CMU volleyball falls to Miami (OH), Ball State
Central Michigan University sophomore outside hitter Taylor Cripe jumps to spike the ball at the volleyball game at McGuirk Arena on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. Cripe had seven kills, 10 digs and one serving ace. (CM Life | Jasmine Brookins)
The volleyball season is more than halfway over, and the Chippewas have yet to enter the win column.
The Central Michigan volleyball team is now 0-19 overall and 0-6 in Mid-American Conference play after falling to both Miami (Ohio) (13-5, 5-2) and Ball State (12-5, 3-3) over the weekend.
Game 1
Volleyball is a game of runs, and the RedHawks were full of them on Friday evening.
In the second set, Miami (OH) took full control. The RedHawks went on an 11-point run in the middle of the set, taking a 19-5 lead.
Central Michigan struggled to gain momentum for the entirety of the set, and the RedHawks’ hitting percentage of .429 was difficult for the Chippewas to defend.
Miami (OH) took this set with a final score of 25-9.
CMU had a fighting chance in the other two sets, as they lost by only four points in the first.
After Miami (OH) extended its lead to seven late in the first set, CMU perked up and responded with a 5-0 scoring run.
This shaved the RedHawks’ lead to just two, but Miami (OH) steadied themselves to take this set, 25-21.
Both teams ran an efficient offense in the final set, with Central Michigan hitting .517 and the RedHawks .567.
The RedHawks completed the sweep in this set, though, 25-17.
Sophomore outside hitter Taylor Cripe charted 16 kills in the matchup and added two blocks.
This marks Cripe’s fourth career game with over 15 kills.
Sophomore right-side hitter Karla Sanchez-George charted six kills, while sophomore middle blocker Lilly Mullholand had four.
Sophomore setter Brytn Lyon dished out 17 assists, and freshman setter Audrey Hackney had 14.
Sophomore libero Rainey Weidman led the Chippewas’ defense with 10 digs, followed closely by freshman defensive specialist Addison Samolinski, who recorded nine.
Game 2
The Chippewas' trip to Muncie, Indiana to take on Ball State the following day ended in another sweep.
After dropping their last three conference games, the Cardinals found their groove Saturday afternoon.
They recorded 13 service aces and 43 kills while hitting .340 during the match.
Central Michigan, on the other hand, struggled to get things moving. They had only 29 kills and ended the night with a .195 hitting percentage.
The two teams were tied at 18 in the first set, but several errors paved the way for a 25-20 Ball State win.
Then, the Cardinals took the next two sets, both 25-14.
Ball State put a bow on the weekend with an 8-0 run and a powerful middle hit to end the third set.
Cripe picked up her ninth career double-double against the Cardinals with 12 kills and 14 digs.
Lyon recorded 13 assists, and Hackney dished 10.
After a long road stretch, the Chippewas head back home for a two-match series against Kent State next week. They will play the Golden Flashes on Wednesday at 6 p.m. and Thursday at 4 p.m. in McGuirk Arena.
