Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
Oakland
Another Jam-Packed Week for EMU Volleyball
10/5/2009 12:04:24 PM | Volleyball
Eagles host Oakland and travel to Western Michigan and Northern Illinois
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Click Here for Live Stats vs. NIU.
ANOTHER JAM-PACKED WEEK FOR EMU VOLLEYBALL: Coming off a span of playing three matches in a five-day span, the Eastern Michigan University volleyball team will again be taking to the court for a trio of matches this week. The Eagles will host Oakland University Tuesday, Oct. 6, for a non-conference tilt before hitting the road for a pair of Mid-American Conference contests against Western Michigan University, Oct. 9, and Northern Illinois University, Oct. 10. First serve for all three matches is scheduled for 7 p.m.
ALL-TIME VERSUS THE GOLDEN GRIZZLIES: Eastern Michigan has dominated the all-time series versus Oakland, winning 21 of the 23 matches played. OU will be looking for its first win over EMU since Sept. 12, 2000, when the Golden Grizzlies won a five-set thriller over the Eagles. Last season the Eagles took home a hard-fought 3-2 victory last season at the O'Rena in Rochester, Mich., Oct. 7, 2008.
JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED: With all 15 players on her roster finally cleared to practice together for the first time since Aug. 17, head coach Kim Berrington's squad proved they are much better than their record has indicated. Injuries have plagued the team's senior core of Victoria Randolph (hand) and Kim Jarzynka (knee) leaving a team that is made up of 11 freshman and sophomores without that upperclassmen guidance on the court.
That all changed this past weekend, Oct. 2-3, with the team notching back-to-back victories in Mid-American Conference play over the University of Toledo and Ball State University for the squad's first two-match winning streak since 2008 when the Eagles knocked off Northern Illinois University, Oct, 4, and Oakland University, Oct. 7.
WHAT A WAY TO CAP A WEEKEND: A dramatic come-from-behind fourth set victory led the EMU volleyball team to a 3-1 victory (23-25, 25-17, 25-20, 25-23) over Ball State University Saturday, Oct. 3, at the Convocation Center.
In the fourth set the Cardinals jumped out to a 19-11 lead. EMU, following a timeout, strung together five straight points and 11 of the next 12 to reverse the call and take a 22-20 lead. Ball State would answer with two straight points, but then Rachel Iaquaniello responded with her 11th kill of the night to give the Eagles a 23-22 advantage. Two points later Iaquaniello threw down another kill, giving the Eagles match point. Senior Victoria Randolph sealed the deal with a set-ending kill to lead Eastern Michigan to its first winning streak of the year.
EAGLES AND BRONCOS SET FOR FRIDAY SHOWDOWN: In-state rivals EMU and WMU are hooking up for the 68th time in the all-time series. Western Michigan holds a 48-19 edge in the series, including a pair of victories in last year's two meetings. In the first meeting in Ypsilanti, Oct. 3, 2008, the Broncos posted a 3-1 victory and followed it up with a 3-0 sweep at University Arena in Kalamazoo, Nov. 8.
EMU AND NIU HOOK UP FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 2009: Northern Illinois holds a slim 20-18 lead in the all-time series that dates back to the 1981 season. EMU won the first meeting last season at the EMU Convocation Center, 3-1, Oct. 4, 2008, but NIU came back with a 3-2 victory at Victor E. Gym in DeKalb, Ill., Nov. 7, 2008.
HOME SWEET HOME: The Green and White have enjoyed the friendly confines of the EMU Convocation Center over the past eight seasons, posting a 63-28 mark in the “Nest,” including two home victories this season.
