Eastern Michigan Athletics
A Pair of Cross-Divisional Tilts Awaits
10/13/2008 3:35:37 PM | Volleyball
EMU to play Bowling Green State University, Oct. 17, and Miami University, Oct. 18
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A PAIR OF CROSS-DIVISIONAL TILTS AWAIT THE EAGLES: The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team will square off with a pair of Mid-American Conference East Division foes in Bowling Green State University, Oct. 17, and Miami University, Oct. 18. First serve for both contests is set for 7 p.m. at the Convocation Center. Fans attending the 1 p.m. football game versus the University of Akron, Oct. 18, at Rynearson Stadium can also get into the volleyball match for free by presenting their football game ticket. For more information, contact the EMU Ticket Office at 734.487.2282.
EAGLES AND FALCONS MEET FOR THE 48TH TIME: Eastern Michigan and Bowling Green are hooking up for the 48th meeting in the all-time series Friday night at the Convocation Center. The Falcons hold a 26-21 edge in the series, including posting a 3-2 victory at venerable Anderson Arena, Oct. 13, 2007. Eastern’s last win over BGSU occurred Nov. 18, 2005, in the Quarterfinal Round of the MAC Tournament at the SeaGate Centre in Toledo, Ohio
EMU LOOKS TO END A THREE-MATCH DROUGHT VERSUS MIAMI: On Saturday, Oct. 18, the Eagles will be looking to end a three-match losing skid to the defending MAC Tournament Champion RedHawks, dating back to the 2006 campaign, when Miami notched a 3-0 decision at the Convocation Center, Oct. 12. Last season, MU rolled to a 3-1 victory at Millett Hall in Oxford, Ohio, Sept. 12, 2007, and then ended the Eagles’ season with a 3-0 sweep in the semifinals of the MAC Tournament in Toledo, Ohio, Nov. 17, 2007. EMU’s last win over Miami was a 3-0 road sweep, Oct. 14, 2005.
FIVE-SET THRILLERS BECOMING ALL TOO FAMILIAR: Fans watching the 2008 EMU volleyball team have certainly get their monies worth this year. The Eagles have played in seven five-set matches this season, including going the distance in three of its last four tilts. The Eagles are 3-4 in those matches, including posting a perfect 1-0 mark inside the friendly confines of the Convocation Center with a win over Northern Illinois, Oct. 4. Last season, EMU played in just four matches that went to a deciding fifth set, while the 2006 squad had to go to a fifth stanza on six occasions. The Green and White are 16-19 since the 2002 season in matches that have gone five sets.
A TALE OF TWO TEAMS: The Eagles have had their share of ups and downs during the 2008 season, posting an 8-13 mark in 21 contests. In the eight victories, EMU is recording a .212 attack percentage to go along with 13.0 kills, 16.4 digs and 2.0 blocks per set. The opposition is also posting just a .150 hitting percentage in those contests.On the other side of the ledger in the setbacks, Eastern Michigan is managing just a .124 attack percentage and a drop to 10.8 kills, 16.1 digs and 1.7 blocks per set. The opponents are also posting a much better attack percentage at .204.
Volleyball Ready to Dig in an Effort to Help Fight Breast Cancer: The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team is going "all pink" as they host the second annual "Dig Pink" Breast Cancer Awareness fundraiser, with proceeds from the event benefiting the Side-Out Foundation. The team will wear pink jerseys against Miami University Saturday, Oct. 18, at the Convocation Center. The match is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Eastern Michigan University’s fundraising event is one of many events in October – a national effort by the Side-Out Foundation to help educate and raise money to eliminate breast cancer. All proceeds from the event will be distributed amongst breast cancer research teams and "living with cancer" organizations worldwide. TCF Bank will serve as the 2008 game-day sponsor and will provide giveaways for fans. The first 500 fans to arrive will receive a pink, TCF piggy bank and all donors to the cause will receive a pink mini-volleyball for their support. In addition, emYOU! The Magazine will be selling t-shirts, with all proceeds benefiting the Side-Out Foundation. EMU will provide three pink and white regulation autographed volleyballs to be auctioned off as well. The Side-Out Foundation (Side-Out), a Virginia based 501 (c)3 Non-Profit organization, was established in 2004 by a group of individuals drawn together by their love of volleyball, but who also share a similar passion to be a part of the war against breast cancer. Side-Out’s mission is to raise money for the war against breast cancer through the recreational activity of volleyball.
EMU CONTINUES TO DOMINATE OAKLAND: The Eagles continued its domination of Golden Grizzlies of Oakland University, posting a 3-2 victory (26-24, 18-25, 25-16, 24-26, 15-8), Oct. 7, in non-conference action at the O’Rena. Senior outside hitter Hayvolla Leite paced the EMU offense with a match-best 18 kills and seven digs along with a .277 attack percentage (18-5-47) in the victory. With the win the Eagles push their winning streak over the Golden Grizzlies to 21 consecutive matches dating back to Oct. 15, 1977.
