Huskies and Broncos On Tap for Eastern Michigan This Weekend

Complete Release (.pdf)

Live Stats vs. NIU

Live Video vs. NIU

Live Stats vs. WMU

Live Video vs. WMU

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University women's volleyball team is scheduled to travel to DeKalb, Ill. Friday, Oct. 26, for a 7 p.m. (CST) tilt with the Huskies of Northern Illinois University. EMU will finish its road portion of the 2012 schedule with a match in Kalamazoo, Mich. The Eagles will square-off with the Western Michigan University Broncos Saturday, Oct. 27. First serve is set for 7 p.m.

AN END TO THE ROAD AHEAD: After splitting a pair of Mid-American Conference matches last weekend, the Eastern Michigan volleyball team is heading into its last road matches of the 2012 campaign. The Eagles will take on Northern Illinois University and Western Michigan University for the second time this season to close out their 2012 roadshow.

ALL-TIME AGAINST THIS WEEKEND'S FIELD: Eastern Michigan University and Northern Illinois have faced-off 46 times over the years. The Huskies hold a slight lead in the series, 26-20. EMU and the Huskies first squared-off in 1980 when Eastern took a pair of matches against NIU. This is the Green and White's second go-around with the Huskies this season. EMU took the opening match with NIU Saturday, Sept. 22. The Eagles were able to drop the Huskies in straight sets (25-22, 25-19, 25-19).

The Eagles and Broncos have faced-off 74 times over the years. The Broncos hold the edge over EMU 54-20. The Broncos and Eagles first met in 1976 during EMU's first year competing in varsity volleyball. Eastern swept WMU in that match, Oct. 30. The Eagles dropped their opening MAC match of the season to Western Friday, Sept. 21. Eastern fell to WMU in five sets at home (25-21, 27-29, 20-25, 25-15, 10-15).

SMELLING A REBOUND: After splitting a pair of matches last weekend in conference play, the Eagles are poised to make a push toward the 2012 Mid-American Conference Volleyball Tournament in their final six games of the season. After losing three of the last four matches, Eastern is looking to earn its 12th straight MAC Tournament berth.

JOCKYING FOR POSITION: The EMU volleyball sqaud currently sits in seventh place overall in the conference with a 4-6 record in Mid-American Conference tilts. The Eagles are looking to knock off some of their competition and improve to a better seed by taking on both Northern Illinois and Western Michigan this weekend. If the tournament were to start prior to this weekend, NIU would have the fourth seed, while WMU would be seeded third.

SCOUTING THE HUSKIES: The Huskies were selected to finish fourth in the Mid-American Conference West Division, but currently sit in second in the division. Northern Illinois is 15-11 on the season, and has posted a 6-4 record in the MAC. As a team, the Huskies rank in the middle of the pack for most categories in the conference. NIU has been exceptional when serving the ball, ranking second in the conference with 1.25 aces per set, which trails just Buffalo (1.27). They are also third in the conference in both opponent attack percentage (.186) and digs (16.30 d/s). They trail Ohio (.173) and Central Michigan (.175) in opponent attack percentage and Western Michigan and EMU in digs.

Sarah Angelos and Mary Kurisch are two of the top offensive threats in the Mid-American Conference, as each are in the top-10 for hitting percentage. Angelos ranks fifth at a .294 clip, while Kurisch is ninth at .286. MacKenzie Roddy is posting 3.40 kills per set good for seventh in the conference, while Meghan Romo's 3.38 ranks eighth in the MAC. Roddy also is considered the best server in the conference this season, averaging 0.32 per set. Amber Walker is averaging 4.61 digs per set good for fifth in the MAC.

