Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, September 30
Convocation Center
7 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
7-9, 2-1MAC
3
vs
1
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Western Michigan
5-11, 0-3MAC
1
2
3
4
F
Western Michigan
24
25
19
23
1
Eastern Michigan
26
21
25
25
3
Photo by: Andrew Mascharka
Eagles Knock-Off Western Michigan in MAC Home Opener
9/30/2016 9:23:00 PM | Volleyball
The Eagles defeated the Broncos for the first time since 2013
Match Highlights.
Photo Gallery.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team knocked off in-state rival Western Michigan University, 3-1, in a thrilling match inside the Convocation Center Friday, Sept. 30. The Eagles (7-9, 2-1 MAC) defeated Western (5-11, 0-3 MAC) for the first time since the semifinals of the Mid-American Conference Tournament, Nov. 23, 2013.
Redshirt sophomore Mallory Rajewski (Midland, Mich.-Midland) and freshman Riley Taylor (Indianapolis, Ind.-Perry Meridian) split setting duties, combining to keep the Eagles' attack balanced. Taylor lead the way with a team-high 27 assists, while Rajewski added 23. The duo's assists were distributed amongst nine different players, three of which reached double figures. Pacing the attack was freshman Alysa Sutton (Gaston, Ind.-Wes-Del) and sophomore Jordan Smith (Solon, Iowa-Solon) who both finished with team bests in kills with 15. Sutton also added 14 digs in the match en route to her fifth double-double of the season. Junior Kelly Ferguson (Lemont, Ill.-Lemont (Austin Peay)) chipped in 11 kills, hitting a team-best .333. Defensively, the Eagles benefited from a 24-dig performance from sophomore libero Alyssa LaFace (Allen Park, Mich.-Allen Park).
After facing a 16-11 deficit in the first set, the Eagles then rattled off seven of the next eight points to take an 18-17 lead. The Eagles and Broncos then traded mostly back and forth, leading to a 24-24 deadlock and extra points in the first frame. Eastern Michigan would finish off the set with two straight points from seniors Devon Murray (Shelby, Ohio-Shelby) and Melva Smith (South Holland, Ill.-Thornwood (South Suburban)) to take set one, 26-24. The Eagles hit a solid .234 in set one, led by five kills from J. Smith and Sutton, who also led EMU with six digs as well.
Western answered back in set two, with a 25-21 win after only a .129 attack percentage, while Eastern only hit at a .077 clip. Western never got more than a three-point lead until it went to 24-20 late in the set and the 25-21final. Laface had a team-best eight digs in the set.
After the set break, the Eagles came out firing in set three, racing to a 10-4 lead. The Broncos battled back to get within three, 13-10, but Eastern had the answer, getting back to a 19-12 lead forcing a WMU timeout. Following a timely kill by J. Smith to the back corner, junior Samantha Falco (Antioch, Ill.-Antioch) delivered the set-winning point. The 25-19 win gave the Eagles a 2-1 lead in the match. The Eagles hit a match-high .395, led by J. Smith's five kills.
Down 2-1, WMU got things started in set four, snagging a 7-3 lead to start. The Eagles battled back slowly, tying the set at 12 apiece, but were unable to grab a lead, and called a timeout when WMU got the next three points for a 15-12 advantage.The Eagles tied the set up again at 17 but Western did not yield the lead, getting a 22-17 advantage back. That's when EMU notched eight of the next nine points, led by four kills from J. Smith to spoil the Western attempt at a fifth set, walking away with the 3-1 match win.
Eastern returns to action tomorrow at the Convocation Center when it hosts Northern Illinois University, Oct. 1. The match is set to begin 5 p.m.
Photo Gallery.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team knocked off in-state rival Western Michigan University, 3-1, in a thrilling match inside the Convocation Center Friday, Sept. 30. The Eagles (7-9, 2-1 MAC) defeated Western (5-11, 0-3 MAC) for the first time since the semifinals of the Mid-American Conference Tournament, Nov. 23, 2013.
Redshirt sophomore Mallory Rajewski (Midland, Mich.-Midland) and freshman Riley Taylor (Indianapolis, Ind.-Perry Meridian) split setting duties, combining to keep the Eagles' attack balanced. Taylor lead the way with a team-high 27 assists, while Rajewski added 23. The duo's assists were distributed amongst nine different players, three of which reached double figures. Pacing the attack was freshman Alysa Sutton (Gaston, Ind.-Wes-Del) and sophomore Jordan Smith (Solon, Iowa-Solon) who both finished with team bests in kills with 15. Sutton also added 14 digs in the match en route to her fifth double-double of the season. Junior Kelly Ferguson (Lemont, Ill.-Lemont (Austin Peay)) chipped in 11 kills, hitting a team-best .333. Defensively, the Eagles benefited from a 24-dig performance from sophomore libero Alyssa LaFace (Allen Park, Mich.-Allen Park).
After facing a 16-11 deficit in the first set, the Eagles then rattled off seven of the next eight points to take an 18-17 lead. The Eagles and Broncos then traded mostly back and forth, leading to a 24-24 deadlock and extra points in the first frame. Eastern Michigan would finish off the set with two straight points from seniors Devon Murray (Shelby, Ohio-Shelby) and Melva Smith (South Holland, Ill.-Thornwood (South Suburban)) to take set one, 26-24. The Eagles hit a solid .234 in set one, led by five kills from J. Smith and Sutton, who also led EMU with six digs as well.
Western answered back in set two, with a 25-21 win after only a .129 attack percentage, while Eastern only hit at a .077 clip. Western never got more than a three-point lead until it went to 24-20 late in the set and the 25-21final. Laface had a team-best eight digs in the set.
After the set break, the Eagles came out firing in set three, racing to a 10-4 lead. The Broncos battled back to get within three, 13-10, but Eastern had the answer, getting back to a 19-12 lead forcing a WMU timeout. Following a timely kill by J. Smith to the back corner, junior Samantha Falco (Antioch, Ill.-Antioch) delivered the set-winning point. The 25-19 win gave the Eagles a 2-1 lead in the match. The Eagles hit a match-high .395, led by J. Smith's five kills.
Down 2-1, WMU got things started in set four, snagging a 7-3 lead to start. The Eagles battled back slowly, tying the set at 12 apiece, but were unable to grab a lead, and called a timeout when WMU got the next three points for a 15-12 advantage.The Eagles tied the set up again at 17 but Western did not yield the lead, getting a 22-17 advantage back. That's when EMU notched eight of the next nine points, led by four kills from J. Smith to spoil the Western attempt at a fifth set, walking away with the 3-1 match win.
Eastern returns to action tomorrow at the Convocation Center when it hosts Northern Illinois University, Oct. 1. The match is set to begin 5 p.m.
.@GregSteinerEMU and @rachike6 caught up with @EMUVolleyball's HC @KimiOlson after tonight's 3-1 victory over Western #EMUVB #EMUEagles pic.twitter.com/jM7jSaD9lS
— EMU Athletics (@EMUAthletics) October 1, 2016
Team Stats
WMU
EMU
Kills
46
60
Errors
21
26
Attempts
153
159
Hitting %
.163
.214
Points
62.0
73.0
Assists
42
58
Aces
7
8
Blocks
9.0
5.0
Game Leaders
Kills
15
Aces
1
Blocks
0
Kills
15
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
11
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Players Mentioned
MB
/ VolleyballMB
/ Volleyball
DS/L
/ Volleyball
RS/MB
/ Volleyball
S
/ VolleyballOH
/ Volleyball
OH
/ VolleyballOH/DS
/ Volleyball
S
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