Volleyball drops to 1-2 in MAC play with loss to Eastern Michigan
CMU's sophomore outside hitter Taylor Robertson spikes the ball against Nebraska Omaha on Saturday, Sept. 19 at McGuirk Arena.
In similar fashion to many matches this season, Central Michigan’s volleyball team folded late, this time to Mid-American Conference foe Eastern Michigan.
For the past two seasons, the Chippewas (6-10, 1-2 MAC) have been known to start slow, and lose leads late into matches, ultimately losing the set. On Thursday, they did both.
The Eagles defeated the Chippewas 3-1 Thursday night at the Convocation Center, capturing their first MAC win of 2015.
Aiming to send the match to a fifth and final set, CMU led 18-16 in the fourth set. The Chippewas appeared to be in control until back-to-back kills by Eastern Michigan, and consecutive attack errors by CMU gave momentum to the Eagles.
EMU (9-7, 1-2 MAC) would use that 4-point run to take the fourth set 25-22, and the match, putting the stops on a possible win streak for CMU.
CMU’s Taylor Robertson finished the match with 16 kills, and junior setter Kathia Sanchez distributed the ball well recording 41 assists.
The Eagles were led by senior standout Stacey Perinar, who had a team-high 15 kills. EMU’s setter Mallory Rajewski matched Sanchez's performance with 41 assists of her own.
Set One: EMU 25, CMU 19
Leading 14-12, EMU used a 6-3 run to open up a 20-15 advantage, drawing the first blow of the evening. The Eagles’ Perinar had four kills and freshman middle blocker Cassie Haut added three to help EMU get off to a quick start.
Set Two: CMU 25, EMU 21
Already down 1-0 in the win column, the Chippewas got themselves on the board with a strong start the set. CMU was up 16-8 before the Eagles were able to make adjustments.
Robertson’s third kill of the set gave CMU the victory and tied the match setting up a crucial third set dual.
Set Three: EMU 25, CMU 18
Whatever momentum the Chippewas had heading into the third set, the Eagles took it away early forcing CMU to use its two timeouts midway through the set trailing 21-17. Perinar was dominate again, posting six kills, including the set-winning kill that gave EMU a 2-1 lead.
Set Four: EMU 25, CMU 22
Three attack errors, and a serving error down the stretch pulled the plug on the Chippewas comeback efforts. Trailing 18-17, the Eagles would go on a 7-4 run after CMU’s freshman libero Jamison Wolffis committed a service error that gave EMU life.
The Eagles made sure it didn’t allow CMU the opportunity to force a fifth set, as the Eagles took advantage of every error sealing the victory at home.
Looking Ahead
CMU returns to the court Saturday at McGuirk Arena at 8 p.m. against Kent State. The Golden Flashes were swept by Ohio on Thursday night, so both teams will be looking to get back in the win column.
