Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, September 7
Denton, Texas
2:30 p.m. (CST)
Eastern Michigan University
vs
Texas A&M - Corpus Christi
Photo by: EMU Athletics/Randy Mascharka
Volleyball to Travel to Texas for Mean Green Invitational
9/5/2012 1:43:00 PM | Volleyball
The Eagles will compete in their third tournament of the season
Complete Release
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michign University volleyball team travels to Denton, Texas for the 2012 Mean Green Invitational, hosted by the University of North Texas. Eastern opens up the tournament with a match against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Friday, Sept. 7 at 2:30 p.m. (CST) and another Friday evening match against North Texas at 7:30 p.m. (CST). The Eagles conclude this weekend's action with a double-header Saturday, Sept. 8. EMU will face Hofstra at 9 a.m. (CST) and finish out with Oral Roberst at 1 p.m. (CST).
HOT START TO 2012: The Eastern Michigan University volleyball squad has been on fire to start the 2012 campaign, winning six of its first eight matches, including winning the Memphis Invitational to open the season. The Eagles then dropped two in a row before winning a pair, and look to top the field at the Mean Green Invitational.
ALL-TIME VERSUS THE MEAN GREEN INVITATIONAL FIELD: Overall against this weekend's field, the Eagles are undefeated, 1-0. Eastern has not played three-of-four teams it takes on this weekend, and having only faced-off with Hofstra University back in 1990, when the Green and White topped the Pride in five sets. The match took place in the postseason at the WIVC Championships in Knoxville, Tenn. The Eagles had lost in the MAC Championship that season, falling to Miami University, but received an at-large bid to go to the WVIC Tournament. EMU went 30-5 that season, including a pair of wins in the postseason.
SUCCESS IN SEPTEMBER: The month of September has treated the Green and White well, going 221-197-5 all-time. EMU has posted nine double-digit win totals in the month of September, including a perfect 12-0 back in 1990. The Eagles are 2-0 so far this September and have the opportunity to post a 14-0 mark if they remain undefeated throughout the month.
EYEING THE EMU RECORD BOOK: Senior outside hitter Rachel Iaquaniello will soon be recognized as one of the most storied players in Eastern Michigan volleyball history during the 2012 campaign.
The two-time first team All-MAC selection is looking to become just the second three-time first-team nominee in Eastern's history. The only other EMU volleyballer to wear that crown is Roxanne Munch, who did so from 1987-1989. Iaquaniello earned her first-team honors in both the 2010 and 2011 campaigns.
Since donning the Green and White for Eastern, the Plymouth, Mich. native has recorded 1,525 kills, which ranks second all-time in EMU laurels. Iaquaniello averaged 465 kills per season in her first three and looks to break Munch's record of 1,537 kills which was set 23 years ago in 1989. Iaquaniello also sits second all-time in the career record book with 4,285 attack attempts. She averaged 1,363 attacks in her first three seasons and needs 27 to tie Jennifer Nighswander, who had 4,456 in her career at Eastern.
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 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.
MAKING THEIR HOME ON THE ROAD: The Eagles started the season with just one home match prior to opening the Mid-American Conference schedule against Western Michigan Friday, Sept. 21. EMU was on the road for its first four matches at the Memphis Invitational, Aug. 24-25, and hosted Cleveland State Tuesday, Aug. 28. The Green and White will spend the next eight matches on the road before hosting the Broncos to start MAC play, Sept. 21.
IAQUANIELLO NAMED TO ALL UIC INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT TEAM: Eastern Michigan University volleyball standout Rachel Iaquaniello was named to the All-Tournament team at the 2012 University of Illinois-Chicago Invitational last weekend. The senior outside hitter posted 51 kills in three matches, including an average of 4.25 kills per set. The Plymouth, Mich. native also notched 35 digs and 11 blocks at the tournament.
