Eastern Michigan Athletics
Thursday, November 10
Muncie, Ind.
7 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
at
Ball State
Photo by: EMU Athletics/Randy Mascharka
Eagles Finish Regular Season With a Pair of Road Contests
11/7/2011 3:12:00 PM | Volleyball
Eastern will hit the road for a pair of road matches to finish the 2011 regular season
Complete Release (PDF)
Vs. Ball State: Live Stats/Video
Vs. Toledo: Live Stats/Video
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan volleyball squad continues its 2011 schedule with a pair of Mid-American Conference matches this weekend. Eastern opens up with a 7 p.m. match at Ball State when it takes on the Cardinals Thursday, Nov. 10. Eastern hits the road with another MAC match against the Toledo Rockets. First serve is set for 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12.
FIGHTING FOR SEEDING IN GENEVA: The Eastern Michigan University women's volleyball team locked up a spot in this year's Mid-American Conference Volleyball Tournament, to be held in Geneva, Ohio, Nov. 18-20.
Eastern is 8-6 after its first 14 MAC matches this season which will allow it to be seeded as high as fifth, depending on the outcome of their its matches against Ball State and Toledo this week.
ALL-TIME VERSUS THIS WEEK'S FIELD: The Eagles open up the weeked with one-of-two remaining Mid-American Conference matches this season, against the Ball State Cardinals. EMU has struggled in its history with BSU, going just 20-40. Eastern is looking to complete a season sweep of the Cardinals for the first time since 2009. Ball State was able to avenge the Eagles sweep in 2009 with sweep of their own in 2010. EMU looks to take its 21st win in their series with the Cardinals Thursday, Nov. 10, at 7 p.m.
Following its match with the Cardinals, the Green and White will motor off to Toledo, Ohio to take on the struggling Rockets. In its history, EMU has been very successful against the Rockets with a 46-12 record all-time. In their last match, the Eagles lambasted UT in straight sets at home, including a 25-7 second set win. The last time Eastern took two straight from the Rockets was when it won in consecutive matches last year. Eastern has not lost to the Rockets since Nov. 7, 2009. Eastern goes for the sweep, Nov. 12, at 5 p.m.
LAST TIME VERSUS THE CARDINALS: The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team took down the Mid-American Conference West Division-leading Ball State University Cardinals Saturday, Oct. 8, in four sets inside the Convocation Center. After taking the first two sets, 25-20 and 25-23, the Eagles dropped the third frame, 16-25, but fired back with a 28-26 fourth set to pick up the win.
Paige Roback paced the EMU offense with 18 kills in the match and a .395 attack percentage (18-3-38). Kristen Baker had a big night offensively with 13 kills, while Ashley Mason led the Green and White with 44 assists. Mason and Rachel Iaquaniello each had a double-double as Mason had 12 digs while Iaquaniello added 13 to go along with her 13 kills. Haley Stein anchored the defense with 23 digs.
LAST TIME VERSUS THE ROCKETS: The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team dropped the Toledo Rockets in a Mid-American Conference match Friday, Oct. 7, at the Convocation Center. Despite heading into extra points in the opening set, the Eagles took the match with relative ease in straight sets (26-24, 25-7, 25-16).
Rachel Iaquaniello paced the EMU offense with 14 kills and a .333 attack percentage (14-2-36), while Megan Crawshaw was the defensive force for the Eagles with five total blocks. Ashley Mason led the match with 30 assists, while Haley Stein led Eastern with 10 digs.
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 4,763 as an Eagle. She trails just Kate Sulewski (5,474). Mason has continued to showcase her skills at the setter position by picking up 1,099 assists to this point in the 2011 campaign. Her 10.62 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 291 throughout the course of the year. She has moved into eighth place in the Eastern Michigan career digs list with 1,230.
CLAWING TO CLAIM CAREER RECORD: Libero Haley Stein has continued to build on her successful junior campaign. The senior is leading the Eagles with 581 digs on the season. Stein has been successful in the Mid-American Conference, ranking first in MAC matches for digs with 5.67 per set. Lena Oliver (5.40) and Catie Fredrich (5.07) 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 2,094, 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 3.96 kills per set this season. Iaquaniello is trailing only Lauren Wicinski in the MAC who averages 5.53 for Northern Illinois.
