Volleyball season ends with loss to Western Michigan
The Central Michigan University volleyball team’s 2014 season is over.
The Chippewas fell to Northern Illinois University Friday, before losing to Western Michigan University Saturday.
The women finished the year at 10-18 overall and 5-11 in the Mid-American Conference Tournament. CMU came up one win short of the final spot in the MAC Tournament next weekend.
Just as it has all season, a slow start plagued the women in their pair of losses over the weekend.
“We dug ourselves in some pretty big holes,” coach Erik Olson said. “I thought that our team showed a lot of character in how it played these matches this weekend.”
After losing control of its postseason chances Friday, the Chippewas’ season came down to its match against rival WMU. CMU needed a win and a Buffalo University loss to Toledo to qualify for the tournament.
Olson said the team did not pay attention to what the Bison’s were doing and focused squarely on what they could control themselves.
“The team did not know what happened anywhere else in the MAC,” he said. “When we were watching our website, we all agreed not to. We didn’t want to put any extra pressure on ourselves. We just wanted to play our game.”
CMU fell behind WMU 2-0, but foiled the Broncos hopes of a sweep by winning the third set 25-21.
Senior Kaitlyn McIntyre finished the weekend with 29 kills and 24 digs while freshman setter Kylie Copple tallied 85 assists and Bueter added 22 kills.
McIntyre said that even with the disappointing end to the season, the Chippewas are poised for great things moving forward.
“Obviously it hurts not to make the MAC tournament,” McIntyre said. “We wish it could have turned out in our favor, but it is what it is. We never gave up, and I think this program will have a bright future.”
