Central Michigan University Athletics
Saturday, September 5
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
Noon
Central Michigan University
0-6,0-0MAC
0
vs
3
Illinois State
4-1,0-0MVC
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois St. | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
| Central Mich. | 20 | 15 | 19 | 0 |
Photo by: Matthew MacPhee '28 - @mattsvisuals_
Two Chippewas Notch Career Highs in Matches Against Illinois State and Michigan State
9/5/2026 8:21:00 PM | Volleyball
Karla Sanchez-George and Lilly Mullholand each recorded eight kills setting new career highs on Saturday afternoon.
MOUNT PLESANT, Mich. –
Central Michigan Volleyball closed out the Heart of the Mitt Invitational on Saturday hosting Illinois State and Michigan State.
The Chippewas dropped both matches in three sets.
The match against the Redbirds was highlighted by Karla Sanchez-George recording a career high in kills (8); Lilly Mullholand completed the same feat in the nightcap against the Spartans.
Taylor Cripe led the Chippewa offense throughout the day tallying 14 kills throughout the two matches. The sophomore totaled 40 kills in the tournament. Defensively, Cripe totaled 26 digs (4.33/set).
On Saturday, between the two matches, Mullholand charted 11 kills hitting .429.
How it happened against the Redbirds
The first set started in a close battle. Set was tied at four and Central Michigan led 8-5 at one point. Illinois State worked back to tie it at eight, and Arielle Wilson called the first timeout of the afternoon.
Out of the timeout Central Michigan fell into a 0-5 hole, but Karla Sanchez-George notched two kills to bring CMU within four at the media timeout; 11-15.
Central Michigan went on a 3-0 run with a kill from Taylor Cripe, one from Lilly Mullholand and a block from Mullholand and Brenna Storz; 17-20, ISU.
The Redbirds sided out and Coach Wilson called her final timeout of the set.
Illinois State had match point at 18-24, but CMU rattled off two points via kill from Alexis Carper and Sanchez-George before the Redbirds ultimately took the set 20-25.
Eight points into the second set CMU called a timeout trailing 1-7.
At a media timeout, CMU was down by 12.
The final timeout was called for CMU trailing behind.
The Chippewas fell to the Redbirds 15-25 in the second set.
In the third set, CMU started down 2-6 to Illinois State when Coach Wilson called her first timeout of the set.
Cripe charted two kills in a four-point stretch for the Chippewas, cutting the deficit to six.
Down by as much as five points in the third set, Central Michigan forced a timeout from Illinois State, putting the Redbirds lead to just two; 18-20.
The Chippewas fought hard to attempt a comeback but ultimately fell to the Redbirds 19-25.
Sanchez-George, the sophomore from Canovanas, Puerto Rico, recorded eight kills in the match setting a new career high after recording her first career kill on Friday night.
The match with Michigan State
The first set began in a close fight with the Chippewas going on a run to take the early lead at 7-6. A quick three kills; one by Lilly Mullholand and two by Jaliyah Cohnes.
A kill by Mullholand, her fourth of the night, tied the match at 13.
At the first media timeout CMU trailed Michigan State 13-15.
The back and forth continued with the Chippewas falling victim to a 3-0 by Michigan State. A kill from Cheyenne Gunner brought the set to 16-19.
Coach Wilson called the first timeout of the set with CMU trailing 16-21.
The Chippewas ended up dropping the first set 18-25.
The second set started out in a tight battle with an early tie at four a piece.
MSU boke the set open with a run of seven points, CMU trailed 4-11.
The Spartans ran away with the second set taking the victory 10-25.
CMU took an early lead in the third set, with two kills from Mullholand and one from Taylor Cripe.
The Chippewas kept fighting, with two kills from Brenna Storz, and one from both Mullholand and Gunner, forcing a timeout from the Spartan bench with CMU leading 10-4.
Michigan State peeled off a five-point run to force the Chippewas into a timeout huddle.
Back-to-back kills from Cripe, brought her total to seven on the evening and put Central Michigan back in the lead at 13-10.
A 4-0 run for the Spartans put CMU into a timeout position once again trailing 16-17.
Michigan State ended up taking the fifth set 19-25.
Lilly Mulholland notched a career high of eight kills (.467%) and Brytn Lyon totaled 19 assists.
The Chippewas move to 0-7 on the season while the Spartans advance to 5-0.
Next, the Chippewas head to Chicago for the DePaul/UIC Invitational. The team will play the two host teams as well as Auburn. The first game is scheduled for Friday, September 11th at 7 p.m. (ET)/ 6 p.m. (CT).
