CMU Volleyball sweeps Kent State series
The Central Michigan University volleyball team celebrates scoring a point during set two at McGuirk Arena, on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. The team will host Akron again on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025 for Breast Cancer Awareness. (CM-Life | Jasmine Brookins)
After a shaky start to the season, the Chippewas are showing everyone who they really are after a sweep in Kent, Ohio.
Central Michigan volleyball (7-14, 4-5) hit the road this week, taking on the Kent State Golden Flashes (8-12, 3-6) and walked away with 3-1 win on Thursday and a 3-0 win on Friday.
Game 1
Service aces and grit were pivotal for the Chippewas on Thursday evening. They were able to pick up their fifth Mid-American Conference win, and are making a case for themselves in the MAC standings.
Everything seemed to be going in the right direction for CMU, especially behind the service line. In the first set, five aces gave them the close 25-23 win. While Kent State had a better hitting and blocking percentage, Central Michigan’s effective serving allowed them to come out on top.
Kent State came out with some more tenacity in the third set, determined to keep the match going. Central Michigan lost 25-21 but did make a sizeable comeback after trailing by as much as seven. Although they crawled all the way back up to 24-21 Kent State, this wasn’t enough to secure the third set win.
The Chippewas took this match in the fourth instead, going 3-1. They ended the night with 10 aces, tying their season high for aces in four sets.
Central Michigan’s Natalia Rejment had a hot hand again tonight, picking up her fifth straight double-double with 17 kills and 13 digs. She also led the team in aces with 3. Grace Thomas had 12 kills, and Taylor Cripe and Brooklyn Conner both added 8. Keelyn Muell had 42 assists.
On the defensive side, Izzy Swiercz had 12 digs and Abby Olin penciled in 10.
Game 2
The Chippewas continued their winning ways on the next night, swepping Kent State on Friday night, winning 3-0. Improving to a five game win streak, the Chippewas showcased their offensive dominance, moving to 9-14 overall and 6-5 in the Mid-American Conference.
CMU used KSU’s timid start to gain an early 8-2 lead in the first set, and forced the Golden Flashes to take an early timeout. After, CMU worked to find its rhythm, giving up unforced errors that allowed KSU to claw its way back into the set.
As the Golden Flashes tied the set at 9-9, CMU dug deep to hold onto its lead. The Chippewas took advantage of free balls KSU’s defense gave up, eventually creating a secure gap for the set win. CMU took the first set 25-18, with help from six kills from Grace Thomas, sophomore middle blocker.
The Chippewas comfortably won the second set at 25-19. KSU’s communication and hitting errors prevented them from gaining enough traction in the set. CMU continued to command offensively and defensively, including three service aces and four blocks.
Searching for the sweep, CMU hit at .441 in the third set, winning 25-18. Some Chippewa errors gave KSU snippets of energy, but the CMU hitters were overpowering.
Cripe bullied the Golden Flashes’ blocks, charting seven kills in the set, leading her team with a .625 hitting percentage.
Cripe and Thomas (.375) tallied 11 kills each in the match. Natalia Rejment, senior outside hitter, had 10 kills and nine digs. Muell helped her team with 32 assists. The Chippewas had eight total blocks on the night.
Hunting for a spot in the MAC Tournament, CMU will be back on the road next week, facing off against Eastern Michigan on Tuesday.
