Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
.png&width=60&height=60&type=webp)
Western Michigan
Volleyballs Drops a Heartbreaker to Western Michigan
9/23/2006 8:42:31 PM | Volleyball
Senior Lindsay Piccolini records a career best 28 kills in the setback
Box score.
YPSILANTI, Mich. – The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team took an early two-game lead but Western Michigan University rallied to claim a hard-fought Mid-American Conference tilt, 3-2, here Saturday afternoon in the Convocation Center. The Eagles had an impressive early run, winning 30-27 and 30-22, but the Broncos took the next two 30-27 and 30-28. An early Western Michigan lead proved costly for the Eagles in the finale, as the Broncos took the victory with a 15-13 game five decision.
Senior middle blocker Lindsay Piccolini once again led the way with a career-best 28 kills and a .312 attack percentage. Piccolini's previous best of 25 came just yesterday versus Northern Illinois, Sept. 22. Two other Eagles reached double figures in kills as junior middle blocker Becky Reenders tallied 19 kills and five total blocks (2 solo, 3 assists) and freshman outside hitter Victoria Randolph recorded a double-double with 14 kills and 12 digs. Senior libero Ashley Cudney posted 24 digs in the setback, while junior setter Kate Sulewski chipped in 60 assists.
For Western Michigan, freshman Katie Eberling and senior Jenifer Sulewski each set new career-highs. Eberling registered her eighth double-double of the season with 20 kills on .318 hitting and 11 digs while Sulewski was one dig shy of a triple-double with 14 kills on a .464 hitting percentage, 63 assists and nine digs.
After trailing by as many as three in the first game, EMU took over after a 20-all score to win, 30-27. Game two was dominated by the Green and White, as the Eagles earned the 30-22 victory.
Games three and four belonged to Western Michigan. The Broncos gained their first lead of game three at 6-5 and led by as many as seven, 14-7. After an EMU timeout, the Eagles pulled within one at 19-18, but were never to take the lead as WMU took game three, 30-27. Game four featured 12 ties and seven lead changes, but once again in was the Broncos in control taking the 30-28 decision.
There were nine ties in the deciding game five, but again Eastern Michigan had a chance to close out the match leading, 13-12, but Western Michigan had other ideas. Eberling had back-to-back kills to give the Broncos match point and the Brown and Gold won the match on an EMU error.
The Eagles travel to Mount Pleasant, Mich. Thursday, Sept. 28, to tangle with in-state rival Central Michigan University. Game time is set for 7 p.m.
