2B || Friday, Nov. 16, 2012 || Central Michigan Life
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[SportS]
Volleyball team set to take on no. 3 Western Michigan to open MAc tournament today By Morgan Yuncker Staff Reporter
Central Michigan will contend for the Mid-American Conference Volleyball Championship, set to kick off today in Geneva, Ohio. No. 6 CMU will play the number three seed, which happens to be rival Western Michigan at 1:30 p.m. “The key to getting past Western is to be us and play our game,” junior setter Kelly Maxwell said. “It’s going to be a battle, and, as long as we play our game, we’ll be good to go.” The two teams have already faced off this year twice. CMU won the first match 3-2, and WMU took the second meeting, 3-0. “They’re playing good; probably the best ball in the conference right now, so we have to focus on just them,” head coach Erik Olson said. The Broncos are 13-3 in the MAC, while the Chippewas are 9-7. CMU has won its last three games after coming off a six-game losing streak. The final game of the regular season against Ball State went down to the last point, when the Chippewas pulled out a win in game
staRteRs | cOntInueD FROM 1B One of the returning players from last season’s roster was sharp-shooting sophomore guard Austin Keel. Keel played in 32 games last season and didn’t start in any but shot 31 percent from threepoint range. “He’s a true off-guard position and has been in that starting rotation,” Davis said. “When we use that first sub, it’s a minute in and at the three guard position to get a little more speed and size.” Freshman forward John Simons is the lone freshman recruit from the previous staff and has found a spot in
BasketBaLL| cOntInueD FROM 1B second half that helped the Hawkeyes seal the deal, and Fowler said he believes CMU can’t let those runs happen for a chance to have a successful season. “We have to sustain inten-
anDreW KUhn/fILe Photo
Sophomore outside hitter Kaitlyn McIntyre spikes the ball Sept. 22 against Western Michigan at McGuirk Arena. McIntyre finished the match with 27 kills and 14 digs during the team’s 3-1 win over the Broncos.
five of the match, 17-15. Maxwell helped lead the offense against Ball State, accumulating 79 assists — a career-high for her. “I never know how many assists I’m at, but it is pretty cool,” Maxwell said. “I looked up at one point and saw McIntyre had 25 kills and Lindsey had like 20. I was like ‘wow, we’re getting up there.’ It’s a product on how well our offense is getting after it.” Keeping Maxwell and the
CMU offense playing the way they are will be important to the Chippewas in making a run in the tournament, which comes from a strong defense. “Our passers are passing really well right now, and it’s allowed her to run a really nice offense,” Olson said. “She’s feeling the game really well right now, and our outsides are doing a good job.”
Davis’ starting five. Simons brings height, as well as range on the floor, that can spread out defenses. “He made a great choice being here at Central; this place really fits him, and his style fits in as well,” Davis said. “I’m really happy that the one signee from the previous staff was John.” Coming in, Davis discovered quickly that his team is undersized. But after summer workouts, senior forward Zach Saylor rejoined the team and has given CMU the inside presence it desperately needed. “When we had our August minicamp, we didn’t have Zach Saylor on the team, and I felt like, if we had somebody with size and strength, that it would not only help our defense and rebounding, but also be a great
opportunity for a true post player to be able to play oneon-one inside,” Davis said. Those are the five Chippewas who have started games this season; however, Davis said it’s not about who is out on the floor to start; it’s about minutes, and there are a few others coming off the bench who could start. Players like freshman guard Derrick Richardson Jr. have earned starting minutes off the bench. “We’ve probably got about eight guys right now who all deserve to start,” Davis said. “Richardson is definitely one of those eight guys right now, challenging for that starting rotation.”
sity for 40 minutes,” Fowler said. “There was a time in the second half of the Iowa game where we tied it and then took two or three plays off and they made shots. We can’t do that if we want to be a good team.” With a Division III team coming into McGuirk Arena, there is no doubt the Chippewas will be a large favorite, but Davis is not just looking
for the first official tally in the win column. “We’re out there to win a basketball game and give fans an early opportunity to see the team, (which) will help build our momentum,” Davis said. “We’re trying to build our crowd and our student section.”
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anDreW KUhn/Staff PhotogRaPheR
Sophomore guard Jessica Green defends Ohio’s Ashley Fowler on Jan. 25 at McGuirk Arena. Green finished the game with 15 points, six assists and six rebounds in a 67-53 win over the Bobcats.
University of Wisconson-Green Bay up next for women’s basketball Saturday By Mark Cavitt Staff Reporter
No. 25 Wisconsin-Green Bay awaits CMU as the women’s basketball team travels to Green Bay at 3 p.m. on Saturday for a showdown of two potent offenses. Head coach Sue Guevara said she’s pleased with the team’s overall play so far this season. “I have been impressed with the way we’ve finished, the consistency and the speed we have played at,” Guevara said. UW-GB’s national ranking ties the program’s earliest raking in school history and marks the sixth time in nine seasons and fourth consecutive season it has been ranked. Guevara said that in order to defeat UW-GB, the team has to play strong offensively and attack the glass on defense. “We’re going to have to slow down their transition and match their intensity, their versatility and also handle the crowd,” Guevara said. “There is going to be a lot of emotion. They are a team that is similar to us, and it’s going to be a good measuring stick game to see where we are in comparison to teams like us.” UM-GB returns four of their top-five scorers from last season but lost their scoring, rebounding and assists leader from last season in Julie Wojta.
“We have to make sure we are rebounding and keeping their players in front of us.” Jessica Green, sophomore guard Last season, UW-GB outscored their opponents by an average of 19 points, and CMU sophomore guard Jessica Green, the reigning MAC West player of the week, said she knows the team must defend well in order to defeat UW-GB at Kress Events Center, where it finished 16-1 last season. “We have to make sure we are rebounding and keeping their players in front of us,” Green said. “We need to work on getting back on defense and being very vocal. We have to play well on defense and not let them get anything easy. We can’t make them think just because they’re ranked 25th in the country that they can just win.” Green said there are still some things the team can improve on moving forward. “We need to work on talking more and stop getting down on ourselves when things go wrong,” Green said. “Rebounding is also something we need to improve on, but the biggest thing is our transition defense.” In the opening weekend, Green led the Chippewas in scoring, chipping in with 15 points in their win over Bradley and scoring
25 points Sunday against Northwestern. “I contribute my success to making plays for my teammates and myself,” she said. “I have been working on my pull-up jumper in the offseason and my defense, which makes my offense come together. I’ve also worked on being more vocal with my teammates and working together.” Guevara said the team’s variety of scorers make them a threat offensively. “Balanced scoring is important,” Guevara said. “All five players on the court have the capability of scoring in double figures when we have consistent scoring, which can make it difficult for teams to beat us.” Controlling the pace of play is also important with UW-GB’s size, and Guevara said dictating pace of play starts with rebounding. “If you want to control the tempo of the game, you have to control the glass,” Guevara said. “We need them to take hurried shots inside and outside, and we need to take more than one shot if we miss by attacking the glass on offense and defense.” sports@cm-life.com
Dine Dine In In or or Take Take Out Out
weekendideas
Friday, November 16 Adopt-A-Family Match Day 106 10:00am – Bovee UC: Room
8:00pm Warriner Hall Plachta Auditorium
Homeless in Paradise Documentary
CMU Football
CMU Men’s Basketball
Prospective Staff Night for RA/MA Candidates
12:00pm – Bovee UC: Upper Lobby
vs. Olivet 7:00pm at HOME
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Saturday, November 17 Festival Chorus
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