Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
Akron
Akron Rallies Past EMU to Take a Five-Set Victory
10/23/2009 10:45:40 PM | Volleyball
Freshman Kristen Baker powers home a career-best 16 kills
Box score.
Click Here to Re-Watch the Match on Eagle All-Access.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team jumped out to an early 2-0 edge Friday evening, Oct. 23, against the University of Akron in Mid-American Conference here at the Convocation Center. However, the Zips would not fade, as they rallied to win three-straight sets and capture the 3-2 (26-24, 28-26, 18-25, 17-25, 8-15) victory.
With the setback Eastern Michigan falls to 3-22 overall and 2-7 in conference. Meanwhile, Akron ups its mark to 11-12 and 3-6 in the MAC.
The freshmen led the way for the Green and White on the night. as Kristen Baker (Mentor, Ohio-Mentor) finished with a personal-best 16 kills and a .314 attack percentage (16-5-35). Rachel Iaquaniello (Plymouth, Mich.-Dearborn Divine Child) followed closely with 14 put-a-ways for an EMU squad that hit just .089 (51-34-190) on the night.
Four Zips reached double figures in kills led by standout Brionna Patterson with a match-high 23 kills on 59 swings to go along with her 10 digs. Jackie Coleman pitched in with 16 kills and four block assists, while Courtney Jarvis and Liz Martin both finished with 11.
`The first set was a see-saw contest with neither team taking a major advantage until EMU pushed ahead 19-15 after an ace from Iaquaniello. The Zips would respond, however, scoring five straight points to take a 19-20 advantage on an attack error from junior middle blocker Jennifer Swartz (Canton, Mich.-Westland John Glenn).
The teams once again fought to a 24-24 tie, but Eastern stole the next two points thanks to a service error and an attack error from Akron's Jackie Goleman which sailed into the first row of the stands.
Much like the first set, the Eagles needed extra points to put away the Zips in set number two. The young squad started out hot, opening up a 4-0 lead and extending it to 7-2 margin. Akron, much like in the first set, was able to stop the bleeding and string together 12 of the next 15 points, including three consecutive points, to push past Eastern, 14-10. It didn't take long for the Eagles to respond. Sophomore libero Haley Stein (Carleton, Mich.-Monore St. Mary's Catholic Central), who paced the team with 27 digs, got the rally started with an ace. From there, the Eagles knotted the score at 15 before the squads again battled their way to a 26-all tie. An attack error by Akron's Patterson sealed a set victory for the Eagles.
After intermission, it seemed as though EMU was en route to a three-set victory, hopping out to a 3-0, but the Zips quickly regrouped and tied the match at eight. Akron never looked back from that point as they jumped to a 14-10 lead after and ace from Goleman. After another Akron score, the teams exchanged scores until the match was 21-15 in favor of UA, but EMU was never able to get closer to within four as Akron closed out the set 25-18.
Akron held on to the hot streak, taking a 5-0 lead to start the fourth set. After a quick timeout, the Eagles responded with consecutive scores, making it 5-2, but Akron refused to let off the gas and accelerated to a 14-5 advantage. Eastern once again scored consecutive points coming off of a timeout, but couldn't get any closer than 17-8, losing the match 25-17.
The decisive set saw the Eagles get the first point, but mental errors on the part of EMU gave the Zips a 3-1 advantage. Eastern called for another timeout after having three straight attacks sail out of bounds, and was again able to notch two straight scores coming out of the pause in action, knotting the score at three. But Akron pushed ahead to take a 10-7 advantage, ultimately taking the final set 15-8.
Eastern Michigan University's football and volleyball teams are teaming up to make a difference in the battle against breast cancer by partnering for a special “Dig and Kick Pink” event during their respective home games Saturday, Oct. 24. Although this is the third year of promotion by EMU Athletics, it is the first time these two teams have joined forces to help run up the score for breast cancer research.
