Central Michigan Life

Issue date: 11/7/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Matthew Stephens Junior outside hitter Sarah Warner reaches for a ball Saturday against Northern Illinois. [Click to enlarge]

The volleyball team begins its final weekend of regular season play at 7 p.m. Thursday at Eastern Michigan.

The Eagles are 18-11 overall and 8-6 in the Mid-American Conference.

Central (20-8 overall, 9-5 MAC) has won its last seven matches and eight of the last 10. The Chippewas are just one game behind MAC West Division-leading Western Michigan.

"I wouldn't say we've peaked," said coach Erik Olson. "We are definitely playing well right now, though."

Once again, CMU had a player honored as the MAC West Division Player of the Week in senior setter Courtney Kersten. Kersten has earned the honor twice this season, as has junior Kate Fissel.

Kersten is coming off of one of the best weekends of her career. She had 55 assists, 15 digs and five kills last Friday against the Broncos in what Olson called the best game of her career.

Kersten's presence on the floor has been an invaluable asset to a young CMU team.

"She's an outstanding leader on the floor," said sophomore libero Alexis Lonneman, who set a MAC record with 42 digs Saturday against Northern Illinois. "She keeps us focused and motivated."

The Eagles have five seniors who will be honored Thursday in Ypsilanti as part of senior night, in contrast to the Chippewas, who have just one senior. Katie Bates, Corey Calcamuggio, Abby Reenders, Becky Reenders and Kate Sulewski have posted a 28-10 record at home during their time at EMU.

Kersten said the team has broken the last two weekends of the regular season into quarters and isn't looking ahead to Saturday's opponent, MAC East Division-leading Ohio.

"We took care of the first two quarters," Kersten said. "Now it's time to get the third."


sports@cm-life.com

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