Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
Akron
Volleyball Zips Past Akron, 3-0
10/28/2006 10:26:29 PM | Volleyball
Senior Ashley Cudney posts 31 digs and a kill in the victory
Box score.
AKRON, Ohio – The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team ran its winning streak to five, as the Eagles swept Mid-American Conference East Division rival Akron Saturday night, Oct. 27, here at the James A. Rhodes Arena. The Eagles won the match 3-0 (37-35, 30-23, 30-17) for their third consecutive decision over the Zips dating back to the 2004 campaign.
With the win the Eagles move to 10-14 (4-8 MAC) on the year while Akron drops to 7-19 (1-11 MAC).
Three Eagles tallied double-digit kills, including senior Lindsay Piccolini who added a match-best 13 kills and six blocks (3 solo, 3 assist) in the victory. Freshman Victoria Randolph tallied 11 kills, five digs and three blocks and junior Becky Reenders finished with 10 kills and three total blocks (1 solo, 2 assist). Junior Kate Sulewski added 40 set assists while senior libero Ashley Cudney finished with a match-high 31 digs..
Freshman Brionna Patterson led Akron with 12 kills, nine coming in a thrilling opening-game duel, and sophomore Colleen Dryja matched a career high with 26 digs.
The Green and White were tested to the limit in the opening frame but was able to knock off the host 37-35, which is tied for the most points in a game this season for EMU. The Zips faced game point five times in the extended battle, but could not put the Eagles away despite out-hitting EMU .147 to .092.
The Zips were clicking early and built a 12-8 lead, but Eastern rallied to knot the score at 13-13. The game stayed close throughout as neither team was able to extend a lead beyond three points the rest of the way. The host Zips held leads of 29-27, 29-28, 32-31, 34-33 and 35-34 while the Eagles faced a pair of game-points themselves at 31-30 and 36-35 before finally putting the game away.
In the second game, Eastern built an early 12-5 lead but UA closed to within a point at 20-19 thanks to a 14-8 run. But that would be all the closer EMU would allow Akron to get, as the Eagles finished the game on a 10-4 run to take the 30-23 decision heading into the intermission.
The finale was dominated by the Green and White, as the Eagles led from wire-to-wire cruising to the 13-point victory, 30-17.
The Eagles return to the friendly confines of the Convocation Center Thursday evening, Nov. 2. The squad will then close out the home portion of the 2006 schedule versus Kent State, Nov. 4. Game time for both contests is set for 7 p.m.
