2008 Woodie Awards
Kersten saves best for last
Senior records 103 assists in final two home matches
By: Aaron Vigneault
Issue date: 11/5/07 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
Courtney Kersten played her final regular season match Saturday in Rose Arena.
And she did it in strong fashion.
Kersten played what coach Erik Olson called the best game of her career Friday against Western Michigan with 55 assists and 15 kills, and put together an equally impressive performance Saturday against Northern Illinois, with 53 assists and nine digs.
Kersten is third in the Mid-American Conference with 11.77 assists per game and has led the Chippewas to a winning record in the MAC for the first time since 1996.
Her best asset has been her competitive nature. It's the reason Olson named her a captain as a freshman and has helped to make the CMU program into a winner.
"She's always been ultra-competitive," Olson said. "Sometimes we have to tell her, 'down girl.'"
Kersten's leadership has been a valuable asset to a young CMU team. As the only senior on the team, Kersten has been an extension of Olson on the floor and has helped mentor her successor, sophomore Stephanie Budde.
"She's been awesome," Kersten said. "This program will be in very capable hands in the future."
Olson named Kersten a captain as a freshman to provide stability to an unstable program. She has been able to do that and will missed be next season.
"We're definitely going to miss her leadership on the floor," said sophomore Alexis Lonneman. "She's amazing. I don't know how we'll replace her next season."
Kersten's time in Rose Arena isn't over. The Chippewas have secured a home match in the upcoming MAC tournament and possibly a first-round bye.
CMU travels to Eastern Michigan and Ohio this weekend in an attempt to catch Western Michigan in the MAC West Division. The Broncos are one game ahead of the Chippewas.
"We want to get by the first round and really make an impact in the tournament," Kersten said.
sports@cm-life.com
And she did it in strong fashion.
Kersten played what coach Erik Olson called the best game of her career Friday against Western Michigan with 55 assists and 15 kills, and put together an equally impressive performance Saturday against Northern Illinois, with 53 assists and nine digs.
Kersten is third in the Mid-American Conference with 11.77 assists per game and has led the Chippewas to a winning record in the MAC for the first time since 1996.
Her best asset has been her competitive nature. It's the reason Olson named her a captain as a freshman and has helped to make the CMU program into a winner.
"She's always been ultra-competitive," Olson said. "Sometimes we have to tell her, 'down girl.'"
Kersten's leadership has been a valuable asset to a young CMU team. As the only senior on the team, Kersten has been an extension of Olson on the floor and has helped mentor her successor, sophomore Stephanie Budde.
"She's been awesome," Kersten said. "This program will be in very capable hands in the future."
Olson named Kersten a captain as a freshman to provide stability to an unstable program. She has been able to do that and will missed be next season.
"We're definitely going to miss her leadership on the floor," said sophomore Alexis Lonneman. "She's amazing. I don't know how we'll replace her next season."
Kersten's time in Rose Arena isn't over. The Chippewas have secured a home match in the upcoming MAC tournament and possibly a first-round bye.
CMU travels to Eastern Michigan and Ohio this weekend in an attempt to catch Western Michigan in the MAC West Division. The Broncos are one game ahead of the Chippewas.
"We want to get by the first round and really make an impact in the tournament," Kersten said.
sports@cm-life.com
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