Iaquaniello holds a .200 attack percentage after accumulating 28.7 percent of the Eagles' total attacks through the 2011 campaign. Iaquaniello has 1,215 total attacks this season which is over 500 more than anyone else on the EMU squad. Paige Roback is second with 708.
The junior is moving up the Eastern Michigan career kill ranks as she sits at fourth overall in EMU history with 1,343 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 3,932, with Jennifer Nighswander leading that category with 4,456.
Defensively, Iaquaniello is third in digs for Eastern. She averages 2.72 digs per set.
HOLDING UP AT THE NET: The Eagles' have been extremely successful on the defensive side of things, holding opponents to a .172 attack percentage in 107 sets played this year. The Eagles are the best in the MAC in that category. Second behind Eastern is the first opponent this week, Ball State. The Cardinals are sporting a .175 opponent hitting percentage. EMU's other opponent this week, Toledo, has struggled as they are ranked 11th in opponent hitting percentage allowing a .241 attack percentage.
BALL STATE'S OFFENSIVE POWER: The Cardinals have been successful in Mid-American Conference match-ups this season as they rank in the top four in assists, kills and hitting percentage.
BSU sits at fourth in hitting percentage. The Cards are hitting .235 in MAC matches this season. Leading that category is Northern Illinois with a .288 attack percentage.
The Cardinals are in third place in the conference for both assists and kills. They are averaging 13.06 assists and 14.07 kills per set in conference tilts. The Huskies of NIU are atop both of those categories as well.
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 291 and 2.72 digs per set, while Rachel Iaquaniello has 286 digs this season, also good for 2.72 digs per set. Senior, Cassie Sowers has also been extremely successful as a defensive specialist, with 253 digs and 2.39 digs per set. Finally, Erin Short has 201 digs this season, good for 1.88 digs per set.
WATCHING THE SEEDS: As of now, the Eagles are sitting in fifth place in the Mid-American Conference. Current seedings are listed below:
1. Northern Illinois (12-2 MAC)
2. Western Michigan (12-2 MAC)
3. Ball State (11-3 MAC)
4. Ohio (11-3 MAC)
5. Eastern Michigan (8-6 MAC)
6. Central Michigan (7-7 MAC)
7. Bowling Green (6-8 MAC)
8. Miami (5-9 MAC)
Vs. Ball State: Live Stats/Video
Vs. Toledo: Live Stats/Video
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan volleyball squad continues its 2011 schedule with a pair of Mid-American Conference matches this weekend. Eastern opens up with a 7 p.m. match at Ball State when it takes on the Cardinals Thursday, Nov. 10. Eastern hits the road with another MAC match against the Toledo Rockets. First serve is set for 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12.
FIGHTING FOR SEEDING IN GENEVA: The Eastern Michigan University women's volleyball team locked up a spot in this year's Mid-American Conference Volleyball Tournament, to be held in Geneva, Ohio, Nov. 18-20.
Eastern is 8-6 after its first 14 MAC matches this season which will allow it to be seeded as high as fifth, depending on the outcome of their its matches against Ball State and Toledo this week.
ALL-TIME VERSUS THIS WEEK'S FIELD: The Eagles open up the weeked with one-of-two remaining Mid-American Conference matches this season, against the Ball State Cardinals. EMU has struggled in its history with BSU, going just 20-40. Eastern is looking to complete a season sweep of the Cardinals for the first time since 2009. Ball State was able to avenge the Eagles sweep in 2009 with sweep of their own in 2010. EMU looks to take its 21st win in their series with the Cardinals Thursday, Nov. 10, at 7 p.m.
Following its match with the Cardinals, the Green and White will motor off to Toledo, Ohio to take on the struggling Rockets. In its history, EMU has been very successful against the Rockets with a 46-12 record all-time. In their last match, the Eagles lambasted UT in straight sets at home, including a 25-7 second set win. The last time Eastern took two straight from the Rockets was when it won in consecutive matches last year. Eastern has not lost to the Rockets since Nov. 7, 2009. Eastern goes for the sweep, Nov. 12, at 5 p.m.
