Eastern Michigan Athletics
Thursday, September 25
Kalamazoo, Mich.
6 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
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Western Michigan
Photo by: Justin Casterline/Walt Middleton Photography
Volleyball Set to Begin 2025 MAC Campaign
9/23/2025 7:00:00 PM | Volleyball
The Eagles will face Western Michigan and Northern Illinois
| Volleyball at Western Michigan | Northern Illinois | |
| Dates/Times/Opponents | Thursday, Sept. 25, at Western Michigan, 6 p.m. | Friday, Sept. 26, at Northern Illinois, 7 p.m. ET |
| Venue | University Arena | Kalamazoo, Mich. | Convocation Center | DeKalb, Ill. |
| Preview Info | EMU Notes (PDF) | Media Guide |
| Watch Live | at WMU | at NIU |
| Live Stats | at WMU | at NIU |
| @EMUVolleyball | @EMUAthletics | |
| @emu_volleyball | @emuathletics | |
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- After an 8-5 non-conference slate, the Eastern Michigan University volleyball team is set to open Mid-American Conference action on the road against Western Michigan University Thursday, Sept. 25, 6 p.m., followed by a match against soon-departing MAC foe, Northern Illinois University Friday, Sept. 26, 7 p.m. ET.
Fans can follow along with the action using the live stats and watch links that can be found on the EMU volleyball schedule page at emueagles.com/volleyball/schedule. Fans can also follow the team's social media accounts on X, Instagram, and Facebook @EMUVolleyball for live in-match updates. A post-match recap will also be posted to EMUEagles.com following the game.
OPENING MAC PLAY
Eastern volleyball is entering its 46th year of MAC competition, Since the 1980 campaign, the Eagles post a 23-22 record in MAC openers. EMU bested Kent State in reverse-sweep fashion in last season's conference opener, Sept. 26. The Eagles are looking to win the MAC opener in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2007-08, when they beat Ball State in 2007 and Toledo in 2008.
RECORD IN ROAD MAC OPENERS
Eastern is opening MAC play on the road for the 25th time. The Eagles have played well when doing so as they hold a 14-10 record in such circumstances. EMU is 1-1 in MAC openers under Head Coach Kevin Foeman as both have taken place on the road. Eastern is looking to win consecutive MAC road openers for the first time since it beat Northern Illinois, Sept. 23, 2005, and won its next MAC opener on the road in the 2008 season against Toledo, Sept. 26, 2008.
OPENING MAC PLAY ON THE ROAD FOR THE THIRD STRAIGHT SEASON
Eastern is opening MAC play on the road for the third consecutive season, marking the first time the program has been tasked with the challenge since 2014-16. A win against the Broncos would give EMU a 2-1 record in MAC openers the last three seasons, bettering the 1-2 mark from 2014-16. Additionally, Central Michigan is the only other MAC team slated to start conference action away from its home venue for the third consecutive season, as it is starts at Northern Illinois Thursday, Sept. 26.
STARTING STRONG
Eastern is off to its first 8-5 start since the 2018 season, the last time it won a MAC Tournament Championship.
AHEAD OF SCHEDULE: 2025 WIN TOTAL
Eastern is off to its first 8-5 start since the 2018 season, the last time EMU won the MAC Tournament. Last season, the Eagles posted six wins through their first 13 games. EMU didn't reach eight wins till Sept. 27 last season, when it bested Kent State for the second straight match in the first weekend of MAC play, 3-0.
NON-CON SUCCESS
Eastern's .615 non-conference winning percentage this season (8-5 record) is its best since the 2013 season when it ended the non-conference slate with a .666 winning percentage (10-5 record).
HISTORIC HITTING PERCENTAGES
Eastern hit .424 (41-5-85) in the sweep over Purdue Fort Wayne, Sept. 4. The clip ranks first in the MAC and sixth in program history. The Eagles followed that up with a .381 hitting percentage in the three-set win over Oakland, Sept. 19, a mark that stands ninth in program history and fifth in the MAC.
