Volleyball Begins Critical Homestretch

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – It's down to make-or-break time in the Mid-American Conference volleyball race.

Central Michigan is squarely in the hunt as it sits in fifth place at 9-8 heading into this weekend's two-match series at Ball State. The Chippewas and Cardinals are set to square off at Ball State's Worthen Arena at 7 p.m. on Friday and at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

The Chippewas have five league matches remaining. They go to Eastern Michigan on Tuesday, March 23, and then they entertain Miami (Ohio) in two matches on the final weekend of the regular season, March 26-27.

The top four teams in the standings earn a spot in the league tournament, which will be played at the site of the regular-season champion. That honor, in all likelihood, will go to unbeaten Bowling Green, which is 16-0. Western Michigan (13-3) has all but sewn up a spot in the tournament.

Behind the Falcons and Broncos sit Kent State (11-5), Ohio (8-6), CMU and then a slew of other squads that could make the tourney field should they win out and things break their way. Ball State (7-9) is one of those teams.

In short, the Chippewas need wins down the stretch if they hope to make it to postseason play.

CMU dropped a five-setter at home to Eastern Michigan on Tuesday. The Chippewas won the first two sets rather handily before Eastern surged back to take the match.

CMU's Lisbeth Rosario-Martinez and Savannah Thompson continue to be among the MAC's top threats at the net. Rosario-Martinez ranks fourth in the conference with a .341 hitting percentage, while Thompson is sixth in kills per set (3.64).

Rosario-Martinez is second on the league with 26 aces.

Ball State's Marie Plitt ranks fifth in the MAC with a .336 hitting percentage; while teammate Esther Grussing is 10^th in assists per set (7.02) and Chloe Rickenbach is tied for ninth with 13 aces.

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Players Mentioned

Lisbeth Rosario-Martinez

Savannah Thompson

Central Michigan University Athletics