SCOUTING THE BRONCOS: After being picked to win both the Mid-American Conference West Division and the 2012 MAC Tournament, the Western Michigan Broncos have started the 2012 campaign 14-9, with a 7-3 conference record, which puts them atop the MAC West Division. The Broncos rank near the top in multiple team categories within the Mid-American Conference. Western leads the MAC in assists per set with 13.78, while also leading in kills per set (14.34) and digs per set (17.13). WMU's 14.34 kills per set ranks 18th in the NCAA, while the Broncos' 17.13 digs per set is good for 35th nationally.

Individually, Terin Norris leads the MAC in assists per set. The sophomore is posting 11.65 assists per frame, which is good for ninth in the country. Defensively, Lena Oliver is averaging 4.80 digs per set which is third in the conference, while Jessica Brown is posting a .291 attack percentage, good for sixth in the MAC.

VOTE FOR IAQUANIELLO AS SENIOR CLASS AWARD WINNER: Senior volleyball standout, Rachel Iaquaniello, has been selected as one of the finalists for the 2012 Senior CLASS Award. She is one-of-10 Division I collegiate volleyball athletes across the country to be honored as a finalist. Parents and fans can vote for Iaquaniello as the 2012 Senior CLASS Award winner by using the QR code below or going to www.seniorCLASSaward.com. The fan vote accounts for 1/3 of the total vote, while coaches and media member will vote for the other 2/3's. Fans are alloted one vote per day and the fan vote process will continue until Nov. 26. The Senior CLASS Award winner will be announced during the 2012 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship, which will take place Dec. 13 and 15 in Louisville, Ky.

AMONG THE NATIONAL RANKS: Eagles' senior, Rachel Iaquaniello, ranks 38th in the NCAA for the most kills per set. The Plymouth, Mich. native is averaging 4.18 kills per set which trails the national leader Tyler Henderson of Tulsa who is averaging 5.24 kills per set. Iaquaniello also ranks 44th nationally in points per set with 4.65.

As a team, the Green and White ranks 36th nationally in digs per set with 17.11. Penn leads the nation in digs, averaging 21.09 per set, while Western Michigan leads the MAC with 17.13 (35th nationally).

MORE RECORDS TO BREAK: Eastern Michigan senior, Rachel Iaquaniello, has already set multiple records in her career at EMU but she has a few more in her sights. The Plymouth, Mich. native has 1,202 career digs, which ranks ninth all-time at Eastern. It's the career-sets-played record that Iaquaniello can still reach this season. She currently has played 482 sets in her career, and 506 is the record held by 2011 senior, Ashley Mason. With 117 career aces, Iaquaniello also ranks as ninth all-time in that category. Camila Olaio has the most with 233.

CATCH EMU VOLLEYBALL WORDWIDE ON YOUR COMPUTER: In a continuing effort to provide cutting-edge coverage on EMUEagles.com, a minimum of five volleyball matches will be live video streamed as part of Eagle All-Access package on EMUEagles.com. The next scheduled broadcast is Saturday, Nov. 3, when the Kent State University Golden Flashes come calling to the Convocation Center. Air time is schedule for 6:50 p.m. from the Convocation Center.

Veteran play-by-play voice Chad Bush calls the action from the Convocation Center. Subscription packages are just $5.95 for a 24-hour pass, $9.95 for an entire month or $79.95 for a full calendar year. On-demand replays of the match are also available at EMUEagles.com/showcase.

ATOP THE CONFERENCE: Eastern has been near the top of the conference in multiple categories both as a team and individually.

The Eagles are also second in digs per set, posting 17.11 digs while Western Michigan leads at 17.13.

Individually, Eastern has a few student-athletes showing off their skill on the hardwood. Rachel Iaquaniello is leading the MAC in kills at 4.18 per set. Kim Hildreth sits at 10th in the MAC for assists per set, with 8.64 and Sierra Reed is 10th in digs averaging 4.11 per set.

(All MAC statistical leaders are as of Oct. 23, 2012)

Eastern Michigan Athletics

Huskies and Broncos On Tap for Eastern Michigan This Weekend

Related News

Next Event

Related Videos