Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, October 8
Convocation Center
7 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
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vs
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Western Michigan
Haley Stein, Rachel Iaquaniello, Ashley Mason
Trio Posts Record-Setting Performances in 3-2 Win Over WMU
10/8/2010 11:32:34 PM | Volleyball
Iaquaniello, Stein, Mason etch their names in EMU, NCAA record books
Box score.
Photo Gallery.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – It took five sets and extra points in the final set, but the Eastern Michigan University volleyball team won a 3-2 (16-25, 25-22, 21-25, 27-25, 23-21) thriller over Western Michigan University here Friday, Oct. 8, at the Convocation Center.
With the win, the Eagles advance to 17-5 (4-1 Mid-American Conference) on the season and pulled even with Ball State University atop the West Division. Western Michigan falls to 12-6 overall and 3-2 in the MAC.
The Eagles were paced offensively by sophomore outside hitter Rachel Iaquaniello (Plymouth, Mich.-Dearborn Divine Child) who set a Convocation Center record with 33 kills in the contest. It was also the fourth-highest total recorded by an EMU player, the most in a game for an EMU player in more than 12 years and the highest total by a player in the MAC since 2006. Just a week ago (Oct. 1), Iaquaniello turned in the best performance by an EMU player since 2006 by totaling 27 kills.
In addition to Iaquaniello's record-setting day, junior libero Haley Stein (Carelton, Mich.-St. Mary's Catholic Central) broke a school-record by recording 55 digs, and also tied for fourth-most digs in NCAA Division I history in a five-set match. The previous school record was set by Ashley Cudney on Oct. 7, 2006, in a match against Northern Illinois University when she recorded 50. Ashley Mason (Eastlake, Ohio-Lake Catholic) did not let the record-setting day elude her as she tallied 68 assists, the best total in the MAC this season and the third-most in Convocation Center history.
Three Eagles posted double-doubles as Iaquaniello added 18 digs to her 33 kills, Mason put up 20 digs with her 68 assists, and Paige Roback (Maumee, Ohio-Notre Dame Academy) finished with 12 digs and 12 kills.
In the first set, the Eagles fell behind early, 10-4, and were unable to bounce back, ultimately falling 25-16. In the second set, it was the Eagles again fell behind, 12-7, but were able to outscore WMU 18-10 to even the match at 1-1.
The Broncos took a commanding 2-1 lead after the third set by taking a 25-21 decision. In the fourth set, a set which went to extra points, the Eagles were led by Iaquaniello's six kills and four kills by Roback. Mason added 14 assists in the frame and Stein had 15 digs to pace the team defensively. After the Eagles fell down 18-14, they rallied to even the game at 18 apiece. The teams would seesaw back and forth before EMU closed the set on a Roback kill.
In the fifth set, one which saw the teams combine for 44 total points, EMU scored four of the first six points but Western was able to stretch the game out after exchanging points back and forth. An Iaquaniello kill fittingly closed out the game and clinched the hard-fought victory for the Eagles.
The Green and White will take to the court again Saturday, Oct. 9, when the team battles the Huskies of Northern Illinois in a 7 p.m. match at the Convocation Center in Ypsilanti.
Photo Gallery.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – It took five sets and extra points in the final set, but the Eastern Michigan University volleyball team won a 3-2 (16-25, 25-22, 21-25, 27-25, 23-21) thriller over Western Michigan University here Friday, Oct. 8, at the Convocation Center.
With the win, the Eagles advance to 17-5 (4-1 Mid-American Conference) on the season and pulled even with Ball State University atop the West Division. Western Michigan falls to 12-6 overall and 3-2 in the MAC.
The Eagles were paced offensively by sophomore outside hitter Rachel Iaquaniello (Plymouth, Mich.-Dearborn Divine Child) who set a Convocation Center record with 33 kills in the contest. It was also the fourth-highest total recorded by an EMU player, the most in a game for an EMU player in more than 12 years and the highest total by a player in the MAC since 2006. Just a week ago (Oct. 1), Iaquaniello turned in the best performance by an EMU player since 2006 by totaling 27 kills.
In addition to Iaquaniello's record-setting day, junior libero Haley Stein (Carelton, Mich.-St. Mary's Catholic Central) broke a school-record by recording 55 digs, and also tied for fourth-most digs in NCAA Division I history in a five-set match. The previous school record was set by Ashley Cudney on Oct. 7, 2006, in a match against Northern Illinois University when she recorded 50. Ashley Mason (Eastlake, Ohio-Lake Catholic) did not let the record-setting day elude her as she tallied 68 assists, the best total in the MAC this season and the third-most in Convocation Center history.
Three Eagles posted double-doubles as Iaquaniello added 18 digs to her 33 kills, Mason put up 20 digs with her 68 assists, and Paige Roback (Maumee, Ohio-Notre Dame Academy) finished with 12 digs and 12 kills.
In the first set, the Eagles fell behind early, 10-4, and were unable to bounce back, ultimately falling 25-16. In the second set, it was the Eagles again fell behind, 12-7, but were able to outscore WMU 18-10 to even the match at 1-1.
The Broncos took a commanding 2-1 lead after the third set by taking a 25-21 decision. In the fourth set, a set which went to extra points, the Eagles were led by Iaquaniello's six kills and four kills by Roback. Mason added 14 assists in the frame and Stein had 15 digs to pace the team defensively. After the Eagles fell down 18-14, they rallied to even the game at 18 apiece. The teams would seesaw back and forth before EMU closed the set on a Roback kill.
In the fifth set, one which saw the teams combine for 44 total points, EMU scored four of the first six points but Western was able to stretch the game out after exchanging points back and forth. An Iaquaniello kill fittingly closed out the game and clinched the hard-fought victory for the Eagles.
The Green and White will take to the court again Saturday, Oct. 9, when the team battles the Huskies of Northern Illinois in a 7 p.m. match at the Convocation Center in Ypsilanti.
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