RALEIGH, N.C. - Sophomore Kaitlyn McIntyre recorded 33 kills and junior Jenna Coates dug 44 attacks in two matches as the Chippewas went 1-1 at the Courtyard Midtown Invitational Saturday.

The Chippewas (6-4) opened the day with a 3-1 victory over Western Carolina (2-7) after dropping the first set, but fell, 3-1, to host N.C. State (8-1) later in the evening after taking the first set.

McIntyre and junior Danielle Gotham were named to the all-tournament team for their outstanding performances throughout the weekend. McIntyre recorded 40 kills in total, while Gotham made 29 kills and nine blocks.

The Chippewas finished the weekend tournament, the last of the season, with a 2-1 record overall.

Central Michigan returns to Mount Pleasant to host IPFW Saturday, Sep. 15, at 7 p.m. at McGuirk Arena.

Chippewas Take First Set Against NC State, But Fall 3-1

Central Michigan claimed the first set, 25-20, on a 6-1 closing run, but fell in three successive sets to host N.C, State. Three points or fewer decided the final three sets.

McIntyre, senior Lindsey Dulude and Gotham each recorded double-digit kills - 17, 14 and 12, respectively - and junior Kelly Maxwell assisted on 55 points. Coates led the defensive effort with 25 digs, while freshman Angelique White recorded three solo blocks and two block assists.

Neither side led the closely contested first set by more than four points until the very end.  After the Wolfpack scored three consecutive points to even the score, 19-19, and force a CMU timeout, the Chippewas responded with a 6-1 run to close out the set. The Maroon and Gold got a kill from senior Val DeWeerd directly following the timeout, and Dulude and McIntyre recorded back-to-back kills to give the Chippewas a 24-20 set point advantage. The Pack committed an attack error to seal the set, 25-20.

The Chippewas kept the momentum into the second set with an opening 6-0 run, capped by McIntyre’s second kill of the run. N.C. State responded with a run of its own to take a 14-9 lead. The Pack widened the gap to 20-11, but the Chippewas answered back with 10 of the following 12 points to pull within two, 23-21. During that stretch Gotham recorded three kills, and McIntyre two The two side traded points before the Pack earned the set victory, 25-22 on a CMU service error.

The third set started and finished much like the second, but the Chippewas kept the score closer throughout the middle of the set.  CMU opened with a 4-1 lead, but the Pack ultimately overcame the Chippewas to again set up a 24-22 set point score in favor of N.C. State. The Pack won the final point, again on a CMU error, this time of the attacking variety, to take a 25-22 set victory.

McIntyre and Dulude each finished the set with five kills apiece.

The Chippewas took a 4-1 lead at the beginning of the fourth set, and eventually extended the advantage to 15-9 midway through the set on a kill by McIntyre. The Pack fought back to tie the set, 21-21. The two sides traded points back and forth, with the Chippewas earning a set point opportunity at 25-24 on two consecutive kills by Dulude. N.C. State tied it at 25-25, but a Wolfpack service error again gave CMU a chance at set point, 26-25. Again the Pack tied the set, and again the Chippewas earned a third set-point opportunity on a kill by White, 27-26. The Pack scored the final three points to take the set and the match, 29-27

Chippewas Earn 3-1 Victory Over Western Carolina

Central Michigan dropped its first set against Western Carolina, but took the following three to claim a 3-1 victory over Catamounts.

The Chippewas limited Western Carolina to no more than a .056 hitting percentage in the final three sets, including a -.136 mark in the third set. In the third set, the Maroon and Gold allowed the Catamounts, who committed more errors than kills, 7-4, just eight points.

Four Chippewas recorded double-digit kills, led by McIntyre with 16. DeWeerd slammed home 13, while Gotham and Dulude each recorded 11. Maxwell finished with 46 assists.

Defensively, four players dug 10 or more attacks, led by Coates with 19. Dulude recorded 18, while McIntyre and senior Samantha Brawley each had 11. White made four block assists, while Maxwell, Dulude and sophomore Hallie Enderle recorded three block assists.

Neither side took more than a three point lead throughout the first set. The Chippewas fought off a 23-24 set point deficit with a Dulude kill, but the catamounts took the final two points for a 26-24 set victory.

The Catamounts took their momentum into the second set, jumping out to a 7-1 lead. Western Carolina led for most of the early portion of the set until the Chippewas rallied back with 19 of 23 points to take a 24-16 set point advantage. Gotham and DeWeerd each recorded three kills during that stretch. WCU claimed three straight points to pull within 5, but an attack error by the Catamounts ended the set, 25-19.

Central Michigan jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the third set and never looked back. McIntyre slammed home six kills and the Catamounts committed 12 errors, including one to close the set, 25-8. The Chippewas recorded a .409 hitting percentage, and only committed attacking errors in the set.

The Maroon and Gold jumped out to a 19-10 lead in the fourth set, and the Catamounts never got closer than 20-16 for the remainder of the set, which CMU claimed, 25-18, to earn a match victory. Gotham recorded four kills in the set, while DeWeerd and Dulude made three apiece.