Eastern Michigan Athletics

Photo by: EMU Athletics/Randy Mascharka
Volleyball Swept at Cleveland State Invite
9/2/2016 5:12:00 PM | Volleyball
The Eagles close out the weekend tomorrow, Sept. 3, against Wright State
CLEVELAND, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team was handed a pair of losses at the Cleveland State Invite, Sept. 2. The Eagles (2-3) were swept by Cleveland State University (4-0), 3-0, to open the day. In its second match of the day, a late push fell short as the Green and White dropped a match to the University of Tennessee (4-0), 3-1.
Eastern Michigan 0, Cleveland State 3
The Eagles struggled to find consistency offensively as the Green and White were swept by Cleveland State in the first match of the day. As a team, the Eagles were out-hit 0.058 to .206 on the attack. Sophomore Jordan Smith (Solon, Iowa-Solon) and junior Samantha Falco (Antioch, Ill.-Antioch Community) each recorded a team-high seven kills in the loss, while freshman Alysa Sutton (Gaston, Ind.-Wes-Del) hit a team-high .364 for the match with five kills.
Defensively, the Eagles led the way in digs 43-40, as Smith and sophomore Alyssa LaFace (Allen Park, MIch.-Allen Park) registered eight apiece to pace EMU. At the net, CSU held a 7-3 advantage in blocks, disrupting an Eagle attack that entered the match hitting at a .244 clip. EMU's three blocks were spread across three different players as Falco, senior Devon Murray (Shelby, Ohio-Shelby), and freshman Ariel Hamby (Oak Park, Ill.-Oak Park River Forest) chipped in one each.
Eastern Michigan 1, Tennessee 3
Eastern dropped the first two sets to Tennessee in its second match of the day before the EMU offense took over. Behind an attack that hit at a .353 clip, the Eagles turned a 17-17 tie into a 25-19 victory in set three. Trailing in the match 2-1, EMU built on the momentum en route to a tie score late in the fourth set. Despite clutch kills by Smith and junior Kelly Ferguson (Lemont, Ill.-Lemont (Austin Peay)), the Eagles fell short, 30-28, losing the match 3-1.
As a team, the Eagles hit .218 for the match, while the Vols hit at a .278 clip. EMU turned in a season-high nine service aces in the match, behind a career-high four from Ferguson and two by Sutton. Sutton's two aces paired with the first double-double of her career as the Gaston, Ind. native registered 16 kills and 11 digs to lead the Green and White.
LaFace fueled the Eagles' defensive effort, turning in a career-high 21 digs as Eastern posted a season-high 69 digs as a team. At the net, EMU tallied nine blocks, including a career-high six from senior Melva Smith (South Holland, Ill.-Thornwood (South Suburban)).
At the conclusion of the match, Sutton was recognized as a Cleveland State Invite All-Tournament Team honoree.
The Eagles close out the weekend tomorrow, Sept. 3, against Wright State University at the Golden Flashes Classic in Kent, Ohio. The match with the Raiders is set to begin at 1 p.m.
Eastern Michigan 0, Cleveland State 3
The Eagles struggled to find consistency offensively as the Green and White were swept by Cleveland State in the first match of the day. As a team, the Eagles were out-hit 0.058 to .206 on the attack. Sophomore Jordan Smith (Solon, Iowa-Solon) and junior Samantha Falco (Antioch, Ill.-Antioch Community) each recorded a team-high seven kills in the loss, while freshman Alysa Sutton (Gaston, Ind.-Wes-Del) hit a team-high .364 for the match with five kills.
Defensively, the Eagles led the way in digs 43-40, as Smith and sophomore Alyssa LaFace (Allen Park, MIch.-Allen Park) registered eight apiece to pace EMU. At the net, CSU held a 7-3 advantage in blocks, disrupting an Eagle attack that entered the match hitting at a .244 clip. EMU's three blocks were spread across three different players as Falco, senior Devon Murray (Shelby, Ohio-Shelby), and freshman Ariel Hamby (Oak Park, Ill.-Oak Park River Forest) chipped in one each.
Eastern Michigan 1, Tennessee 3
Eastern dropped the first two sets to Tennessee in its second match of the day before the EMU offense took over. Behind an attack that hit at a .353 clip, the Eagles turned a 17-17 tie into a 25-19 victory in set three. Trailing in the match 2-1, EMU built on the momentum en route to a tie score late in the fourth set. Despite clutch kills by Smith and junior Kelly Ferguson (Lemont, Ill.-Lemont (Austin Peay)), the Eagles fell short, 30-28, losing the match 3-1.
As a team, the Eagles hit .218 for the match, while the Vols hit at a .278 clip. EMU turned in a season-high nine service aces in the match, behind a career-high four from Ferguson and two by Sutton. Sutton's two aces paired with the first double-double of her career as the Gaston, Ind. native registered 16 kills and 11 digs to lead the Green and White.
LaFace fueled the Eagles' defensive effort, turning in a career-high 21 digs as Eastern posted a season-high 69 digs as a team. At the net, EMU tallied nine blocks, including a career-high six from senior Melva Smith (South Holland, Ill.-Thornwood (South Suburban)).
At the conclusion of the match, Sutton was recognized as a Cleveland State Invite All-Tournament Team honoree.
The Eagles close out the weekend tomorrow, Sept. 3, against Wright State University at the Golden Flashes Classic in Kent, Ohio. The match with the Raiders is set to begin at 1 p.m.
Team Stats
EMU
CSU
Kills
30
37
Errors
24
16
Attempts
104
102
Hitting %
.058
.206
Points
34.0
49.0
Assists
30
34
Aces
1
5
Blocks
3.0
7.0
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
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