Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, November 18
Geneva. Ohio
11 a.m.
Eastern Michigan University
vs
Ball State
Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios
Eagles Seeded Fifth Heading into MAC Tournament
11/14/2011 2:44:00 PM | Volleyball
After qualifying with the fifth seed, EMU will take on Ball State in the opening round of the MAC Volleyball Tournament
Complete Release (.pdf)
vs. Ball State: LiveStats/Video
MAC Volleyball Tournament Ticket Information
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan volleyball squad heads to Geneva, Ohio for first-round Mid-American Tournament action Friday, Nov. 18. The Eagles open up the Tournament with an 11 a.m. match at the SPIRE Sports Complex. EMU opens with No. 4 seed Ball State (24-5, 12-4 MAC), whom they have already beaten twice this year. The winner of that match will play against the winner of the No. 1 Northern Illinois and No. 8 Bowling Green match Saturday afternoon at 2:30 p.m.
EAGLES AND CARDINALS FACEOFF FOR THIRD TIME THIS SEASON: The Eastern Michigan University women's volleyball team will face the Ball State Cardinals for the third time this season with the Eagles holding a 2-0 edge over the Cardinals on the season series.
In the first two meetings this season, the Eagles took both by a 3-1 tally, most recently Thursday, Nov. 10, when EMU traveled to Muncie, Ind. and dropped the Cardinals at home. Eastern is the only team in the MAC that has topped Ball State twice this year, as EMU looks to make it three straight over the Cardinals.
MAC TOURNAMENT ACTION: The Eagles are one of eight teams to qualify for the 2011 Mid-American Conference Volleyball Tournament at the SPIRE Sports Complex in Geneva, Ohio. With EMU's 9-7 MAC record, it qualified as the fifth best team in the conference. Northern Illinois led the conference, going 14-2 in MAC matches, while Ohio's 13-3 record was good for second place. Tied for third based on record were Western Michigan and Ball State at 12-4 in conference play, but due to the tie-break scenario, Western Michigan was awarded the third seed, while Ball State took No. 4. Central Michigan sewed-up the sixth seed with an 8-8 mark in the MAC and Miami took seventh at 7-9. The final seed to be awarded went to Bowling Green who had a 6-10 record throughout MAC competition.
LAST TIME VERSUS THE CARDINALS: The Eastern Michigan University women's volleyball squad dropped the Ball State Cardinals in four sets Thursday, Nov. 10, to pick up its 21st win of the season. The Eagles took the opening set, 25-21, fell in the second, 23-25, but took the final two frames, 25-18 and 28-26. The Green and White rode a .301 hitting percentage to the victory.
The Eagles spread the wealth offensively as Rachel Iaquaniello led the way with 17 kills in the match, while Kristen Baker maintained a .556 attack percentage (16-1-27) with 16 kills in the Eagles' win. Erin Short and Paige Roback each contributed nine kills, while freshman Megan Crawshaw added seven of her own. Ashley Mason was stellar setting up the offense as she accumulated 52 assists in the win, averaging 13 assists per set. Defensively, Mason and Haley Stein paced the Green and White with 16 and 15 digs, respectively.
LAST TIME WITH BSU IN THE TOURNEY: The Eagles and Cardinals squared-off back in 2008 in the first round of the Mid-American Conference Volleyball Tournament. The Cardinals came out victorious in that opening round by sweeping the Eagles Nov. 18, 2008.
In that match, the Cardinals had a stellar .336 attack percentage, with 52 kills. BSU had four athletes in double-figures for kills as the No. 7 seeded Cardinals took their match in straight sets (18-25, 17-25 and 19-25).
Seniors Ashley Mason and Haley Stein both saw time in the loss to the Cardinals. Stein appeared in two-of-three sets with an ace, while Mason played in all three sets, totaling 22 assists, one ace and nine digs.
LAST YEAR IN THE MAC TOURNEY: During the 2010 Mid-American Conference Tournament, the Eagles won their opening round match against the Bowling Green State University Falcons with a 3-0 sweep. However their momentum from the win did not get them past the Northern Illinois Huskies in the second round of tournament action as they fell 3-2.
In the win over the Falcons, Rachel Iaquaniello and Paige Roback led the way with 14 and 13 kills, respectively. The No. 12 seeded Falcons made the trip to Ypsilanti, Mich. for the opening round and fell in straight sets (25-20, 25-15 and 28-26).
