Friday, August 25
Cape Girardeau, Mo.
3:00 PM (ET) / 2:00 PM (CT)
Central Michigan University
0-1,0-0MAC
1
vs
3
Southern Illinois
1-0,0-0MVC
1
2
3
4
F
Southern Ill.
17
25
25
25
3
Central Mich.
25
19
23
18
1
Photo by: Keara Chaperon '22
Volleyball Drops Two 4-setters on Opening Night
8/25/2023 11:29:00 PM | Volleyball
CAPE GIRADEAU, Mo. – The Central Michigan volleyball team opened the 2023 season on Friday at the Southeast Missouri State Invitational with a pair of four-set losses.
The Chippewas dropped their opener to Southern Illinois and then fell to host SEMO. CMU closes the tournament on Saturday (1 p.m. ET) with a match against Evansville.
"For a relatively new group on the floor, there were moments, really good moments, where I think we can be really good," CMU coach Mike Gawlik said. "We want stitch those (good) moments together a lot more. That's the only way we're going to get better, keep putting ourselves in those late-game situations and for those players who are learning to be in those good moments – we need to be in them to get better in them.
"I think it will serve us well in the long term. Our focus is on getting better and improving. It wasn't a great day one. Doesn't mean there weren't great moments, it's just we've got to link them together and find success and win matches."
Southern Illinois handed the Chippewas a 17-25, 25-19, 25-23, 25-18 in the opener. SEMO downed CMU, 25-17, 25-21, 23-25, 25-19 in the second match.
Krystina Kasson had nine kills in leading the Chippewas in their loss to Southern Illinois, while Abby Olin and Maddy Gebhardt added seven each. Devon Bright and Gebhardt had 12 and eight kills, respectively, against SEMO. Bright finished the day with seven aces.
Evansville is 0-1 after dropping its tournament opener in three sets to SEMO.
"We're 0-2 and we want to come out of the weekend with a win and we want to show some growth," Gawlik said. "A big push for us is that the scoreboard doesn't dictate who we are, and the scoreboard doesn't dictate how we play. I felt like (Friday) we got caught up at times scoreboard watching and being disheartened by what the score was.
"That can happen for teams that don't have the experience. It all comes from a good place, it all comes from a place of wanting to find success, but I think it's important for us to stay grounded and in the moment.
"if we can keep our focus there I think we'll find success more often. We have a lot of season left and we have a lot of really talented players. We just want to make sure that we're creating a fertile soil so that we can grow together. We're staying positive, but we do have to play consistent and grow and that's the goal for (Saturday)."
The Chippewas dropped their opener to Southern Illinois and then fell to host SEMO. CMU closes the tournament on Saturday (1 p.m. ET) with a match against Evansville.
"For a relatively new group on the floor, there were moments, really good moments, where I think we can be really good," CMU coach Mike Gawlik said. "We want stitch those (good) moments together a lot more. That's the only way we're going to get better, keep putting ourselves in those late-game situations and for those players who are learning to be in those good moments – we need to be in them to get better in them.
"I think it will serve us well in the long term. Our focus is on getting better and improving. It wasn't a great day one. Doesn't mean there weren't great moments, it's just we've got to link them together and find success and win matches."
Southern Illinois handed the Chippewas a 17-25, 25-19, 25-23, 25-18 in the opener. SEMO downed CMU, 25-17, 25-21, 23-25, 25-19 in the second match.
Krystina Kasson had nine kills in leading the Chippewas in their loss to Southern Illinois, while Abby Olin and Maddy Gebhardt added seven each. Devon Bright and Gebhardt had 12 and eight kills, respectively, against SEMO. Bright finished the day with seven aces.
Evansville is 0-1 after dropping its tournament opener in three sets to SEMO.
"We're 0-2 and we want to come out of the weekend with a win and we want to show some growth," Gawlik said. "A big push for us is that the scoreboard doesn't dictate who we are, and the scoreboard doesn't dictate how we play. I felt like (Friday) we got caught up at times scoreboard watching and being disheartened by what the score was.
"That can happen for teams that don't have the experience. It all comes from a good place, it all comes from a place of wanting to find success, but I think it's important for us to stay grounded and in the moment.
"if we can keep our focus there I think we'll find success more often. We have a lot of season left and we have a lot of really talented players. We just want to make sure that we're creating a fertile soil so that we can grow together. We're staying positive, but we do have to play consistent and grow and that's the goal for (Saturday)."
Team Stats
SIU
CMU
Kills
54
40
Errors
20
21
Attempts
143
132
Hitting %
.238
.144
Points
69.0
58.0
Assists
51
38
Aces
8
11
Blocks
7
7
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
7
Aces
1
Blocks
0
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Players Mentioned
OH
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