The 2025 season is the second in program history where the Eagles have recorded multiple program top-10 hitting percentages. It previously recorded four program top-10 marks in the 1999 campaign, including the second-best mark in program annals, a .594 clip against Chicago State, Sept. 3.
SIEFKE 10+ KILLS STREAK
Ava Siefke has recorded 10+ kills in all 13 matches this season, the longest stretch in her career and longest from the program since Callie Minshew recorded 10+ in 13 consecutive matches in the 2023 season, Aug. 25-Sept. 21. One more game with 10+ kills would mark the longest the program has seen since all-time kills leader Rachel Iaquaniello ended her collegiate career with 19-straight matches of 10+ kills, Sept. 14-Nov. 16, 2012, in a year where she set the program record in single-season kills (554).
Furthermore, Siefke's 13 double-digit kill outings are the most in the MAC this season.
BREAKOUT SEASON: AVA SIEFKE
Junior outside hitter Ava Siefke has seen a significant increase in production this season as she is currently averaging career highs in kills per set (3.65), hitting percentage (.207), aces per set (0.37), digs per set (2.57), blocks per set (0.59), and points per set (4.35).
Siefke in 2024
Kills/Set Pts/Set Hitt%
1.73 2.24 .090
Siefke in 2025
Kills/Set Pts/Set Hitt%
3.65 4.35 .207
Siefke currently ranks fifth in the MAC in kills per set and fourth in points per set while leading the Eagles in both categories.
AK FIRING ON ALL CYLINDERS
Freshman outside hitter AshleeKay Christensen had a career outing against Southern Illinois University, Sept. 12. The freshman recorded career bests with 20 kills off a .326 hitting percentage while adding five digs. Her 20+ kills while hitting over .300 are the first time an EMU player has done so since current overseas professional Raeven Chase landed 20 kills off a .536 clip in a match against Ohio University, Oct. 7, 2022.
Christensen is just the third EMU freshman in the modern statistical era (1999-present) to accomplish the feat and the second outside hitter. Melissa Bartlett drilled 20 kills while hitting .500 as a freshman against Oakland University, Sept. 11.
AK FRESHMAN SINGLE-GAME KILLS
AshleeKay Christensen's 20 kills against SIU, Sept. 12, are the second-most from a freshman in the MAC this season and most from an EMU freshman since Rachel Irbe landed 21 against the University at Buffalo, Oct. 22, 2016. Ohio's Bailey Blair recently had a 23-kill outing that ranks first in the MAC among freshmen.
SIEFKE'S DOUBLE-DOUBLES
Ava Siefke posted her career-best sixth double-double of the season with a 14-kill, 11-dig game against Oakland, Sept. 19.
Eastern is 5-1 this season when she records a double-double as she has recorded consecutive double-doubles twice this season (vs. Marshall/Kansas City, Aug. 29-30), (vs. Southern Illinois/at Oakland, Sept. 12-13).
BELCHER: MAC SETTER OF THE WEEK
Ashlynn Belcher was named Mid-American Conference Setter of the Week, Sept. 8.
Belcher dished a total of 137 assists (10.54/set) and heavily contributed to the team's .254 hitting percentage throughout the week. The setter contributed defensively with 42 digs (3.23/set), and eight blocks (0.62/set). Belcher posted two assists/digs double-doubles, dishing 46 assists and recording 16 digs in the win over Valparaiso, Sept. 5, before notching 41 assists and 15 digs in a sweep against Niagara University, Sept. 6.
Belcher was particularly sharp against Purdue Fort Wayne, Sept. 4, as she set EMU to hit .424 as a team in the sweep over the Mastodons, a clip that ranks first in the MAC and sixth in program history.
WELKER: MAC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Hatteras Welker was on a tear defensively as she recorded 26 total blocks, averaging two per set in the Eagles' perfect 3-0 weekend at the EMU Tournament, Sept. 4-6, and 3-1 week overall. On top of her blocks, Welker contributed with 28 kills (2.15 per set) and four aces (0.31/set), equaling 47.5 points (3.65 per set).
