Eagles Start Four-Match Homestand to Closeout 2012

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University women's volleyball team will return back to the friendly confines of the Convocation Center for its final four matches of the 2012 regular season. The Eagles will take on Central Michigan to start the weekend Thursday, Nov. 1, at 7 p.m. Following its match with the Chippewas, Eastern will welcome in the Golden Flashes of Kent State Saturday, Nov. 3, for a 7 p.m. match.

FEELS GOOD TO BE HOME: After splitting a pair of Mid-American Conference matches last weekend, the Eastern Michigan volleyball team is hitting the final stretch of the 2012 campaign. Eastern will host four teams to finish out its 2012 season, as it tries to jocky for position in the 2012 Mid-American Conference Volleyball Tournament, Nov. 16-18.

ALL-TIME AGAINST THIS WEEKEND'S FIELD: Eastern Michigan University and Central Michigan have faced-off 75 times over the years. The Chippewas hold a lead in the series, 53-22. The then-Hurons and Chips first tangled in 1976 during EMU's first year competing in volleyball. Central swept EMU in that match, Oct. 9. This is the Green and White's second go-around with the Chips this season. EMU dropped the opening match with CMU Thursday, Sept. 27. The Eagles were swept by the Chippewas (23-25, 23-25, 24-26).

The Eagles and Golden Flashes have faced-off 49 times over the years. The Eagles hold the edge over KSU 37-17-1. The Broncos and Eagles first met in 1978 and Eastern swept the Flashes in that match, Oct. 28. Last season the Green and White hit the floor against Kent State once. The Eagles dropped that road match in a five-set thriller (25-18, 19-25, 19-25, 25-18, 12-5) in Kent, Ohio, Nov. 5.

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 four games of the season. After splitting its last four matches, Eastern is looking to earn its 12th straight MAC Tournament berth.

SCOUTING THE CHIPPEWAS: The Chippewas were selected to finish third in the Mid-American Conference West Division, but currently sit in fourth in the division. Central is 12-11 on the season, and has posted a 6-6 record in the MAC, losing its last five-straight. As a team, the Chippewas rank in the middle of the pack for most categories in the conference. CMU has been exceptional at holding teams defensively, ranking second in the conference with a .182 opponent attack percentage, which trails just Ohio (.171). They are also third in the conference in both opponent assists (12.78 a/s) and kills (13.67 k/s). They trail Western Michigan (13.83 a/s) and Ball State (12.90 a/s) in assists and WMU (14.40 k/s) and Ohio (13.73 k/s) in kills.

Jenna Coates ranks first in the Mid-American Conference in digs, she is averaging 4.99 digs per set, while Angelique White's one block per set is good for fifth in the conference. Other individuals that are making their mark in conference play, are Kelly Maxwell, who ranks third in the MAC in assists per game at 10.87, and Kaitlyn McIntyre, whose 3.44 kills per set is good for fifth in the conference. White is also posting a .293 attack percentage which ranks as the eighth-best in the MAC.

SCOUTING THE GOLDEN FLASHES: After being picked to finish fifth in the MAC East Division, the Kent State Golden Flashes have started the 2012 campaign 6-18, with a 3-9 conference record, which puts them in fifth in the East, just one game ahead of the bottom-dwelling Buffalo Bulls. The Flashes rank in the bottom-two in five-of-seven team categories within the Mid-American Conference. Kent ranks fourth in the MAC in aces per set this season, posting 1.21 per frame. KSU trails Akron (1.25), Northern Illinois (1.24) and Central Michigan (1.22). The Flashes are last in digs, kills, assists and opponent attack percentage.

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 37th in the NCAA for the most kills per set. The Plymouth, Mich. native is averaging 4.21 kills per set which trails the national leader Tyler Henderson of Tulsa who is averaging 5.23 kills per set. Iaquaniello also ranks 41st nationally in points per set with 4.70.

As a team, the Green and White ranks 37th nationally in digs per set with 17.15. Penn leads the nation in digs, averaging 21.49 per set, while Western Michigan leads the MAC with 17.34 (33rd 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 1,223 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 489 sets, second-most all-time, in her career, and 506 is the record held by 2011 senior, Ashley Mason. With 118 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.

If the 2012 MAC Volleyball Tournament Started today, Oct. 30, these would be the seeds:

1. Ohio (11-1)
2. Bowling Green (10-2)
3. Western Michigan (9-3)
4. Northern Illinois (7-5)
5. Akron (7-5)
6. Central Michigan (6-6)
7. Ball State (6-6)
8. Eastern Michigan (5-7)

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 17.15 digs while Western Michigan leads at 17.34.

Individually, Eastern has a few student-athletes showing off their skill on the hardwood. Rachel Iaquaniello is leading the MAC in kills at 4.21 per set. Kim Hildreth sits at 10th in the MAC for assists per set, with 8.28 and Sierra Reed is 10th in digs averaging 4.07 per set.

(All MAC statistical leaders are as of Oct. 30, 2012)

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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