LAST TIME VERSUS THE CARDINALS: The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team took down the Mid-American Conference West Division-leading Ball State University Cardinals Saturday, Oct. 8, in four sets inside the Convocation Center. After taking the first two sets, 25-20 and 25-23, the Eagles dropped the third frame, 16-25, but fired back with a 28-26 fourth set to pick up the win.
Paige Roback paced the EMU offense with 18 kills in the match and a .395 attack percentage (18-3-38). Kristen Baker had a big night offensively with 13 kills, while Ashley Mason led the Green and White with 44 assists. Mason and Rachel Iaquaniello each had a double-double as Mason had 12 digs while Iaquaniello added 13 to go along with her 13 kills. Haley Stein anchored the defense with 23 digs.
LAST TIME VERSUS THE ROCKETS: The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team dropped the Toledo Rockets in a Mid-American Conference match Friday, Oct. 7, at the Convocation Center. Despite heading into extra points in the opening set, the Eagles took the match with relative ease in straight sets (26-24, 25-7, 25-16).
Rachel Iaquaniello paced the EMU offense with 14 kills and a .333 attack percentage (14-2-36), while Megan Crawshaw was the defensive force for the Eagles with five total blocks. Ashley Mason led the match with 30 assists, while Haley Stein led Eastern with 10 digs.
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 4,763 as an Eagle. She trails just Kate Sulewski (5,474). Mason has continued to showcase her skills at the setter position by picking up 1,099 assists to this point in the 2011 campaign. Her 10.62 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 291 throughout the course of the year. She has moved into eighth place in the Eastern Michigan career digs list with 1,230.
CLAWING TO CLAIM CAREER RECORD: Libero Haley Stein has continued to build on her successful junior campaign. The senior is leading the Eagles with 581 digs on the season. Stein has been successful in the Mid-American Conference, ranking first in MAC matches for digs with 5.67 per set. Lena Oliver (5.40) and Catie Fredrich (5.07) 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 2,094, 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 3.96 kills per set this season. Iaquaniello is trailing only Lauren Wicinski in the MAC who averages 5.53 for Northern Illinois.
Iaquaniello holds a .200 attack percentage after accumulating 28.7 percent of the Eagles' total attacks through the 2011 campaign. Iaquaniello has 1,215 total attacks this season which is over 500 more than anyone else on the EMU squad. Paige Roback is second with 708.
The junior is moving up the Eastern Michigan career kill ranks as she sits at fourth overall in EMU history with 1,343 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 3,932, with Jennifer Nighswander leading that category with 4,456.
Defensively, Iaquaniello is third in digs for Eastern. She averages 2.72 digs per set.
HOLDING UP AT THE NET: The Eagles' have been extremely successful on the defensive side of things, holding opponents to a .172 attack percentage in 107 sets played this year. The Eagles are the best in the MAC in that category. Second behind Eastern is the first opponent this week, Ball State. The Cardinals are sporting a .175 opponent hitting percentage. EMU's other opponent this week, Toledo, has struggled as they are ranked 11th in opponent hitting percentage allowing a .241 attack percentage.
BALL STATE'S OFFENSIVE POWER: The Cardinals have been successful in Mid-American Conference match-ups this season as they rank in the top four in assists, kills and hitting percentage.
BSU sits at fourth in hitting percentage. The Cards are hitting .235 in MAC matches this season. Leading that category is Northern Illinois with a .288 attack percentage.
The Cardinals are in third place in the conference for both assists and kills. They are averaging 13.06 assists and 14.07 kills per set in conference tilts. The Huskies of NIU are atop both of those categories as well.
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 291 and 2.72 digs per set, while Rachel Iaquaniello has 286 digs this season, also good for 2.72 digs per set. Senior, Cassie Sowers has also been extremely successful as a defensive specialist, with 253 digs and 2.39 digs per set. Finally, Erin Short has 201 digs this season, good for 1.88 digs per set.
WATCHING THE SEEDS: As of now, the Eagles are sitting in fifth place in the Mid-American Conference. Current seedings are listed below:
1. Northern Illinois (12-2 MAC)
2. Western Michigan (12-2 MAC)
3. Ball State (11-3 MAC)
4. Ohio (11-3 MAC)
5. Eastern Michigan (8-6 MAC)
6. Central Michigan (7-7 MAC)
7. Bowling Green (6-8 MAC)
8. Miami (5-9 MAC)
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