Eastern Michigan Athletics
Photo by: EMU Athletics/Randy Mascharka
Volleyball Opens MAC Season on Alumni Weekend, Sept. 21-22
9/18/2012 12:37:00 PM | Volleyball
The Eagles take one Western Michigan and Northern Illinois for its opening conference matches
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Live Stats vs. WMU
Live Video vs. WMU
Live Stats vs. NIU
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michign University volleyball opens the Mid-American Conference portion of the 2012 season Friday, Sept. 21, when it plays host to the Western Michigan University Broncos at 7 p.m.. The Eagles continue its MAC schedule with the Northern Illinois University Huskies Saturday, Sept. 22, at 7 p.m. at the Convocation Center. This weekend will also serve as EMU Volleyball's 2012 Alumni Weekend.
FIRE EXTINGUISHED: The Eastern Michigan University volleyball squad started on a hot note to begin the 2012 campaign, going 10-2. However, the Eagles have cooled off after that start, dropping their last four matches, including three at the Coke/Michigan Invitational over the weekend in Ann Arbor.
ALL-TIME AGAINST THIS WEEKEND'S FIELD: Eastern Michigan University and Western Michigan University have faced-off 73 times over the years. The Broncos hold the edge over EMU 53-20, in those matches.
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. Last year, the Eagles dropped both matches with Western, losing a match at home and on the road. In the series opener between EMU and WMU, the Green and White traveled to Kalamazoo, Mich. and fell 3-1on the road, Sept. 23. Eastern hosted the Broncos, Oct. 29, where Western came into the Convocation Center and defeated the Eagles, 3-1.
EMU has taken on Northern Illinois University 45 times, with NIU holding a 26-19 edge. EMU and the Huskies first squared-off in 1980 when Eastern took a pair of matches against NIU. Last season, the Eagles and Huskies split the season series. Eastern first won on the road, 3-1, Sept. 24, but lost the home match, 3-1, Oct. 28.
ALUMNI WEEKEND SET FOR SEPT. 21-22: Eastern Michigan University's volleyball team would like to invite all of its alumni back to Ypsilanti for Alumni Weekend, Sept. 21-22. All alumni will receive free admission to both matches over the weekend, but are encouraged to contact Assistant Coach Eric Stark at estark@emich.edu to reserve tickets.
The alumni match is set for Saturday, Sept. 22, from 3-4:30 p.m. at the Convocation Center. Showers and food will be available following the alumni match. Food will be available outside in the parking lot of the Convocation Center.
BAKER NAMED TO COKE/MICHIGAN INVITE ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM: Senior middle blocker, Kristen Baker, led Eastern Michigan University at the Coke/Michigan Invitational over the weekend. She was named to the All-Tournament team after Eastern went 0-3 in Ann Arbor, Mich. Baker posted 28 kills and a .344 attack percentage (28-7-61) in 11 sets played throughout the weekend. Her top kill performance came against Duke University when she notched 13 kills, while she posted a .550 attack percentage (12-1-20) against Western Kentucky University, Sept. 15.
BACK TO YPSILANTI TO HAVE SOME FUN: The Eagles started the season with just one home match prior to opening the Mid-American Conference. EMU went 10-6 in its first 16 matches, 15 of which were on the road.
The Green and White will make its return to the Convocation Center Friday, Sept. 21, when it plays host to Western Michigan University. Eastern holds a 203-145 career record at home and looks to continue to improve the home record by topping both WMU and Northern Illinois University this weekend.
CATCH EMU VOLLEYBALL WORLDWIDE 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 Friday, Sept. 21, when the Western Michigan Broncos 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.
SCOUTING THE BRONCOS: The Broncos were selected to finish first in the Mid-American Conference West Division as well as winning the MAC Regular Season and tournament titles. The Broncos are 7-6 on the season, and sit in fourth behind the Eagles, Central and NIU in the West Division. Western leads the conference in multiple statistical categories, including assists, kills and digs. The Broncos average 14.24 assists per set, 14.69 kills per set and 17.95 digs per set this year.
Jessica Brown and Terin Norris were each named to the preseason All-MAC team. Brown is leading the Broncos in both kills (3.43 k/s) and blocks (0.83 b/s) this season. Norris is leading the conference in assists with 11.93 assists per set.
Lena Oliver has also shown promise this season as WMU's libero. Oliver is tied for second in the conferenece in digs, posting 5.07 digs per set.
SCOUTING THE HUSKIES: After being picked to finish fourth in the Mid-American Conference West Division, Northern Illinois has started the 2012 campaign with a 9-7 record, sitting in second place of the MAC West Division. The Huskies hold offenses to a .176 attack percentage which ranks second in the MAC, while they sit third in digs averaging 16.89 digs per set.
MacKenzie Roddy is leading NIU in kills, averaging 3.31 per set, while Alexis Gonzalez' 9.82 assists is tops for the Huskies. Amber Walker is posting 4.67 digs per which is the best for NIU and also ranks third in the MAC.
MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE OPENER: The Eagles make their debut in the MAC conference Friday, Sept. 21, when they play host to Western Michigan University. Since joining the MAC in 1982 for volleyball, the Eagles are 19-10 in conference openers.
The then-Hurons, played in their first MAC match, Sept. 17, 1982, against Northern Illinois University. Eastern Michigan won that match, 3-1, en route to a 5-9-1 season in the Mid-American Conference.
ONE MORE RECORD 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 1,086 career digs, which ranks 13th all-time at Eastern. It's the career-sets-played record that Iaquaniello can reach soon this season. She currently has played 443 sets in her career, and 506 is the record held by 2011 senior, Ashley Mason.
IAQUANIELLO BREAKS RECORDS AT MEAN GREEN INVITE: Senior outside hitter, Rachel Iaquaniello, became one of the most decorated volleyball players in Eastern Michigan University history over the weekend when she took over the top-spot for career kills and career attack attempts. The Plymouth, Mich. native came into the tournament 12 kills behind Roxanne Munch's all-time kill record of 1,537. With the Eagles leading Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Sept. 7, 24-23 in the third set, Iaquaniello finished off the Islanders with her 13th kill of the match giving her 1,538 for her career, one ahead of Munch's 23-year old record which was set in 1989. That wasn't the only record Iaquaniello broke on the afternoon, as Iaquaniello's 37 attacks against the Islanders gave her 4,466 career attacks, moving her ahead of previous record holder Jennifer Nighswander. Iaquaniello now has 1,639 kills in her career and 4,812 attack attempts.
LEADING THE MAC IN...: Eastern has been near the top of the conference in multiple categories both as a team and individually, but the Eagles .625 winning percentage is the best in the MAC with Akron coming in second at .583.
As a team, the Green and White is fifth in the conference in aces per set. As of Sept. 16, EMU is averaging 1.19 aces per set which follows just Akron (1.49), Buffalo (1.41), Bowling Green (1.27) and Northern Illinois (1.26). The Eagles are also fourth in digs per set. The Green and White is posting 16.06 digs per set while Western Michigan leads at 17.95.
Individually, Eastern has a few student-athletes showing off their skill on the hardwood. Rachel Iaquaniello is third the MAC in kills at 3.87 per set, she is trailing Paige Penrod of Bolwing Green (4.12) and Kara Bates of Ball State (3.89). Kristen Baker ranks ninth in the conference in attack percentage at a .303 clip. Megan Crawshaw is third in the MAC for blocking, averaging 1.00 blocks per set, while Sierra Reed is ninth in digs per set, with 3.98.
(All MAC statistical leaders are current as of Sept. 16, 2012)
Live Stats vs. WMU
Live Video vs. WMU
Live Stats vs. NIU
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michign University volleyball opens the Mid-American Conference portion of the 2012 season Friday, Sept. 21, when it plays host to the Western Michigan University Broncos at 7 p.m.. The Eagles continue its MAC schedule with the Northern Illinois University Huskies Saturday, Sept. 22, at 7 p.m. at the Convocation Center. This weekend will also serve as EMU Volleyball's 2012 Alumni Weekend.
FIRE EXTINGUISHED: The Eastern Michigan University volleyball squad started on a hot note to begin the 2012 campaign, going 10-2. However, the Eagles have cooled off after that start, dropping their last four matches, including three at the Coke/Michigan Invitational over the weekend in Ann Arbor.
ALL-TIME AGAINST THIS WEEKEND'S FIELD: Eastern Michigan University and Western Michigan University have faced-off 73 times over the years. The Broncos hold the edge over EMU 53-20, in those matches.
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. Last year, the Eagles dropped both matches with Western, losing a match at home and on the road. In the series opener between EMU and WMU, the Green and White traveled to Kalamazoo, Mich. and fell 3-1on the road, Sept. 23. Eastern hosted the Broncos, Oct. 29, where Western came into the Convocation Center and defeated the Eagles, 3-1.
EMU has taken on Northern Illinois University 45 times, with NIU holding a 26-19 edge. EMU and the Huskies first squared-off in 1980 when Eastern took a pair of matches against NIU. Last season, the Eagles and Huskies split the season series. Eastern first won on the road, 3-1, Sept. 24, but lost the home match, 3-1, Oct. 28.
ALUMNI WEEKEND SET FOR SEPT. 21-22: Eastern Michigan University's volleyball team would like to invite all of its alumni back to Ypsilanti for Alumni Weekend, Sept. 21-22. All alumni will receive free admission to both matches over the weekend, but are encouraged to contact Assistant Coach Eric Stark at estark@emich.edu to reserve tickets.
The alumni match is set for Saturday, Sept. 22, from 3-4:30 p.m. at the Convocation Center. Showers and food will be available following the alumni match. Food will be available outside in the parking lot of the Convocation Center.
