Courtesy: Courtesy Photo

The Central Michigan volleyball team hoists the trophy after winning its first ever MAC Tournament Championship. The Chippewas finished the seaason with a 19-14 record and advanced to their first ever NCAA Tournament.

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Watch: Volleyball Insider 2011 Season Review | Final Stats

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - The 2011 season for the Central Michigan volleyball team will be remembered as a historic season for both the collection of individual and team accomplishments.

The Chippewas finished the season with a 19-14 overall record and sixth in the Mid-American Conference with an 8-8 record. They were able to capture the program's first MAC Tournament Championship, which led to the program's first trip to the NCAA Tournament. Head coach Erik Olson captured win 100 following the first match win of the season while senior Kaitlyn Schultz rewrote the record book.

The Maroon and Gold entered the Mid-American Conference Tournament as the sixth seed and played the third seed, Western Michigan. It was a quick 3-0 match for the Maroon and Gold who were onto the second round to face No. 2 Ohio, a team which Olson had never defeated. In another swift 3-0 match the Chippewas were off to their first MAC Tournament Championship match since 1982.

After claiming the first two sets, the one seed, Northern Illinois fought back and tied things up at two sets apiece. The determination of CMU was too great and it outlasted the Huskies to claim its first ever MAC Tournament Championship. It was also the first time a six seed had ever gone on to win the tournament.

Following the Mid-American Conference Tournament, the Maroon and Gold earned their first berth to the NCAA Tournament. They went up against Illinois, who knocked the Chippewas out, 3-0, and would later go on to be national runner-ups.

"Our team was made up of great talent, we just had to put it all together," said Olson. "The program is knocking on the door of the national stage, and we are close to reaching our goal of being a top-50 program."

The memorable season began with Olson capturing career win 100 in the first win of the season against Saint Louis (3-0). The Chippewas opened the year 4-4 in the first three tournaments (The Iowa Invitational, Oakland Tournament and the Butler Invitational), but turned things around at the Marshall Tournament going 3-0, placing their record at 7-4 overall heading into MAC play.

CMU dropped its first two matches on the road at NIU and WMU, but would go on to win seven out of its next eight contests. It however, finished the regular season winning only one of the final five MAC matches, placing them 8-8 in the conference.

The MAC was highly competitive in 2011 with five of the West schools being in the top-100 RPI rankings and for the first time in MAC history, of any sport, it sent four teams to the NCAA Tournament. The Chippewas defeated five opponents this year whose RPI rankings were higher then their own, the most in program history: Saint Louis (72), Western Michigan (33), Eastern Michigan (100), Ohio (53) and Northern Illinois (16).

The careers of three seniors came to an end following the loss to Illinois, as Schultz, Catherine Ludwig, and Kelsey Detweiler completed their four-year trek in the Maroon and Gold.

Schultz might not be in Maroon and Gold anymore, but her name won't soon be forgotten. She became the 14th member of the Chippewas' 1,000-kill club, and finished ninth all-time with 1,204 kills. Schultz also became the first player in program history to earn four All-MAC accolades. She set the CMU career hitting percentage record with a .366 percentage and for her senior season she hit .407 placing her second all-time on the single-season chart.

She also left her mark on the defensive side moving to fifth all-time in block assists, with 304, and is ninth on the all-time blocks chart, with 370.

The Chippewas now turn their attention to offseason training and the 2012 campaign.

The 2012 squad will be loaded with veteran talent once again, with seniors, Lindsey Dulude (2.62 kills/set), Val DeWeerd (1.79 kills/set), Katie Schuette (1.37 kills/set) and Jocelyn VerVelde (1.81 kills/set) along with juniors Kelly Maxwell (10.95 assists/set), who finished the season sixth on CMU's single-season assists chart with 1,314, and Danielle Gotham (1.98 kills/set).

"Maxwell did pretty fantastic for us this year as she was a very important part of our team's success," said Olson. "Our outside hitters are going to continue to get stronger and stronger. I look for this position to be very good for us next year. We will also return Gotham back who had a breakout season as a sophomore and we look forward to what she can bring in 2012. With VerVelde and DeWeerd both back I think we will have one of the best right sides in the conference."

All-MAC freshmen team member Kaitlyn McIntyre will look to pick up where she left off, finishing her freshman campaign with the most kills among freshmen in CMU history, with 409.

Jenna Coates (4.25 digs/set) will likely anchor the defense as she enters her junior season, fourth on the CMU all-time digs list with 544. Alongside her on the backline will be senior Samantha Brawley (1.83 digs/set) and redshirt sophomore Haley Barker.

"Coates made huge strides this year," commented Olson. "She is one of those players who is just going to continue to get better and better, and we will look to her leadership next year. We have a team that believes and is made up of very special people. The number one goal on our goal board is MAC Champions so this group fully expects to be competing for that next year."

All-MAC First Team
Kara Bates, Ball State
Jennifer Boyd, Ball State
Kelsey Brandl, Ball State
Catie Fredrich, Ball State
Danielle Tonyan, Bowling Green
Kaitlyn Schultz, Central Michigan
Rachel Iaquaniello, Eastern Michigan
Ashley Mason, Eastern Michigan
Haley Stein, Eastern Michigan
Cassie Farrell, Miami
Kristin Hoffman, Northern Illinois
Mary Kurisch, Northern Illinois
Lauren Wicinski, Northern Illinois
Kelly Lamberti, Ohio
Katie Post, Ohio
Jessica Brown, Western Michigan
Terin Norris, Western Michigan
Lena Oliver, Western Michigan

All-MAC Freshman Team
Liz Scott, Buffalo
Kaitlyn McIntyre, Central Michigan
Megan Crawshaw, Eastern Michigan
Chelsea Bilger, Ohio
Kelly Lamberti, Ohio
Terin Norris, Western Michigan