The Bulls, 0-6, are scheduled to play this weekend at Ohio.
It was an important turn for the Chippewas, who started the season 1-3 and had dropped three-consecutive matches and nine of their previous 10 sets entering their series with NIU.
They gutted out a five-set win in the opener with the Huskies and then took a four-setter – looking dominant at times – in the second match.
Next for CMU is a two-match set at Western Michigan, beginning on Thursday (7 p.m.) and concluding on Friday (2 p.m.). The Chippewas are 3-3 both overall and in the league and sit in third place in the West Division.
After this weekend, the Chippewas will be one-third of the way through their 22-match schedule.
"I'd rather be 6-0, but I think that we're growing as a team," said CMU coach Mike Gawlik after the Chippewas' completed the sweep of NIU. "I feel like (Western Michigan is) where our focus has to be.
"As a (coaching) staff and as a team we're not looking around the league and we're not wishing for other teams to win or lose; we don't care. There are going to be surprises, there are going to be upsets, and we have to win matches that are in front of us. We need to care of business on our side. That's where we're at."
Good Numbers
Two Chippewas, sophomore Anna Erickson and junior Savannah Thompson, posted career highs in kills in the wins over Northern Illinois. Erickson had 25 in the first win in the series, while Thompson had 19 in the second.
The Chippewas finished with a season-high 14 blocks in their second win over Northern Illinois and had a combined 24 in the two matches with the Huskies. The 24 blocks were by far the most the Chippewas have recorded in any two-match set this season.
Leaders
CMU senior Lisbeth Rosario-Martinez ranks second in the MAC with a .392 hitting percentage, while Thompson is eighth with 3.63 kills per set.
Numbers
The Chippewas and Western both average 13.29 kills per set. CMU has posted a .215 hitting percentage on the season, while the Broncos stand at .201. They rank fifth and sixth, respectively, in the league.
Scouting
Western Michigan is 4-2 after sweeping Eastern Michigan last weekend in Ypsilanti. The Broncos sit in second place in the division.
Western's Rachel Bontrager ranks third in the MAC with 4.10 kills per set and teammate Andelyn Simkins is third with 0.48 aces per set.
Next
The Chippewas are scheduled to go to Buffalo on Thursday and Friday, Feb. 18-19. The Bulls, 0-6, are scheduled to play this weekend at Ohio.
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