Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, August 27
College Park, Md.
1 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
1-1
3
vs
1
Sacred Heart
1-1
1
2
3
4
F
Eastern Michigan
25
25
19
25
3
Sacred Heart
18
20
25
22
1
Eagles Sweep Day Two of Maryland Invite
8/27/2016 6:10:00 PM | Volleyball
The Eagles closed out the weekend with a 2-1 record
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (EMUEagles.com) – Veteran leadership fueled the Eastern Michigan University women's volleyball team to a 2-0 showing on day two of the Maryland Invite Saturday, Aug. 27, to close out opening weekend. The Eagles (2-1) took down Sacred Heart University, 3-1, before sweeping Delaware State University, 3-0.
"I'm proud of the effort of this young team in our first weekend," EMU Head Coach Kimi Olson said. "We have a lot of great pieces that are really coming together after the last few weeks of practice. Jordan, Devon, and Mallory brought experience to this young group and their efforts helped carry the rookies to a 2-1 weekend."
In EMU's first match of the day, sophomore Jordan Smith (Solon, Iowa-Solon) registered a career-high 20 kills to lead the Green and White attack. Smith paced the Eagles, hitting .395, while adding five digs and four blocks. Senior Devon Murray (Shelby, Ohio-Shelby) was the other Eagle to reach double-digit kills, chipping in 10. Redshirt sophomore Mallory Rajewski (Midland, Mich.-Midland) pieced together another strong all-around effort, handing out 45 assists, seven digs, and two blocks.
As a team, the Eagles boasted a .288 kill percentage. EMU's season-high 11 blocks disrupted SHU's hitters, holding their counterparts to a .172 clip. Sacred Heart held the upperhand in service aces, 9-3, with freshman Rachel Irbe (Greenfield, Ind.-Greenfield Central) recording all three for the Green and White. Irbe's serving was matched by outstanding play defensively, as the Greenfield, Ind. native added 16 assists. Fellow freshman Camille Schomer (Rochester, Mich.-Oakland Christian) turned in a team-high 18 digs in the match.
The Green and White's defense took it up a notch in the second match of the day as the Eagles dominated Delaware State. DSU hit at a .025 clip as freshman Riley Taylor (Indianapolis, Ind.-Perry Meridian) and the Eagles' attack kept the Hornets off balance. Behind Taylor's balanced distribution of the ball, three Eagles totaled double-digit kills. Smith led the way with 11 kills and added four digs, two aces, and a block while freshman Ariel Hamby (Oak Park, Ill.-Oak Park River Forest) tied a team-high with 11 kills, while hitting at a team-best .600 clip. Hamby also added two digs and three blocks in the win. The final Eagle to reach double-digits was junior Kelly Ferguson (Lemont, Ill.-Lemont), who added 10 kills, two aces, and two digs. Defensively, senior Melva Smith (South Holland, Ill.-Thornwood (South Suburban)) tied a career-high with four blocks. Sophomore Alyssa LaFace (Allen Park, Mich.-Allen Park) paced the play in the back row with eight digs, and Taylor and Mary Helen Beacom (Downers Grove, Ill.-Downers Grove North) added seven digs each.
The Eagles continue the season next weekend, Sept. 2-3, at the Cleveland State Invitational. EMU opens play Friday, Sept. 2, against Cleveland State at 10 a.m. before taking on the Tennessee and Wright State later in the weekend.
"I'm proud of the effort of this young team in our first weekend," EMU Head Coach Kimi Olson said. "We have a lot of great pieces that are really coming together after the last few weeks of practice. Jordan, Devon, and Mallory brought experience to this young group and their efforts helped carry the rookies to a 2-1 weekend."
In EMU's first match of the day, sophomore Jordan Smith (Solon, Iowa-Solon) registered a career-high 20 kills to lead the Green and White attack. Smith paced the Eagles, hitting .395, while adding five digs and four blocks. Senior Devon Murray (Shelby, Ohio-Shelby) was the other Eagle to reach double-digit kills, chipping in 10. Redshirt sophomore Mallory Rajewski (Midland, Mich.-Midland) pieced together another strong all-around effort, handing out 45 assists, seven digs, and two blocks.
As a team, the Eagles boasted a .288 kill percentage. EMU's season-high 11 blocks disrupted SHU's hitters, holding their counterparts to a .172 clip. Sacred Heart held the upperhand in service aces, 9-3, with freshman Rachel Irbe (Greenfield, Ind.-Greenfield Central) recording all three for the Green and White. Irbe's serving was matched by outstanding play defensively, as the Greenfield, Ind. native added 16 assists. Fellow freshman Camille Schomer (Rochester, Mich.-Oakland Christian) turned in a team-high 18 digs in the match.
The Green and White's defense took it up a notch in the second match of the day as the Eagles dominated Delaware State. DSU hit at a .025 clip as freshman Riley Taylor (Indianapolis, Ind.-Perry Meridian) and the Eagles' attack kept the Hornets off balance. Behind Taylor's balanced distribution of the ball, three Eagles totaled double-digit kills. Smith led the way with 11 kills and added four digs, two aces, and a block while freshman Ariel Hamby (Oak Park, Ill.-Oak Park River Forest) tied a team-high with 11 kills, while hitting at a team-best .600 clip. Hamby also added two digs and three blocks in the win. The final Eagle to reach double-digits was junior Kelly Ferguson (Lemont, Ill.-Lemont), who added 10 kills, two aces, and two digs. Defensively, senior Melva Smith (South Holland, Ill.-Thornwood (South Suburban)) tied a career-high with four blocks. Sophomore Alyssa LaFace (Allen Park, Mich.-Allen Park) paced the play in the back row with eight digs, and Taylor and Mary Helen Beacom (Downers Grove, Ill.-Downers Grove North) added seven digs each.
The Eagles continue the season next weekend, Sept. 2-3, at the Cleveland State Invitational. EMU opens play Friday, Sept. 2, against Cleveland State at 10 a.m. before taking on the Tennessee and Wright State later in the weekend.
Team Stats
EMU
SHU
Kills
52
52
Errors
14
26
Attempts
132
151
Hitting %
.288
.172
Points
66.0
68.5
Assists
48
47
Aces
3
9
Blocks
11.0
7.5
Game Leaders
Kills
20
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Kills
6
Aces
3
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
S
/ VolleyballMB
/ Volleyball
RS
/ VolleyballOH
/ Volleyball
DS/L
/ VolleyballRS/MB
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
DS/L
/ VolleyballOH
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
S
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