She particularly shined in the 3-1 win over Valparaiso University, Sept. 5, as she led the match with 11 blocks, the second-most in the MAC by an individual this season, most in a four-set contest, second-most in EMU history in a four-set game, and fourth-most in the nation in four sets by volume.
MULTIPLE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Ashlynn Belcher and Hatteras Welker's respective MAC Player of the Week nods, Sept. 8, mark the programs first time earning multiple conference player of the week accolades in the same week since at least 2009.
WELKER 11 BLOCKS PROGRAM STANDING
Hatteras Welker's 11 blocks against Valparaiso rank second in EMU program history while standing second in the MAC, first in a four-set match, and fourth in the nation in four stanzas.
CONSISTENT TRENDS
Eastern is 8-0 this season when hitting better than its opponent and 22-4 under Foeman when doing so. EMU has out-killed its foe in 9-of-13 games this season, producing a 8-1 record in 2025 and 18-3 overall mark in three seasons under Foeman.
HITTING BETTER THAN FOES
EMU has out-hit its opponent in 8-of-13 matches this season and recently did so in 7-of-10 (Aug. 29-Sept. 13) games for the first time since the 2018 season, Oct. 25-Nov. 18. That season, the Eagles out-hit their opponent in 27-of-35 games en route to a MAC Tournament Championship and NCAA Tournament berth.
Overall, the Eagles are 8-0 this season when out-hitting their opponent and 22-4 in the Foeman era.
RECENT CAREER-HIGHS
Hatteras Welker landed a career-high four aces at IU Indy, Sept. 18, while AshleeKay Christensen notched a career-best 14 digs. Welker also tied a career-high with 11 blocks versus Butler, Sept. 20.
MOST ACES UNDER FOEMAN
Eastern landed 12 aces in the win over UMKC, Aug. 30, marking the most in the Foeman era (2023-present) and the most in a single game since it recorded 15 against Buffalo, Oct. 27, 2006. The total stands fourth in the program's all-time single-game leaderboards.
ALL TIME SERIES RECORDS
WMU: The Eagles and Broncos are meeting for the 98th time. Overall, EMU holds a 24-74 record against WMU, a 5-32 mark when facing it in Kalamazoo, and an 18-61 clip when facing off in MAC play. Western has taken the last 12 matches, the second-longest winning streak in the series as it previously won 22 straight from 1978-89.
Last season's matchup resulted in a sweep for the Broncos, Oct. 18. WMU has swept the previous six matches as EMU is looking to win a set against the Broncos for the first time since 2021.
NIU: Eastern and NIU are meeting for the 70th time as EMU holds a 30-39 record in the all-time series, a 10-23 record when facing it in DeKalb, and a 25-35 mark in conference matchups. The Eagles hold a 4-6 record in the last 10 matches as they are looking to win consecutive games against the Huskies for the first time since 2019-20.
Last season's matchup resulted in a 3-2 win for Eastern in reverse sweep fashion. Abby Stanford had a standout game with a career-best 18 kills off a .533 hitting percentage.
HIGH IN MAC/NAT'L RANKINGS - TEAM
Eastern ranks in the top three in the MAC in seven categories.
Stat Figure MAC
Kills/set 13.14 1st
Assists/set 12.14 1st
Points/set 17.14 2nd
Opp Blocks/set 1.76 2nd
Opp Hit% .188 3rd
Digs/Set 14.86 3rd
Blocks/set 2.29 3rd
By volume, EMU ranks 16th in the nation in total kills (644) and total assists (595), 25th in total attacks (1,744), 28th in total blocks (112.0), and 32nd in total digs (728).
HIGH IN MAC/NAT'L RANKINGS - TEAM SINGLE GAME
Eastern ranks first in the MAC in six team single-game categories, and inside the top four in nine total.
Stat Figure MAC NAT'L
Hit% .424 1st n/a
Blocks 17 1st 6th (In four sets)
Three-Set Assists 50 1st 6th
Three-Set Kills 51 1st 8th
Four-Set Kills 66 2nd 9th
Three-Set Digs 58 2nd n/a
Three-Set Blocks 11 2nd n/a
Four-Set Hit% .336 2nd n/a
Aces 12 3rd n/a
HIGH IN MAC/NAT'L RANKINGS- INDIVIDUAL
Eastern Michigan has four players that rank inside the conference top five in various per-set categories.
