Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
Central Michigan
Volleyball Shocks Instate Rival Central Michigan, 3-0
10/29/2009 10:37:35 PM | Volleyball
Victoria Randolph and Rachel Iaquaniello team up for 27 kills
Box score.
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team has struggled this season to put all the pieces together for a complete match, however, that was not the case Thursday evening, Oct. 29, at the Rose Center. Behind a combined 37 kills from the trio of Victoria Randolph (Cincinnati, Ohio-Mount Notre Dame) and freshmen Rachel Iaquaniello (Plymouth, Mich.-Dearborn Divine Child) and Kristen Baker (Mentor, Ohio-Mentor), EMU swept past Central Michigan University, 3-0 (27-25, 28-26, 25-22), in Mid-American Conference West Division action.
The victory snapped the Eagles' seven-match losing skid and brought their record to 4-23 overall and 3-8 in league play. Meanwhile, the loss snapped a three-game winning streak for the Chippewas and brings their record to13-8 and 6-5 in the MAC.
Randolph led the way for the Green and White with a match-high 14 kills to go along with her 12 digs. Iaquaniello notched another double-double with 13 kills and 10 digs, while Baker finished with 10 put-a-ways and a .429 attack percentage. Junior Jennifer Swartz (Canton, Mich.-Westland John Glenn) was the only other EMU player to pick up a kill, with seven on 18 swings.
For CMU, sophomore Kaitlyn Schultz had 11 kills in 20 swings for a .400 hitting percent. Kaitlyn Hurt finished with a team-high 12 kills and Lauren Krupsky added 11. As a team the Chippewas hit just .214 in the match and committed nine service reception errors. Central Michigan struggled passing the ball, managing 49 kills and 19 errors.
The opening stanza featured eight ties and three lead changes, as the Eagles jump out to a 15-11 edge. The Chippewas responded to knot the score at 19 before eventually taking a 23-21 advantage. The Eagles were able to stave off set point on two separate occasions before jumping out to a 26-25 edge following a balling handling error by Stephanie Budde. Eastern would finish off the set with a Baker kill from sophomore Emily Good (Grand Rapids, Mich.-Forest Hills).
Set two was much the same with EMU again pulling out in front early before CMU charged back to tie the contest. The Chippewas had four chances to knot the match at 1-1, but each time the Eagles showed some true grit to fend off elimination. An attack error by the Maroon and Gold put Eastern Michigan in control at 27-26 as Iaquaniello finished off the set with a kill from sophomore Ashley Mason (Eastlake, Ohio-Lake Catholic).
The third set continued to follow the script with CMU falling behind early, only to climb back into the frame at 13-12. Late in the match, down 21-20, the Chippewas could not stop another the Eagles run en routre to the 25-22 victory.
Head coach Kim Berrington and crew return home to the friendly confines of the Convocation Center Saturday, Oct. 31, for a Halloween afternoon tilt versus defending MAC Tournament Champion Ohio University. First serve against the Bobcats is scheduled for 3 p.m.
