CMU volleyball loses two straight in Ohio series
Central Michigan volleyball players line up for the National Anthem before the game against Bowling Green State University at McGuirk Arena, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025. (CMLife | Alivia Cranick)
Central Michigan (9-16, 6-7) volleyball dropped its weekend series to the Ohio Bobcats (10-15, 8-5), losing 3-0 on Friday night and 3-1 on Saturday night at home.
“I think we’re really focused on what we have to control,” head coach Arielle Wilson said. “So certain people I think had a good night, and others just need to continually get better.”
Despite some hard-fought points, CMU dropped an electric first set 29-27 to Ohio.
As the Bobcats had an aggressive start, CMU struggled to gain traction early in the first set. Too many errors and too few kills put the Chippewas down 13-8. After a timeout, CMU scraped its way back into the set with a six-point run to take the lead at 14-13.
Finally responding to Ohio's energy, the Chippewas brought some intensity of their own. CMU kept it close until the end as it fought off two set points. Senior outside hitter Abby Olin led her team with four kills in the set, hitting at .375.
The Chippewas lost the second set 25-21. Despite the set loss, CMU stayed consistent on defense, recording six blocks with help from Brooklyn Conner, senior middle blocker, and Taylor Cripe, freshman outside hitter.
Offensively, CMU struggled in the set, charting only 11 kills and hitting at .086.
In the third set, errors once again hindered the Chippewas from gaining rhythm to pull out a win. With its thundering kills overpowering the CMU blocks, Ohio took the match with a 25-23 set win.
The Chippewas forced four match points as the Bobcats were looking to close out the game. Conner helped with a crucial block followed by a kill during this short CMU rally.
With the loss, CMU is tied for sixth in the Mid-American Conference volleyball standings with just under a month left in the regular season.
“We always talk about what we did well and then a little bit of what they're going to do differently tomorrow,” said Wilson, reflecting on her team’s loss.
Game 2
Redemption was not on the menu for the Chippewas tonight, no matter how close they may have been.
CMU lost its second game against Ohio on Saturday evening, 1-3. Although they were hoping to close the weekend with a split, Ohio’s strong hitting and court awareness were too much to handle.
It was an all too familiar start of the night for CMU, who stuck with the Bobcats all the way to 28-26. Then, they lost in the second set 25-21, the same score as the night prior. x
The third set, CMU’s only win of the night, had Chippewa fans looking for a reverse sweep. In this one, Olin picked up her 250th career block, a significant milestone for the redshirt senior. Central Michigan finally started clicking, and an ace by Izzy Swiercz, followed by a massive Natalia Rejment kill, secured the 25-21 win.
Although the Chippewas hoped to hang around for another two sets, the Bobcats put CMU away for good in the fourth.
Ohio took advantage of Central Michigan’s holes all night, specifically in the center of the court. The Chippewas got caught on their heels more than once, and this inevitably cost them the game.
Rejment led CMU in kills with 12, followed by Cripe with 11 and Brooklyn Conner with eight. Keelyn Muell had 30 assists, led the team in digs with nine, and was able to pick up two service aces. Alina Anderson and Hannah Langton followed with seven digs apiece.
The Chippewas are back at McGuirk Arena next Friday, taking on the Miami (OH) RedHawks at 6 p.m.