Name Stat Figure MAC
H. Welker Blks/Set1.47 2nd
S. Srinivasan Dig/Set 4.04 2nd
A. Siefke Kills/Set 3.65 3rd
A. Siefke Pts/Set 4.35 4th
A. Belcher Asst/Set 9.00 5th
In the national standings, Welker slots 23rd in blocks per set (1.47) and fourth in total blocks (69), Belcher ranks 15th in total assists (441), while Siefke ranks 19th in total points (213.0) and 34th in total kills (179).
HIGH IN MAC/NAT'L RANKINGS - SINGLE GAME INDIV.
Name Stat Figure MAC
A. Belcher 3-set Ast 41 1st
K. Bonney Hit% .688 2nd
H. Welker Blocks 11 2nd
A. Stanford Hit% .667 3rd
A. Belcher 4-set Ast 48 3rd
S. Srinivasan 4-set Dig 27 3rd
E. Grasson Aces 4 3rd
H. Welker Aces 4 3rd
In the national standings by volume, Welker's 11 blocks in a four-set match slot fourth, while Belcher's 41 dimes in a three-set match are the seventh most. Grasson's four aces tie for seventh in four set matches, and Bonney's .688 clip ties for 12th (15-19 attempts).
MILESTONES
Ava Siefke recently reached the 500 mark with her 17 kills in the win over SIU, Sept. 12. Ashlynn Belcher reached the 500 digs mark with nine against Oakland, Sept. 19, she now has 508 in her four-year NCAA tenure. Abby Stanford reached 500 kills with her four at IU Indy, Sept. 18 as she totals 509 in her collegiate career.
CHRISTENSEN'S HISTORIC DEBUT
Freshman outside hitter AshleeKay Christensen's 18 kills in her NCAA debut against Radford, Aug. 29, are the most in program history in the modern statistical era for a collegiate debut. Christensen's 15+ kill debut marked the fourth time an Eagles has done so in that time frame. The other three - Rachel Iaquaniello, Jordan Smith, and Cassie Haut all rank inside the program top-10 for career kills as Iaquaniello is the all-time leader with 1,949 from 2009-12.
BELCHER ASSIST DEBUT
Ashlynn Belcher dished 48 assists against Radford, Aug. 29, and UMKC, Aug. 30, the most from an Eagle in their EMU debut since at least 2011. Her 48 dimes are the most from an Eagle overall since Elle McLoughlin dished 49 against Bradley University, Aug. 26, 2023. Her assists total is also the highest from an Eagle in the first game of the season since Kate Sulewski recorded 60 in a five-set win over Charlotte University, Aug. 24, 2007.
SRINIVASAN CONSISTENCY
Junior libero Surabhi Srinivasan has tallied 10+ digs in 11-of-13 matches this season, the most productive stretch in her career. Her 24 digs in the season opener against Radford, Aug. 29 were previously a career high and the most from an Eagle in a season opener since Sierra Reed tallied 26 in a 3-2 win over the University of Hartford, Aug. 30, 2013. Srinivasan set a career-best with 27 digs in the win over Valparaiso, Sept. 5, bettering her previous personal-best (24) by three and marking the most from an Eagle since Kamryn Stilwell recorded 30 against Western Michigan, Sept. 23, 2021.
BONNEY'S EFFICIENT HITTING
Kendal Bonney's 12 kills off a .688 clip marked the highest attack percentage from an Eagle since current overseas professional Raeven Chase put down 15 off a .882 figure in a 3-1 win over Ohio University, Oct. 5, 2019. The figure stands second in the MAC this season and 11th in the nation when totaling 15-19 attempts.
UP NEXT
Eastern welcomes Bowling Green and Toledo to the George Gervin GameAbove Center next week, Friday-Saturday, Oct. 3-4.
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 @emuathletics
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