EMU's final match of 2010 was played in Toledo, Ohio as the Eagles fell in five sets (20-25, 25-18, 26-28, 26-24 and 11-15) to Northern Illinois, Nov. 19. Eastern had four athletes in double-figures for kills with Iaquaniello leading the way with 25.
I'VE PLAYED THE MOST: Ashley Mason became the most seasoned player in Eastern Michigan history in the Eagles' match with Central Michigan, Nov. 3. She passed Jennifer Swartz' previous record for most sets played in a career at EMU. Swartz sat atop the list with 486 sets played, but Mason surpassed that amount after appearing in three sets in the match with the Chippewas.
In her fourth year setting for the Eagles, Mason is sitting at second all-time in career assists with 4,865 as an Eagle. She trails just Kate Sulewski (5,474). Mason has continued to showcase her skills at the setter position by picking up 1,201 assists to this point in the 2011 campaign. Her 10.72 assists per set in Mid-American Conference matches ranks fifth in the MAC. Atop the conference in assists per set is Kristin Hoffman of Northern Illinois with 12.56.
Defensively, Mason is second on the Eagles roster in digs this season as she has racked up 318 throughout the course of the year. She has moved into seventh place in the Eastern Michigan career digs list with 1,280.
CLAWING TO CLAIM CAREER RECORD: Libero Haley Stein has continued to build on her successful junior campaign. The senior is leading the Eagles with 623 digs on the season.
Stein has been successful in the Mid-American Conference, ranking first in MAC matches for digs with 5.52 per set. Lena Oliver (5.38) and Catie Fredrich (4.92) are second and third in the conference behind Stein.
Stein also has a chance at setting a career record in digs. At second on the career digs list with 2,136, she is trailing EMU's all-time digs leader Ashley Cudney (2,198).
Stein set a single-season record for digs in 2010 by picking up 757. She was also named to the All-MAC First Team in last season's campaign after leading the MAC in digs. Stein ranked fifth nationally in digs per set with 5.73. She was also second nationally with her 757 digs. Stein also set a school record for digs in a match when she had 55, Oct. 8, against Western Michigan.
HISTORIC CAREER IN THE MAKING: The Eagles' junior outside hitter Rachel Iaquaniello is second in the Mid-American Conference with 3.99 kills per set this season. Iaquaniello is trailing only Lauren Wicinski in the MAC who averages 5.43 for Northern Illinois.
Iaquaniello holds a .200 attack percentage after accumulating 28.9 percent of the Eagles' total attacks through the 2011 campaign. Iaquaniello has 1,322 total attacks this season which is over 500 more than anyone else on the EMU squad. Paige Roback is second with 779.
The junior is moving up the Eastern Michigan career kill ranks as she sits at fourth overall in EMU history with 1,382 kills. Roxanne Munch sits on the top of that list with 1,537 kills in her career. Iaquaniello is sitting at third overall in career attack attempts with 4,039, with Jennifer Nighswander leading that category with 4,456.
Defensively, Iaquaniello is third in digs for Eastern. She averages 2.72 digs per set.
DIGGING THEIR WAY TO GENEVA: The Eastern Michigan defense has been a bright spot for the Eagles, especially the job they have done digging the ball. Senior libero, Haley Stein has proven to be one of the best defensive players in the Mid-American Conference, but there have been stellar defensive efforts by multiple other Eagles as well.
Four other Eagles have provided great defense this season for EMU. Ashley Mason is second in digs with 318 and 2.74 digs per set, while Rachel Iaquaniello has 310 digs this season, also good for 2.72 digs per set. Senior, Cassie Sowers has also been extremely successful as a defensive specialist, with 275 digs and 2.39 digs per set. Finally, Erin Short has 214 digs this season, good for 1.81 digs per set.
WINNING IN THE MAC: The Eagles have had their first back-to-back seasons with a winning record in MAC matches since 2004-2005 by completing this season at a 9-7 mark. Last season EMU was 10-6 within conference play, which was their first season above the .500 mark since 2005.
