CMU volleyball drops three in Sunshine State
Central Michigan University freshman defensive specialist/libero Addison Samolinski receives the ball at the volleyball game at McGuirk Arena on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. Samolinski had five digs against Michigan State University. (CM Life | Jasmine Brookins)
Game 1
The CMU volleyball team fell in its first match of the 305 Classic in Miami, Florida against Florida International University.
The Panthers hit the ground running in the first set, picking up an early 7-1 lead and beating CMU by 16 points.
Central Michigan put up a fight in the second, though.
A challenge early in the set granted the Chippewas some much-needed momentum and tied the score at five.
The two teams went back and forth the remainder of the set, and a kill by sophomore outside hitter Taylor Cripe placed CMU just behind the Panthers, 18-17.
FIU went on a run late in the set, which was snapped by another Cripe kill that cut it to 22-21 FIU.
Just when CMU thought they might take the set, FIU went on a three-point run to seal the set and stay on track for a sweep.
Central Michigan hit -0.208 in the third set and ultimately fell 25-14.
Cripe led the Chippewas with eight kills in the match and picked up six digs. Sophomore defensive specialist/libero Rainey Weidman also had six digs.
Freshman middle blocker Brenna Storz and freshman outside hitter Alexis Carper both recorded four kills each. Carper picked up four digs as well.
Game 2
The Chippewas picked up a set win in their matchup with Jacksonville University but lost the match in four sets.
After their loss earlier in the day to FIU, CMU had only a few hours to regroup before taking on the Dolphins.
The first set was promising for Central Michigan.
A kill from Cripe tied the set at 15, and a middle hit by Storz gave CMU the lead 16-15.
This was quickly followed by an ace from freshman defensive specialist Audrey Hackney, then two more CMU points, which prompted Jacksonville to call a timeout.
The Dolphins’ success was short-lived out of the timeout, as CMU went on another run to put the score at 22-18.
Another Cripe kill settled this one, 25-20.
The Chippewas hit .406 throughout the set and charted 15 kills, their best offensive performance of the day.
Despite the promising start for the Chippewas, the rest of the match was all in favor of Jacksonville.
The Dolphins were especially dominant in the fourth and final set, in which they went on a 9-0 run to extend the lead to 11 points.
Seven of these points were from the service line, as Jacksonville’s freshman setter Ana Nastase racked up aces during the run.
The Chippewas fell 25-15 in the final set of the night, wrapping up the first day of the 305 Classic.
Cripe led the Chippewas’ offense with nine kills, followed by Storz, who charted eight.
Senior outside hitter Jaliyah Cohnes picked up seven kills, a career-high. She also had a career-high in digs with five.
Sophomore middle blocker Lilly Mullholand and sophomore opposite hitter Karla Sanchez-George each had six kills.
Mullholand had a career-high of three blocks in the match, while Storz and sophomore setter Brytn Lyon each had four blocks.
Both Cripe and Hackney picked up seven digs.
Game 3
The Chippewas fell in their single match of the day on Saturday to Alabama A&M.
Cripe led CMU with 11 kills, while Mullholand and Storz each had seven.
Lyon picked up 13 digs, sophomore defensive specialist Cecelia Bustamente had nine and Cripe had eight.
Alabama A&M’s top two hitters of the day, fifth-year outside hitter Garret Tomlin and junior outside hitter Rayishon Jackman, combined for 39 kills.
The Chippewas put up a good fight in the first and third sets, still losing by three and five, respectively. However, the Bulldogs dominated the second set.
The Chippewas open Mid-American Conference play next week against Eastern Michigan University. The game is on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at McGuirk Arena.
