Thursday, February 25
Mount Pleasant, MI
6 P.M.
Central Michigan University
6-5,6-5MAC
3
vs
2
Akron
2-8,2-8MAC
1
2
3
4
5
F
Akron
15
18
25
28
9
2
Central Mich.
25
25
20
26
15
3
Photo by: Keara Chaperon '22
Chippewas Pull Out 5-Set Win Over Akron
2/25/2021 10:16:00 PM | Volleyball
CMU wins third straight, improves to 3-0 in 5-set matches
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Central Michigan squandered a two-set lead and then scored 10 of the final 14 points on Thursday to pull out a five-set victory over Akron in a Mid-American Conference volleyball match at McGuirk Arena.
It was CMU's third-consecutive win and it improved 3-0 in five-setters this season. The Chippewas, 6-5, and Zips, 3-8, are scheduled to complete their two-match set on Friday (2 p.m.).
How It Happened
The Chippewas cruised to a 25-15 win in set 1 and then pulled away to a 25-18 victory in set 2. The Zips rebounded for a 25-20 win in set 3 and then outlasted the Chippewas in set 4, 28-26.
With set 5 tied, 5-5, Akron was assessed a rotation error by the officials. After a lengthy delay while the officials hashed out the infraction, CMU went on a 5-0 run to go up 10-5. Akron never got closer than three points the rest of the way.
"I think it's kind of similar to an overtime game or extra innings in baseball, when you find success you believe that you'll find success again," CMU coach Mike Gawlik said of the Chippewas' set-5 mindset after losing the previous two. "I think mature teams understand that sometimes that happens, and you've got to play set 5 as if it's its own set. You can't carry baggage from the previous set.
"I thought our ability to bounce back just shows a little bit more of the confidence and composure from our older kids and we've got a lot of players who have a lot of experience intermixed in our lineup."
Leaders
Savannah Thompson finished with 22 kills on a .232 hitting percentage to lead a strong team-wide effort by the Chippewas.
Freshman Kamryn Olson had eight kills on a .389 hitting percentage and finished with 25 assists and 21 digs.
Sierra Gray added 13 kills and Maddie Whitfield had 11, three of which came after the Chippewas led 10-7 in the final set. Whitfield hit at .562 in the match.
Hannah Warners led the Chippewas with 26 digs, Thompson had 18, and setter Grace Butler had 12 along with 30 assists.
Rebounding
It was a gratifying night for Whitfield, a junior middle blocker who last week at Buffalo saw her playing time diminished because of inconsistency, Gawlik said.
The Chippewas played without middle blocker Megan Siversten and outside hitter Anna Erickson, allowing Gawlik to utilize Whitfield.
"Her ability to bounce back and answer the call and say, 'I'm ready,' and contribute 11 kills and four blocks is really good production," he said. "We're hoping that's the Maddie that shows up forever."
Numbers
The Chippewas finished with a season-high 69 kills on 196 swings with just 17 attack errors for a .265 hitting percentage. They outhit the Zips by significant margins in the three sets that they won. The Zips finished with 30 attack errors and hit .130 for the match.
CMU also finished with a season-best 100 digs.
It was CMU's third-consecutive win and it improved 3-0 in five-setters this season. The Chippewas, 6-5, and Zips, 3-8, are scheduled to complete their two-match set on Friday (2 p.m.).
How It Happened
The Chippewas cruised to a 25-15 win in set 1 and then pulled away to a 25-18 victory in set 2. The Zips rebounded for a 25-20 win in set 3 and then outlasted the Chippewas in set 4, 28-26.
With set 5 tied, 5-5, Akron was assessed a rotation error by the officials. After a lengthy delay while the officials hashed out the infraction, CMU went on a 5-0 run to go up 10-5. Akron never got closer than three points the rest of the way.
"I think it's kind of similar to an overtime game or extra innings in baseball, when you find success you believe that you'll find success again," CMU coach Mike Gawlik said of the Chippewas' set-5 mindset after losing the previous two. "I think mature teams understand that sometimes that happens, and you've got to play set 5 as if it's its own set. You can't carry baggage from the previous set.
"I thought our ability to bounce back just shows a little bit more of the confidence and composure from our older kids and we've got a lot of players who have a lot of experience intermixed in our lineup."
Leaders
Savannah Thompson finished with 22 kills on a .232 hitting percentage to lead a strong team-wide effort by the Chippewas.
Freshman Kamryn Olson had eight kills on a .389 hitting percentage and finished with 25 assists and 21 digs.
Sierra Gray added 13 kills and Maddie Whitfield had 11, three of which came after the Chippewas led 10-7 in the final set. Whitfield hit at .562 in the match.
Hannah Warners led the Chippewas with 26 digs, Thompson had 18, and setter Grace Butler had 12 along with 30 assists.
Rebounding
It was a gratifying night for Whitfield, a junior middle blocker who last week at Buffalo saw her playing time diminished because of inconsistency, Gawlik said.
The Chippewas played without middle blocker Megan Siversten and outside hitter Anna Erickson, allowing Gawlik to utilize Whitfield.
"Her ability to bounce back and answer the call and say, 'I'm ready,' and contribute 11 kills and four blocks is really good production," he said. "We're hoping that's the Maddie that shows up forever."
Numbers
The Chippewas finished with a season-high 69 kills on 196 swings with just 17 attack errors for a .265 hitting percentage. They outhit the Zips by significant margins in the three sets that they won. The Zips finished with 30 attack errors and hit .130 for the match.
CMU also finished with a season-best 100 digs.
Team Stats
UA
CMU
Kills
57
69
Errors
30
17
Attempts
208
196
Hitting %
.130
.265
Points
69
83
Assists
51
64
Aces
5
6
Blocks
7
8
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
22
Aces
1
Blocks
3
Kills
13
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
11
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
8
Aces
1
Blocks
2
Players Mentioned
Setter
/ Volleyball
Opposite/Outside Hitter
/ VolleyballOutside Hitter
/ Volleyball
Setter/Opposite
/ VolleyballOutside Hitter
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