MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – In a match that couldn't have been much closer, the Green Bay volleyball team beat the Central Michigan Chippewas on the road in five sets (22-25, 25-21, 25-23, 21-25, 15-12). Out of the five sets, neither team won by any more than four points. Green Bay has won two straight matches and moved to 3-6 on the year.
For the second day in a row, Katie Schulz topped a career-high, this time finishing with 20 kills while accumulating a hitting percentage of .255. Cora Behnke added 18 and Danilynn Schell chipped in with 15 as part of a balanced Green Bay attack. On the other end, the Green & White got 25 digs from Abby Gardner, 13 from Calli Gentry, and 12 from Kendall Schara.
HOW IT HAPPENED
SET 1 | After a strong start, the Phoenix fell down early 10-8. Central Michigan would never relinquish that lead and took the first set 25-22. The Chippewas were more efficient than GB in the frame, hitting .286 compared to .132 for the Phoenix.
SET 2 | Green Bay rallied from that first set and took the second set 25-21, tying the match at one set apiece. The Phoenix led from the opening point and had an efficient attacking set themselves, totaling 16 kills while only notching two attack errors in the process to hit .341. The Green Bay offense also got a boost from four aces in the stanza.
SET 3 | That second set momentum moved into the third as GB took the first point of the frame and nearly led the whole way through. CMU battled back and eventually took a 22-21 lead, but Green Bay fought back and won four of the set's final five points to take it 25-23. Neither team opened up a lead of more than three points the entire way.
SET 4 | GB's set win streak came to a halt in the fourth after CMU was able to force a fifth set with a 25-21 fourth-set win. Defense was the name of the game for the hosts, as they forced the Phoenix to hit just .054 throughout the set.
SET 5 | The Phoenix put the pedal to the metal to start the fifth, jumping out to a 7-2 lead after four consecutive Schulz kills and a Chippewa attack error. Central Michigan would fight back, bringing it to 8-7, but Green Bay held strong and secured the match win.
GAME NOTES
» Ellie Kurpeikis had a team-high two aces and four blocks.
» Schulz also finished with four blocks.
» Gentry notched a season-high 54 assists in the match.
» GB won despite stronger offensive stats from CMU. The hosts hit .237 compared to GB's .206.
ON DECK
Green Bay will wrap up nonconference play next weekend when they host Capital Credit Union Classic from Thursday-Saturday. The Phoenix has its home opener against #19 Minnesota on Thursday at 7 p.m. CT.
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