Central Michigan University Athletics
Friday, November 15
Akron, Ohio
6:00 PM
Central Michigan University
3
at
1
Akron
Photo by: Julia Bice '22,M'24 - @jb.jpg10
Volleyball Collects 23rd Victory of the Season with Win at Akron, Remains in Second Place
11/15/2024 8:50:00 PM | Volleyball
CMU defeats Akron in four sets to notch its winningest season since 1985.
AKRON, Ohio – Central Michigan Volleyball reached 23 wins with a four-set victory on Friday evening over the Akron Zips. The win total amounts to the winningest season for the program since 1985 when the team went 23-6 on the year. CMU advances to 23-6 on the year and 14-3 in conference play. Central Michigan remains in second place, one match behind Bowling Green (15-2), who defeated Ohio 3-0.
Central Michigan grabbed its victories 25-23, 25-20 and 25-9 in sets one, two and four respectfully while dropping set two to the Zips 21-25.
Central Michigan head coach Mike Gawlik was happy with his team's performance and ability to put together four sets of volleyball and leave with a win.
"Set one was a good one" said Gawlik, "It was a close one that could have really gone either way, and in set two, I don't think we played poorly, we just let a few opportunities slip by us. In sets three and four we handled our business…I think we got better throughout the matches as we made adjustments to the speed of their offense."
The offense for CMU was led by Lauren Schrock who charted 17 kills hitting .375 from the outside. Abby Olin left the evening with 12 kills and Natalia Rejment was not far behind with 11. The Chippewas hit .304 on the night while holding the Zips to a .157 team hitting percentage.
Shrock's 17 kills is her eighth Mid-American Conference match this season where she has reached double-digits.
"Lauren has been a real bright spot for us this conference season. She didn't play a whole lot in the preseason, she got healthy and once she got her opportunity, she really capitalized on it. She is gutsy and a competitor, and I think that wears off on the rest of the team and lets them know that they can be gutsy. Nobody will ever argue that Lauren, in the moment, is all gas and no breaks." said Gawlik about his senior outside hitter.
Brooklyn Conner got the start in the middle for the Chippewas in the evening match and made the most of her appearance. The last time Conner saw action this season: the five-set victory over Bowling Green. On the evening, Conner killed six balls hitting .333 but defensively, she recorded seven block assists – a new career high. "Brooklyn is a really good middle blocker for us. We really have three starting caliber middles on our team, and she has been waiting on her time."
Krystina Kasson also made her presence at the net known in the victory recording nine kills with two solo blocks and six block assists. Her six block assists ties a career high that she has now reached four times this season. "I think it is a really cool thing to see out of Krystina. Her blocking is something she has worked really hard on in her career. To see the growth she has been able to have and continue to showcase it in a big end of the year match for us is just so cool.
Kasson has 91 total blocks in the 2024 season. In her previous three seasons for the Chippewas, she totaled 74.
When Conner played against Bowling Green earlier this season, she charted 10 kills and three block assists. "She came into a really big spot for us when we beat BG earlier this season, and she has been ready every day since. She works hard every day and has been getting better for us. With Grace not being 100% tonight, she really stepped up and played her role incredibly well."
Allie Korba, the setter for Central Michigan, surpasses the 1,000-assist mark for the 2024 season in the match and has continued to lead the Chippewas to offensive success.
"If you have options, you can make your offense enforce your team strategy really well." Said Gawlik. "Korba was choosing great options tonight and delivering a really good ball. I think a lot of that is obviously credit to Korba and her decision making, but also to our first ball contact and our setting."
Three different Chippewas recorded 10+ blocks in Rejment, Aly Gurtiza and Hannah Langton. Rejment recorded her 9th double-double of the season with her 14 digs against the Zips. "Our nuggets tonight were just creating really good opportunity for success for us. We wanted to focus on being first-ball terminal today. That doesn't happen without good passing and good first-ball contact."
