Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
5-7,0-0MAC
Indiana State
3-8,0-0MVC
Volleyball Uses Monumental Third-Set Comeback to Top Indiana State, 3-1
9/20/2024 7:30:00 PM | Volleyball
With 10 blocks, Hatteras Welker tabbed the third-most in a four-set match in program history
FT. WAYNE, Ind. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team came back from down seven points in the third set to propel itself to a 3-1 match win over Indiana State University, in the Eagles' first game of the Purdue Ft. Wayne Invitational, hosted by Purdue University-Ft. Wayne at the Gates Sports Center Friday, Sept. 20.
The non-conference win improved Eastern Michigan's overall record to 5-7 (0-0 Mid-American Conference) on the season.
Defensively, Hatteras Welker (Sunbury, Ohio/Sunbury) contributed 10 blocks, the third-most in a four-set match in program history, while Taeley Mahler (Ft. Wayne, Ind./Homestead) added six rejections. Eastern had two players reach double figures in digs as Hannah Blaney (Saline, Mich./Saline/Rhode Island) had 21 and Ella Voorhees (Morgantown, W. Va./Morgantown/Southern Miss.) had 20.
Mackenzie Gross (Grand Haven, Mich./Grand Haven) finished with 10 kills on the day to lead the Eagles offense while finishing with a hitting percentage of .350. Welker ended the match as Eastern's point leader with 15.
How It Happened
SET 1 | The Eagles opened up an early 1-0 lead, winning the first set, 25-22. Eastern Michigan never trailed by more than five points and grabbed the advantage for good at 12-11 in a set that showcased two lead changes before the Eagles took over. EMU got a solid defensive performance from a front row that blocked four Indiana State attacks in the stanza.
SET 2 | Eastern Michigan then dropped set two, 25-17, evening the match at one set apiece. The Eagles fell behind on the first point and never clawed back into the lead before dropping the set.
SET 3 | Eastern Michigan put the second-set loss behind and took the 2-1 match lead with an improbable win in the third set. The Eagles trailed by as many as seven points at 8-1 before rallying to win, 25-18. Eastern jumped in front at 12-11 and held on to take the set. The Eastern Michigan offense also got a boost from three aces in the stanza, along with a front row that blocked five ISU attacks in the frame.
SET 4 | Eastern kept the momentum going, closing out the match with a 25-15 set-four victory. The Eagles scored first and never trailed in the set to secure the win. The Eagles opened up as much as a 12 point lead at 21-9 before closing out the stanza, collecting 15 kills in the process. Eastern Michigan's front row delivered yet again, blocking four Indiana State attacks in the set.
Match Notes
» Eastern out-hit its foe (.178-.117) for the seventh time this season. After the win, the Eagles are 5-2 in such matches. Head Coach Kevin Foeman is now 9-4 in his EMU career when posting a better hitting percentage than the opposition.
» The Green and White out-blocked its opponent for the eighth time in 2024. It is 5-3 when doing so. The match also marked the team's seventh time eclipsing the double-digit block mark.
» Eastern split the first two sets and went on to win the match, improving their total to 5-3 this season when splitting the first two frames, and 7-3 when doing so in Foeman's tenure. The Eagles also had more digs than their opponent, with a 71-67 edge in the category. All five of Eastern's wins in 2024 have come when having more digs than its foe.
» After tallying more digs and blocks than the Sycamores in the win, all five of EMU's wins this season have come when totaling more digs and blocks than its opponent.
» Voorhees recorded her fourth double-double of the season and sixth of her career, as she notched 19 assists and 20 digs. The match went down as Voorhees' 10th of the season with double-digit helpers, and 24th of her career, while her 20 digs was the fourth time she has done so this season, and sixth in her career.
» Maddie Stayer (Mentor, Ohio/Mentor/Southern Miss./Jacksonville State) also dished 19 assists, marking her fifth time doing so in 2024, and the eighth time in her collegiate career.
» Just 12 matches into the 2024 season, the Eagles have already tied their win total from the 2023 season (five).
» Welker had 10 denials in the match. She leads an Eagles team with 65 blocks on the season, as the team ranks second in the nation and first in the MAC with 133.5 total blocks (TB). As an individual, Welker stands fifth in the country with 65 TB. Additionally, she tabbed 15 points for her third match with double-digit points in her career. Moreover, the freshman also set a career-high with nine kills.
» Gross recorded 11 kills for 11.5 points to lead the Eagles. Her performance marked her first of the season with 10+ kills and points, while marking her third career game with double-digit kills and fourth with double figure points.
» Blaney posted 21 digs, marking her fourth time eclipsing the 20 mark this season, and 14th occasion in her career.
» Mahler drilled a career-high five kills. The outside hitter also pitched in defensively with six block assists, totaling to a career-best eight points.
Historical Notes
» Friday's match marked the seventh all-time between the Eagle and Sycamores. After the win, Eastern holds a 3-4 record when facing ISU, and is now 1-1 when facing it at a neutral site.
» Blaney grabbed 21 digs, bringing her career total to 962. She is now 38 away from reaching 1,000 in her career.
» Welker's 10 blocks in the match went down as the third-most in a four-set match in program history. The most from an individual Eagle in a four-setter was 12 by Angel Baylark (Burlington, Iowa/Burlington/Tennessee-Martin) in a win over Valparaiso University, Aug. 31.
Up Next
Eastern is back on the court tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 21 for the final day of the PFW Invite. It will first face St. Francis University (Pa.), 1:30 p.m., before battling host Purdue University-Ft. Wayne, 7 p.m. Both matches can be streamed live on ESPN+ by using the watch link on the EMU volleyball schedule page.
Follow Us
Stay connected with the Eagles all season long by following @EMUVolleyball and @EMUAthletics on X for all of the latest EMU volleyball updates. Be sure to also follow the Green and White on Instagram, @EMU_Volleyball, and stay up-to-date on all things Eastern athletics at EMUEagles.com.
