Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
No. 9 Kent State &
Volleyball Downs Kent State, 3-1, in MAC Tournament Opener
11/14/2006 10:10:48 PM | Volleyball
The eighth-seeded Eagles advance to play No. 1 Ohio Friday, Nov. 17, in Toledo, Ohio
Box score.
YPSILANTI, Mich. – The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team punched its ticket to Toledo, Ohio for the quarterfinal round of the Mid-American Conference Volleyball Tournament with a 3-1 (27-30, 30-27, 30-23, 30-22) over Kent State Tuesday night here at the Convocation Center. With the victory, No. 8 EMU will play top-seeded Ohio University Friday, Nov. 17, at 7:30 p.m. in Toledo's SeaGate Centre.
With the win the Eagles snap a two-match losing skid and move to 13-16 overall. On the other side of the court, the loss marked Kent State's seven consecutive setback and ends its season with 13-16 record.
Eastern was paced with four players recording double kills, including senior Lindsay Piccolini who made the most of her final home match notching 19 kills and four blocks (1 solo, 3 assist). Junior Becky Reenders chipped in 13 kills and five total blocks (1 solo, 4 assist) to go along with junior Cory Calcamuggio's 11 kills. Freshman Victoria Randolph tallied her fifth career double-double with 10 kills and 15 digs. Defensively, junior Abby Reenders recorded 19 digs along side senior Ashley Cudney with 15 digs.
Anja Knabe-Paulsen led the Golden Flashes with 19 kills, eight digs, three blocks and two service aces. Sarah Wilber finished with 14 kills and six blocks, as KSU managed just a .115 attack percentage.
In the opener, the Eagles built a 3-1 edge before the Flashes rolled back to take a slim 15-14 lead at the midway point. the KSU lead would grow to as many was five, 24-19, but the Eagles rallied back to get within a point at 24-23. That would be all the closer the Green and White could get as Kent State would score six of the game's final 10 point to take the early 1-0 match victory.
The second game was nip-and-tuck throughout with Kent State building an early 16-13 lead. The margin would grow to five at 23-19 but a quick 6-0 Eastern run would give the Eagles the 25-23 advantage. This time it was the Eagles with the knock out ability, tying the match at 1-1 with the 30-27 win.
Kent State came out with more intensity in game three coasting to a 7-2 edge. Once again though it would be the host Eagles on the offensive, posting a 22-12 run to take the 24-19 lead. The Flashes had no answer for the firepower of Piccolini and Reenders, as EMU posted the 30-23 decision.
The finale mirrored the previous frames with KSU building an early 7-4 lead and the Eagles roaring back to take the 19-10 lead. Eastern was never threatened wrapping up the MAC Tournament victory with a 30-22 victory.