Central Michigan will remain in Akron for another match on Saturday evening at 6 p.m. The match marks CMU's final regular season match of the year.
"Our focus is about capping this regular season off. We have won 14 conference games, that is something we haven't done in a long time in our program. We are fighting for 15. If we can get 15, we are fighting for 16. Every match is a really cool opportunity to battle with this team and these women. It is exciting to get another opportunity tomorrow in preparation for what is going to be the tournament next weekend."
Central Michigan grabbed its victories 25-23, 25-20 and 25-9 in sets one, two and four respectfully while dropping set two to the Zips 21-25.
Central Michigan head coach Mike Gawlik was happy with his team's performance and ability to put together four sets of volleyball and leave with a win.
"Set one was a good one" said Gawlik, "It was a close one that could have really gone either way, and in set two, I don't think we played poorly, we just let a few opportunities slip by us. In sets three and four we handled our business…I think we got better throughout the matches as we made adjustments to the speed of their offense."
The offense for CMU was led by Lauren Schrock who charted 17 kills hitting .375 from the outside. Abby Olin left the evening with 12 kills and Natalia Rejment was not far behind with 11. The Chippewas hit .304 on the night while holding the Zips to a .157 team hitting percentage.
Shrock's 17 kills is her eighth Mid-American Conference match this season where she has reached double-digits.
"Lauren has been a real bright spot for us this conference season. She didn't play a whole lot in the preseason, she got healthy and once she got her opportunity, she really capitalized on it. She is gutsy and a competitor, and I think that wears off on the rest of the team and lets them know that they can be gutsy. Nobody will ever argue that Lauren, in the moment, is all gas and no breaks." said Gawlik about his senior outside hitter.
Brooklyn Conner got the start in the middle for the Chippewas in the evening match and made the most of her appearance. The last time Conner saw action this season: the five-set victory over Bowling Green. On the evening, Conner killed six balls hitting .333 but defensively, she recorded seven block assists – a new career high. "Brooklyn is a really good middle blocker for us. We really have three starting caliber middles on our team, and she has been waiting on her time."
Krystina Kasson also made her presence at the net known in the victory recording nine kills with two solo blocks and six block assists. Her six block assists ties a career high that she has now reached four times this season. "I think it is a really cool thing to see out of Krystina. Her blocking is something she has worked really hard on in her career. To see the growth she has been able to have and continue to showcase it in a big end of the year match for us is just so cool.
Kasson has 91 total blocks in the 2024 season. In her previous three seasons for the Chippewas, she totaled 74.
When Conner played against Bowling Green earlier this season, she charted 10 kills and three block assists. "She came into a really big spot for us when we beat BG earlier this season, and she has been ready every day since. She works hard every day and has been getting better for us. With Grace not being 100% tonight, she really stepped up and played her role incredibly well."
Allie Korba, the setter for Central Michigan, surpasses the 1,000-assist mark for the 2024 season in the match and has continued to lead the Chippewas to offensive success.
"If you have options, you can make your offense enforce your team strategy really well." Said Gawlik. "Korba was choosing great options tonight and delivering a really good ball. I think a lot of that is obviously credit to Korba and her decision making, but also to our first ball contact and our setting."
Three different Chippewas recorded 10+ blocks in Rejment, Aly Gurtiza and Hannah Langton. Rejment recorded her 9th double-double of the season with her 14 digs against the Zips. "Our nuggets tonight were just creating really good opportunity for success for us. We wanted to focus on being first-ball terminal today. That doesn't happen without good passing and good first-ball contact."
Central Michigan will remain in Akron for another match on Saturday evening at 6 p.m. The match marks CMU's final regular season match of the year.
"Our focus is about capping this regular season off. We have won 14 conference games, that is something we haven't done in a long time in our program. We are fighting for 15. If we can get 15, we are fighting for 16. Every match is a really cool opportunity to battle with this team and these women. It is exciting to get another opportunity tomorrow in preparation for what is going to be the tournament next weekend."
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