EMU Volleyball Set to Host Bowling Green and Miami

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YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michign University volleyball team continues the Mid-American Conference portion of the 2012 season Friday, Oct. 12, when it plays host to the Bowling Green State University Falcons at 7 p.m. in the Convocation Center. After the match with BGSU, the Eagles will then welcom the Miami University RedHawks to Ypsilanti for a 7 p.m. match Saturday, Oct. 13.

TAKING A PAIR AWAY FROM HOME: After dropping two Mid-American Conference matches in a row on the road, the Eastern Michigan University volleyball squad took two-straight away from Ypsilanti. The Eagles first traveled to Toledo, Ohio and dropped the University of Toledo Rockets in five sets. Eastern then treked to Muncie, Ind. to face the Ball State University Cardinals. The Green and White took the match with BSU in four sets to move to .500 (3-3)in conference play this season.

ALL-TIME AGAINST THIS WEEKEND'S FIELD: Eastern Michigan University and Bowling Green State University have faced-off 52 times over the years. The Falcons hold a slight lead in the series, 28-24, in those matches.

The Falcons and Eagles first met in 1977 during EMU's second year competing in volleyball. Bowling Green swept Eastern in that match, Oct. 12. Last year, the Eagles swept their only match with Bowling Green. Eastern dropped BGSU in three sets, Oct. 15.

EMU has taken on Miami University 48 times, with the Cardinals holding a commanding 34-14 edge. EMU and Miami first squared-off in 1977 when Eastern topped the RedHawks, 2-1, Oct. 5. Last season, the Eagles swept the RedHawks in their only contest. Eastern traveled to Miami, Oct. 14.

STREAKING BACK TO YPSILANTI: After dropping a pair of road matches, the Green and White turned around to win a pair and move to 3-3 in Mid-American Conference play before heading home.

The Eagles will face Bowling Green, Oct. 12, before welcoming Miami to the Convocation Center, Oct. 13. EMU will then the road again for another pair of road matches. EMU will first travel to Akron, Ohio to face the Akron Zips at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19. The Eagles then take on the Buffalo Bulls Saturday, Oct. 20, at 7 p.m.

SCOUTING THE FALCONS: The Rockets were selected to finish third in the Mid-American Conference East Division, but have been proving the coaches wrong. Bowling Green is 10-7 on the season, but has yet to lose a conference match, posting a 6-0 record in the MAC. Blocking has been the name of the game for the Falcons through their first 17 games this season. As a team, the Falcons rank fifth or sixth in the cofnerence in each category except blocking. BGSU sits at second in the conference in blocks with 2.32 per set.

Paige Penrod is leading the Falcons in kills this season, averaging 4.08 per set, which ranks second in the MAC behind the Eagles' Rachel Iaqunaiello (4.12). Danielle Tonyan has also been productive offensivley for the Falcons averaging 3.34 kills per set, good for eighth in the conference. BGSU setter, Laura Avila, ranks fourth in assists per set at 10.63, while Penrod's 0.37 aces per set sit first in the MAC. Bowling Green has a pair of athletes in the middle getting it done defensively. Both Leah Shaw and Kaitlyn Skinner are averaging 1.07 blocks per set which ties them for third in the MAC.

SCOUTING THE REDHAWKS: After being picked to finish second in the Mid-American Conference East Division, the Miami RedHawks have started the 2012 campaign just 5-14, with an 0-6 conference record. The RedHawks have been struggling on both sides of the net to start the season. MU holds a .173 team attack percentage which is the second-worst in the MAC, while holding opponents to a .222 clip, which ranks as the third-worst. As a team, Miami ranks in the bottom-three in the conference in every category except for service aces, where it sits seventh with 1.10 aces per set.

Individually, Amy Kendall ranks 10th in the conference in aces per set, posting a 0.27 mark, while Madison Hardy has turned in productive numbers at the libero position. Hardy averages 4.45 digs per set which is good for sixth in the conference.

AMONG THE NATIONAL RANKS: Eagles' senior, Rachel Iaquaniello, ranks 38th in the NCAA for the most kills per set. The Plymouth, Mich. native is averaging 4.12 kills per set which trails the national Edina Begic of UALR by 1.29 kills per set.

As a team, the Green and White ranks 45th nationally in digs per set with 16.74. Penn leads the nation in digs, averaging 21.45 per set, while Western Michigan leads the MAC with 17.15 (34th nationally).

MORE RECORDS TO BREAK: Eastern Michigan senior, Rachel Iaquaniello, has already set multiple records in her career at EMU but she has a few more in her sights. The Plymouth, Mich. native has 1,146 career digs, which ranks 12th all-time at Eastern. It's the career-sets-played record that Iaquaniello can still reach this season. She currently has played 466 sets in her career, and 506 is the record held by 2011 senior, Ashley Mason.

CATCH EMU VOLLEYBALL WORDWIDE ON YOUR COMPUTER: In a continuing effort to provide cutting-edge coverage on EMUEagles.com, a minimum of five volleyball matches will be live video streamed as part of Eagle All-Access package on EMUEagles.com. The next scheduled broadcast is Friday, Oct. 12, when the Bowling Green State University Falcons come calling to the Convocation Center. Air time is schedule for 6:50 p.m. from the Convocation Center.

Veteran play-by-play voice Chad Bush calls the action from the Convocation Center. Subscription packages are just $5.95 for a 24-hour pass, $9.95 for an entire month or $79.95 for a full calendar year. On-demand replays of the match are also available at EMUEagles.com/showcase.

BAKER CHASING THE BLOCK ASSISTS RECORD: Senior middle blocker, Kristen Baker, is looking to catch former EMU standout, Jill Hutton (1996-99), for the career block assists record. Baker has logged 315 block assists in her time donning the Green and White. She sits in fourth place all-time, while Hutton notched 402 block assists.

ATOP THE CONFERENCE: Eastern has been near the top of the conference in multiple categories both as a team and individually.

As a team, the Green and White is sixth in the conference in aces per set. As of Oct. 2, EMU is averaging 1.22 aces per set which trails Akron (1.36), Buffalo (1.36), Central Michigan (1.32), Nortnern Illinois (1.28) and Bowling Green (1.27). The Eagles are also second in digs per set, posting 16.74 digs while Western Michigan leads at 17.15.

Individually, Eastern has a few student-athletes showing off their skill on the hardwood. Rachel Iaquaniello is leading the MAC in kills at 4.12 per set. Kristen Baker sits 10th in the MAC for attack percentage at .282, while Kim Hildreth is 10th in assists per set, with 8.52 and Sierra Reed is 10th in digs averaging 4.08 per set.

(All MAC statistical leaders are as of Oct. 9, 2012)

IAQUANIELLO NAMED 2012 SENIOR CLASS AWARD CANDIDATE: Eastern Michigan University senior outside hitter, Rachel Iaquaniello, was named as one-of-30 NCAA® women's volleyball student-athletes who excel both on and off the court that were selected as candidates today, Sept. 20, for the 2012 Senior CLASS Award® in collegiate volleyball. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence – community, classroom, character and competition. The complete list of candidates follows this release.
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School ®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.

The 2012 candidate class includes 16 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Americans from last season. Twenty-four of the 30 candidates have maintained a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or better. One of the candidates was recognized by the College Sports Information Directors of America as a 2011 Capital One Academic All-American. The Senior CLASS Award winners will be announced during the 2012 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship, which will take place December 13 and 15 in Louisville, Kentucky.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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