Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
Northwestern State
Volleyball Sweeps Northwestern State for First Win of 2009
9/11/2009 11:38:40 PM | Volleyball
Eagles dominate in the victory with a .217 hitting percentage
Box score.
STARKVILLE, Miss. (EMUEagles.com) – Freshman Rachel Iaquaniello (Plymouth, Mich.-Dearborn Divine Child) posted eight kills and three total blocks as the Eastern Michigan University volleyball team rolled to a sweep of Northwestern State University Friday afternoon, Sept. 11, at the 2009 Bulldog Invitational hosted by the Mississippi State University . The Eagles posted a 3-0 (25-19, 25-17, 25-16) decision over the Demons at the Newell-Grissom Building.
The victory was the first of the 2009 campaign for the Eagles, who improve to 1-8 on the year. On the flip side, the Demons of NSU remain winless on the young season at 0-5.
Iaquaniello led EMU with eight kills while sophomores Cassie Sowers (Williamsport, Ohio-Wesfall) and Haley Stein (Carleton, Mich.-Monore St. Mary's Catholic Central) each finished with 14 digs apiece. Sophomore Ashley Mason (Eastlake, Ohio-Lake Catholic) also chipped in seven kills, 14 set assists and seven digs. Eastern Michigan hit .217 as a team and only committed 21 errors.
No Lady Demon hitter reached double-digits in kills, as Yelena Enwere and Laranda Spann each had seven to lead the team. Zanny Castillo finished with 11 digs and Megan Manning 10 while Megan Dockery finished with 19 assists.
As a team, NSU hit just .047 for the match while committing 43 total errors, including 12 service miscues. NSU also did not have a block in the match.
The teams matched point for point in the first set with NSU holding a 14-13 lead before the Eagles rolled off seven of the next eight points to go up 20-15. The Demons clawed back to within two points, 20-18, but three straight points by Eastern Michigan, two off of NSU errors, helped seal the 25-19 decision.
In the second set, the Green and White stormed out to a 10-1 lead but a 7-1 run pulled NSU back within three 11-8. However, the Eagles then took advantage of numerous Lady Demon errors to open up a 20-11 lead before winning the set by eight points.
NSU never led in the third set and after trailing by only an 18-15 score following a Nicole Hajka kill, but the Eagles scored seven of the next eight points to win the set 25-16.
EMU returns to the court Saturday, Sept. 11, for a pair of matches versus the Red Wolves of Arkansas State University at 10 a.m. before wrapping up play against the host Bulldogs of Mississippi State at 7 p.m.
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