MAC TOURNAMENT VOLLEYBALL'S NEW HOME: The Mid-American Conference announced that the 2011 and 2012 MAC Women's Volleyball Tournaments will move to SPIRE, part of the GaREAT family, located in Geneva, Ohio. The 2011 event will be held November 18-20, while the 2012 championship will be held November 16-18. SPIRE Sports Complex and the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission will act as co-hosts of the event, which had been held at the Toledo SeaGate Centre from 2006-10. You can read more about the SPIRE Sports Complex by visiting SPIRE.org, as well as MAC Tournament Volleyball Tournament ticket information.
vs. Ball State: LiveStats/Video
MAC Volleyball Tournament Ticket Information
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan volleyball squad heads to Geneva, Ohio for first-round Mid-American Tournament action Friday, Nov. 18. The Eagles open up the Tournament with an 11 a.m. match at the SPIRE Sports Complex. EMU opens with No. 4 seed Ball State (24-5, 12-4 MAC), whom they have already beaten twice this year. The winner of that match will play against the winner of the No. 1 Northern Illinois and No. 8 Bowling Green match Saturday afternoon at 2:30 p.m.
EAGLES AND CARDINALS FACEOFF FOR THIRD TIME THIS SEASON: The Eastern Michigan University women's volleyball team will face the Ball State Cardinals for the third time this season with the Eagles holding a 2-0 edge over the Cardinals on the season series.
In the first two meetings this season, the Eagles took both by a 3-1 tally, most recently Thursday, Nov. 10, when EMU traveled to Muncie, Ind. and dropped the Cardinals at home. Eastern is the only team in the MAC that has topped Ball State twice this year, as EMU looks to make it three straight over the Cardinals.
MAC TOURNAMENT ACTION: The Eagles are one of eight teams to qualify for the 2011 Mid-American Conference Volleyball Tournament at the SPIRE Sports Complex in Geneva, Ohio. With EMU's 9-7 MAC record, it qualified as the fifth best team in the conference. Northern Illinois led the conference, going 14-2 in MAC matches, while Ohio's 13-3 record was good for second place. Tied for third based on record were Western Michigan and Ball State at 12-4 in conference play, but due to the tie-break scenario, Western Michigan was awarded the third seed, while Ball State took No. 4. Central Michigan sewed-up the sixth seed with an 8-8 mark in the MAC and Miami took seventh at 7-9. The final seed to be awarded went to Bowling Green who had a 6-10 record throughout MAC competition.
LAST TIME VERSUS THE CARDINALS: The Eastern Michigan University women's volleyball squad dropped the Ball State Cardinals in four sets Thursday, Nov. 10, to pick up its 21st win of the season. The Eagles took the opening set, 25-21, fell in the second, 23-25, but took the final two frames, 25-18 and 28-26. The Green and White rode a .301 hitting percentage to the victory.
The Eagles spread the wealth offensively as Rachel Iaquaniello led the way with 17 kills in the match, while Kristen Baker maintained a .556 attack percentage (16-1-27) with 16 kills in the Eagles' win. Erin Short and Paige Roback each contributed nine kills, while freshman Megan Crawshaw added seven of her own. Ashley Mason was stellar setting up the offense as she accumulated 52 assists in the win, averaging 13 assists per set. Defensively, Mason and Haley Stein paced the Green and White with 16 and 15 digs, respectively.
LAST TIME WITH BSU IN THE TOURNEY: The Eagles and Cardinals squared-off back in 2008 in the first round of the Mid-American Conference Volleyball Tournament. The Cardinals came out victorious in that opening round by sweeping the Eagles Nov. 18, 2008.
In that match, the Cardinals had a stellar .336 attack percentage, with 52 kills. BSU had four athletes in double-figures for kills as the No. 7 seeded Cardinals took their match in straight sets (18-25, 17-25 and 19-25).
Seniors Ashley Mason and Haley Stein both saw time in the loss to the Cardinals. Stein appeared in two-of-three sets with an ace, while Mason played in all three sets, totaling 22 assists, one ace and nine digs.
LAST YEAR IN THE MAC TOURNEY: During the 2010 Mid-American Conference Tournament, the Eagles won their opening round match against the Bowling Green State University Falcons with a 3-0 sweep. However their momentum from the win did not get them past the Northern Illinois Huskies in the second round of tournament action as they fell 3-2.
In the win over the Falcons, Rachel Iaquaniello and Paige Roback led the way with 14 and 13 kills, respectively. The No. 12 seeded Falcons made the trip to Ypsilanti, Mich. for the opening round and fell in straight sets (25-20, 25-15 and 28-26).
EMU's final match of 2010 was played in Toledo, Ohio as the Eagles fell in five sets (20-25, 25-18, 26-28, 26-24 and 11-15) to Northern Illinois, Nov. 19. Eastern had four athletes in double-figures for kills with Iaquaniello leading the way with 25.