BAKER NAMED TO COKE/MICHIGAN INVITE ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM: Senior middle blocker, Kristen Baker, led Eastern Michigan University at the Coke/Michigan Invitational over the weekend. She was named to the All-Tournament team after Eastern went 0-3 in Ann Arbor, Mich. Baker posted 28 kills and a .344 attack percentage (28-7-61) in 11 sets played throughout the weekend. Her top kill performance came against Duke University when she notched 13 kills, while she posted a .550 attack percentage (12-1-20) against Western Kentucky University, Sept. 15.
BACK TO YPSILANTI TO HAVE SOME FUN: The Eagles started the season with just one home match prior to opening the Mid-American Conference. EMU went 10-6 in its first 16 matches, 15 of which were on the road.
The Green and White will make its return to the Convocation Center Friday, Sept. 21, when it plays host to Western Michigan University. Eastern holds a 203-145 career record at home and looks to continue to improve the home record by topping both WMU and Northern Illinois University this weekend.
CATCH EMU VOLLEYBALL WORLDWIDE 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 Friday, Sept. 21, when the Western Michigan Broncos 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.
SCOUTING THE BRONCOS: The Broncos were selected to finish first in the Mid-American Conference West Division as well as winning the MAC Regular Season and tournament titles. The Broncos are 7-6 on the season, and sit in fourth behind the Eagles, Central and NIU in the West Division. Western leads the conference in multiple statistical categories, including assists, kills and digs. The Broncos average 14.24 assists per set, 14.69 kills per set and 17.95 digs per set this year.
Jessica Brown and Terin Norris were each named to the preseason All-MAC team. Brown is leading the Broncos in both kills (3.43 k/s) and blocks (0.83 b/s) this season. Norris is leading the conference in assists with 11.93 assists per set.
Lena Oliver has also shown promise this season as WMU's libero. Oliver is tied for second in the conferenece in digs, posting 5.07 digs per set.
SCOUTING THE HUSKIES: After being picked to finish fourth in the Mid-American Conference West Division, Northern Illinois has started the 2012 campaign with a 9-7 record, sitting in second place of the MAC West Division. The Huskies hold offenses to a .176 attack percentage which ranks second in the MAC, while they sit third in digs averaging 16.89 digs per set.
MacKenzie Roddy is leading NIU in kills, averaging 3.31 per set, while Alexis Gonzalez' 9.82 assists is tops for the Huskies. Amber Walker is posting 4.67 digs per which is the best for NIU and also ranks third in the MAC.
MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE OPENER: The Eagles make their debut in the MAC conference Friday, Sept. 21, when they play host to Western Michigan University. Since joining the MAC in 1982 for volleyball, the Eagles are 19-10 in conference openers.
The then-Hurons, played in their first MAC match, Sept. 17, 1982, against Northern Illinois University. Eastern Michigan won that match, 3-1, en route to a 5-9-1 season in the Mid-American Conference.
ONE MORE RECORD 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 1,086 career digs, which ranks 13th all-time at Eastern. It's the career-sets-played record that Iaquaniello can reach soon this season. She currently has played 443 sets in her career, and 506 is the record held by 2011 senior, Ashley Mason.
IAQUANIELLO BREAKS RECORDS AT MEAN GREEN INVITE: Senior outside hitter, Rachel Iaquaniello, became one of the most decorated volleyball players in Eastern Michigan University history over the weekend when she took over the top-spot for career kills and career attack attempts. The Plymouth, Mich. native came into the tournament 12 kills behind Roxanne Munch's all-time kill record of 1,537. With the Eagles leading Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Sept. 7, 24-23 in the third set, Iaquaniello finished off the Islanders with her 13th kill of the match giving her 1,538 for her career, one ahead of Munch's 23-year old record which was set in 1989. That wasn't the only record Iaquaniello broke on the afternoon, as Iaquaniello's 37 attacks against the Islanders gave her 4,466 career attacks, moving her ahead of previous record holder Jennifer Nighswander. Iaquaniello now has 1,639 kills in her career and 4,812 attack attempts.
LEADING THE MAC IN...: Eastern has been near the top of the conference in multiple categories both as a team and individually, but the Eagles .625 winning percentage is the best in the MAC with Akron coming in second at .583.
As a team, the Green and White is fifth in the conference in aces per set. As of Sept. 16, EMU is averaging 1.19 aces per set which follows just Akron (1.49), Buffalo (1.41), Bowling Green (1.27) and Northern Illinois (1.26). The Eagles are also fourth in digs per set. The Green and White is posting 16.06 digs per set while Western Michigan leads at 17.95.
Individually, Eastern has a few student-athletes showing off their skill on the hardwood. Rachel Iaquaniello is third the MAC in kills at 3.87 per set, she is trailing Paige Penrod of Bolwing Green (4.12) and Kara Bates of Ball State (3.89). Kristen Baker ranks ninth in the conference in attack percentage at a .303 clip. Megan Crawshaw is third in the MAC for blocking, averaging 1.00 blocks per set, while Sierra Reed is ninth in digs per set, with 3.98.
(All MAC statistical leaders are current as of Sept. 16, 2012)
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