For the latest news and updates on CMU Volleyball, follow the team in X (@cmuvolleyball) and on Instagram (@cmuvolleyball).
Central Michigan Volleyball closed out the Heart of the Mitt Invitational on Saturday hosting Illinois State and Michigan State.
The Chippewas dropped both matches in three sets.
The match against the Redbirds was highlighted by Karla Sanchez-George recording a career high in kills (8); Lilly Mullholand completed the same feat in the nightcap against the Spartans.
Taylor Cripe led the Chippewa offense throughout the day tallying 14 kills throughout the two matches. The sophomore totaled 40 kills in the tournament. Defensively, Cripe totaled 26 digs (4.33/set).
On Saturday, between the two matches, Mullholand charted 11 kills hitting .429.
How it happened against the Redbirds
The first set started in a close battle. Set was tied at four and Central Michigan led 8-5 at one point. Illinois State worked back to tie it at eight, and Arielle Wilson called the first timeout of the afternoon.
Out of the timeout Central Michigan fell into a 0-5 hole, but Karla Sanchez-George notched two kills to bring CMU within four at the media timeout; 11-15.
Central Michigan went on a 3-0 run with a kill from Taylor Cripe, one from Lilly Mullholand and a block from Mullholand and Brenna Storz; 17-20, ISU.
The Redbirds sided out and Coach Wilson called her final timeout of the set.
Illinois State had match point at 18-24, but CMU rattled off two points via kill from Alexis Carper and Sanchez-George before the Redbirds ultimately took the set 20-25.
Eight points into the second set CMU called a timeout trailing 1-7.
At a media timeout, CMU was down by 12.
The final timeout was called for CMU trailing behind.
The Chippewas fell to the Redbirds 15-25 in the second set.
In the third set, CMU started down 2-6 to Illinois State when Coach Wilson called her first timeout of the set.
Cripe charted two kills in a four-point stretch for the Chippewas, cutting the deficit to six.
Down by as much as five points in the third set, Central Michigan forced a timeout from Illinois State, putting the Redbirds lead to just two; 18-20.
The Chippewas fought hard to attempt a comeback but ultimately fell to the Redbirds 19-25.
Sanchez-George, the sophomore from Canovanas, Puerto Rico, recorded eight kills in the match setting a new career high after recording her first career kill on Friday night.
The match with Michigan State
The first set began in a close fight with the Chippewas going on a run to take the early lead at 7-6. A quick three kills; one by Lilly Mullholand and two by Jaliyah Cohnes.
A kill by Mullholand, her fourth of the night, tied the match at 13.
At the first media timeout CMU trailed Michigan State 13-15.
The back and forth continued with the Chippewas falling victim to a 3-0 by Michigan State. A kill from Cheyenne Gunner brought the set to 16-19.
Coach Wilson called the first timeout of the set with CMU trailing 16-21.
The Chippewas ended up dropping the first set 18-25.
The second set started out in a tight battle with an early tie at four a piece.
MSU boke the set open with a run of seven points, CMU trailed 4-11.
The Spartans ran away with the second set taking the victory 10-25.
CMU took an early lead in the third set, with two kills from Mullholand and one from Taylor Cripe.
The Chippewas kept fighting, with two kills from Brenna Storz, and one from both Mullholand and Gunner, forcing a timeout from the Spartan bench with CMU leading 10-4.
Michigan State peeled off a five-point run to force the Chippewas into a timeout huddle.
Back-to-back kills from Cripe, brought her total to seven on the evening and put Central Michigan back in the lead at 13-10.
A 4-0 run for the Spartans put CMU into a timeout position once again trailing 16-17.
Michigan State ended up taking the fifth set 19-25.
Lilly Mulholland notched a career high of eight kills (.467%) and Brytn Lyon totaled 19 assists.
The Chippewas move to 0-7 on the season while the Spartans advance to 5-0.
Next, the Chippewas head to Chicago for the DePaul/UIC Invitational. The team will play the two host teams as well as Auburn. The first game is scheduled for Friday, September 11th at 7 p.m. (ET)/ 6 p.m. (CT).
For the latest news and updates on CMU Volleyball, follow the team in X (@cmuvolleyball) and on Instagram (@cmuvolleyball).
Players Mentioned
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/ Volleyball
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OH
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/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
S/RS
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MB
/ VolleyballTeam Stats
ILS
CMU
Kills
47
27
Errors
14
20
Attempts
106
97
Hitting %
.311
.072
Points
59.0
36.0
Assists
40
23
Aces
6
5
Blocks
6
4
Game Leaders
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
7
Aces
1
Blocks
0
Kills
5
Aces
1
Blocks
2
Kills
3
Aces
0
Blocks
1
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