I'VE PLAYED THE MOST: Ashley Mason became the most seasoned player in Eastern Michigan history in the Eagles' match with Central Michigan, Nov. 3. She passed Jennifer Swartz' previous record for most sets played in a career at EMU. Swartz sat atop the list with 486 sets played, but Mason surpassed that amount after appearing in three sets in the match with the Chippewas.
In her fourth year setting for the Eagles, Mason is sitting at second all-time in career assists with 4,865 as an Eagle. She trails just Kate Sulewski (5,474). Mason has continued to showcase her skills at the setter position by picking up 1,201 assists to this point in the 2011 campaign. Her 10.72 assists per set in Mid-American Conference matches ranks fifth in the MAC. Atop the conference in assists per set is Kristin Hoffman of Northern Illinois with 12.56.
Defensively, Mason is second on the Eagles roster in digs this season as she has racked up 318 throughout the course of the year. She has moved into seventh place in the Eastern Michigan career digs list with 1,280.
CLAWING TO CLAIM CAREER RECORD: Libero Haley Stein has continued to build on her successful junior campaign. The senior is leading the Eagles with 623 digs on the season.
Stein has been successful in the Mid-American Conference, ranking first in MAC matches for digs with 5.52 per set. Lena Oliver (5.38) and Catie Fredrich (4.92) are second and third in the conference behind Stein.
Stein also has a chance at setting a career record in digs. At second on the career digs list with 2,136, she is trailing EMU's all-time digs leader Ashley Cudney (2,198).
Stein set a single-season record for digs in 2010 by picking up 757. She was also named to the All-MAC First Team in last season's campaign after leading the MAC in digs. Stein ranked fifth nationally in digs per set with 5.73. She was also second nationally with her 757 digs. Stein also set a school record for digs in a match when she had 55, Oct. 8, against Western Michigan.
HISTORIC CAREER IN THE MAKING: The Eagles' junior outside hitter Rachel Iaquaniello is second in the Mid-American Conference with 3.99 kills per set this season. Iaquaniello is trailing only Lauren Wicinski in the MAC who averages 5.43 for Northern Illinois.
Iaquaniello holds a .200 attack percentage after accumulating 28.9 percent of the Eagles' total attacks through the 2011 campaign. Iaquaniello has 1,322 total attacks this season which is over 500 more than anyone else on the EMU squad. Paige Roback is second with 779.
The junior is moving up the Eastern Michigan career kill ranks as she sits at fourth overall in EMU history with 1,382 kills. Roxanne Munch sits on the top of that list with 1,537 kills in her career. Iaquaniello is sitting at third overall in career attack attempts with 4,039, with Jennifer Nighswander leading that category with 4,456.
Defensively, Iaquaniello is third in digs for Eastern. She averages 2.72 digs per set.
DIGGING THEIR WAY TO GENEVA: The Eastern Michigan defense has been a bright spot for the Eagles, especially the job they have done digging the ball. Senior libero, Haley Stein has proven to be one of the best defensive players in the Mid-American Conference, but there have been stellar defensive efforts by multiple other Eagles as well.
Four other Eagles have provided great defense this season for EMU. Ashley Mason is second in digs with 318 and 2.74 digs per set, while Rachel Iaquaniello has 310 digs this season, also good for 2.72 digs per set. Senior, Cassie Sowers has also been extremely successful as a defensive specialist, with 275 digs and 2.39 digs per set. Finally, Erin Short has 214 digs this season, good for 1.81 digs per set.
WINNING IN THE MAC: The Eagles have had their first back-to-back seasons with a winning record in MAC matches since 2004-2005 by completing this season at a 9-7 mark. Last season EMU was 10-6 within conference play, which was their first season above the .500 mark since 2005.
MAC TOURNAMENT VOLLEYBALL'S NEW HOME: The Mid-American Conference announced that the 2011 and 2012 MAC Women's Volleyball Tournaments will move to SPIRE, part of the GaREAT family, located in Geneva, Ohio. The 2011 event will be held November 18-20, while the 2012 championship will be held November 16-18. SPIRE Sports Complex and the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission will act as co-hosts of the event, which had been held at the Toledo SeaGate Centre from 2006-10. You can read more about the SPIRE Sports Complex by visiting SPIRE.org, as well as MAC Tournament Volleyball Tournament ticket information.
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