CHARLIE BATCH AND THE STEELERS TAKE TIME OUT FOR VOLLEYBALL: EMU graduate and current Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch recently took time out of his schedule to visit with the players and coaches from the volleyball team. While the Eagles were in Pittsburgh, Pa., Sept. 19-20, for the University of Pittsburgh Invitational, Batch arranged for the team to visit the Steelers’ practice facility and observe the walk-through prior to the Sept. 21 game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Steelers’ Community Relations Manager, Michele Rosenthal, welcomed the team to the facility and showed the team around the library that contained the five Super Bowl trophies, the defense team room, training room, weight room and practice fields. Steelers placekicker Jeff Reed also gave the team a tour of the locker room. After observing the walk-through, Batch met the team, posed for pictures and signed autographs. Also coming to meet the Eagles were Ben Rothlisberger, Heinz Ward, Troy Polamalu, Larry Foote, Santonio Holmes and head coach Mike Tomlin.
LEITE Named MAC West Volleyball Player of the Week: Senior outside hitter Hayvolla Leite was named the Mid-American Conference West Division Volleyball Player of the Week for the period ending Oct. 5. This marked Leite’s first career MAC weekly award. Leite led the Eagles to a 1-1 week, including a 3-2 victory over MAC West Division rival Northern Illinois University, Oct. 4. The senior outside hitter averaged 3.22 kills, 2.11 digs and 0.67 blocks per set and a .253 hitting percentage. In the win over the Huskies, Leite collected her first double-double of the season, as she tallied a career-best 22 kills and 19 digs to go along with her .280 hitting percentage.
AM I IN THE RIGHT PLACE?: The EMU Convocation Center sported a new look as the EMU volleyball team played host to Western Michigan, Oct. 3, and Northern Illinois, Oct. 4. Instead of playing on their traditional home floor, the Eagles were playing on the floor of the WNBA’s Detroit Shock. Due to a scheduling conflict with The Palace of Auburn Hills, the Convocation Center was used as the temporary home of the Shock during their playoff run. The Convo played host for two games of the Eastern Conference Championship versus the New York Liberty and then the WNBA Finals game versus the San Antonio Silver Stars. The Shock swept the Silver Stars in the best-of-five series, for their third championship in six seasons. It is believed that the pair of EMU matches were the first time a volleyball contest had ever taken place on the Shock’s floor. It also marked the first time a WNBA playoff game has been hosted on a college campus.
LEITE LIGHTS IT UP VERSUS NORTHERN ILLINOIS: In the win over the Huskies of Northern Illinois, Oct. 4, senior Hayvolla Leite collected her first double-double of the season, as she tallied a career-best 22 kills and 19 digs to go along with her .280 hitting percentage. Her 22 kills are tied for the 17th most in the EMU Convocation Center’s 10-year history and are the most by an EMU student-athlete since Becky Reenders posted 25 put-a-ways at Kent State University, Nov. 10, 2007.
BERRINGTON REACHES VICTORY NUMBER 300: Eastern Michigan University head volleyball coach Kim Berrington joined some select company Friday, Sept. 26, at St. Ursula Academy in Toledo, Ohio. Berrington captured her 300th career victory as the Eagles swept the University of Toledo, 3-0 (25-22, 30-28, 34-32), to open Mid-American Conference play. In 17 years of coaching, Berrington has posted a 302-262 record, including a 199-188 mark in 13 years as the head coach at EMU. Prior to coming to Eastern Michigan, Berrington recorded a 103-76 mark in four years at Concordia University in Ann Arbor, Mich.
HOME SWEET HOME: The Green and White have enjoyed the friendly confines of the EMU Convocation Center over the past eight seasons, posting a 60-21 mark in the "Nest," including a pair of home victories this season.
Wolosiansky Named MAC West Volleyball Player of the Week: Senior outside hitter Jill Wolosiansky was named the Mid-American Conference West Division Volleyball Player of the Week for the period ending Sept 14. This marks Wolosiansky’s first career MAC weekly award. Wolosiansky turned in a stellar week as the Eagles posted a perfect 4-0 record, including capturing Georgia Southern University’s Bash in the Boro Invitational championship, Sept. 12-13. For her efforts, the Uniontown, Ohio native was named the MVP of the tournament with 2.42 kills, 1.83 digs and 0.83 blocks per set for the Eagles.
MVP HONORS FOR WOLOSIANSKY: Senior Jill Wolosiansky won MVP honors at the Georgia Southern University Bash in the, Sept. 12-13after leading her team to a tournament win. The senior from Uniontown, Ohio, recorded 37.0 points on the weekend with 29 kills and 10 blocks. Juniors Victoria Randolph and Kim Jarzynka were also named to the All-Tournament team.