On the season, Iaquaniello has piled up 130 kills in eight matches, averaging 4.19 kills per set. She has also improved her attack percentage and blocking numbers this season. Last year, the senior posted a .197 attack percentage for the season. Through eight matches, she is hitting .244 this year. In 2011, Iaquaniello notched just 30 blocks in 32 matches. This season, she has already earned 16 blocks.
HOT SHOT FRESHMEN: A pair of first-year collegiate athletes in Alyssa Davis and Sierra Reed are earning their starting spots by posting exceptional numbers this season.
Davis, who is a setter from Kalamazoo, Mich., has played well in her eight matches for the Eagles. The freshman has posted 190 assists in that time, averaging 8.64 assists per set while setting the Green and White's offense.
Defensively, it has been Reed who has lifted Eastern. Reed has started at libero in each of the Eagles' eight matches and has notched 142 digs in that time. The Parker City, Ind. native has averaged 4.58 digs per set and has just 10 reception errors in her first eight collegiate matches.
FOUR-SET PHENOMS: Eastern has played in three matches that have lasted four sets this season. In those three matches, EMU is 3-0 and has held its opponents to a .185 attack percentage. Kristen Baker has posted a hitting percentage of .375 while averaging 2.67 kills per set in four-set matches. As a team, the Green and White has hit .234 during that time.
LEADING THE WAY: As of Sept. 5, the Eagles are leading the conference overall with a 6-2 record. Eastern is also the only team to have played eight matches to this point and their .750 winning percentage is the highest in the conference with Western Michigan coming in second at 4-2 (.667).
LEADING THE MAC IN...: Eastern has been near the top of the conference in multiple categories both as a team and individually. Eastern's offense has played far and above last season's offense.
As a team, the Green and White is third in the conference in assists per set, kills per set and aces per set. As of Sept. 1, EMU is averaging 12.74 assists per game which is third to just Western Michigan (14.33) and Ball State (13.12). On the attacking end, the Green and White is averaging 13.78 kills per set which is third to Western (14.71) and BSU (13.92) as well. EMU's 1.44 aces per set ranks third behind Bowling Green (1.50) and Buffalo (1.48) in the conference.
Defensively as a team the Eagles are second in the conference behind Western Michigan in digs per set. While the Broncos average 18.90, EMU is posting 17.78 digs per set.
Individually, Eastern has a few student-athletes showing off their skill on the hardwood. Rachel Iaquaniello is leading the MAC in kills at 4.37 per set, with the next closest, Meg Riley of Miami, coming in with 3.67 per set. Kristen Baker ranks eighth in the conference in attack percentage at a .272 clip. Megan Crawshaw is fourth in the MAC for blocking, averaging 1.15 blocks per set, while Sierra Reed is seventh in digs per set, with 4.56.
(All MAC statistical leaders are as of Sept. 1, 2012.)
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michign University volleyball team travels to Denton, Texas for the 2012 Mean Green Invitational, hosted by the University of North Texas. Eastern opens up the tournament with a match against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Friday, Sept. 7 at 2:30 p.m. (CST) and another Friday evening match against North Texas at 7:30 p.m. (CST). The Eagles conclude this weekend's action with a double-header Saturday, Sept. 8. EMU will face Hofstra at 9 a.m. (CST) and finish out with Oral Roberst at 1 p.m. (CST).
HOT START TO 2012: The Eastern Michigan University volleyball squad has been on fire to start the 2012 campaign, winning six of its first eight matches, including winning the Memphis Invitational to open the season. The Eagles then dropped two in a row before winning a pair, and look to top the field at the Mean Green Invitational.
ALL-TIME VERSUS THE MEAN GREEN INVITATIONAL FIELD: Overall against this weekend's field, the Eagles are undefeated, 1-0. Eastern has not played three-of-four teams it takes on this weekend, and having only faced-off with Hofstra University back in 1990, when the Green and White topped the Pride in five sets. The match took place in the postseason at the WIVC Championships in Knoxville, Tenn. The Eagles had lost in the MAC Championship that season, falling to Miami University, but received an at-large bid to go to the WVIC Tournament. EMU went 30-5 that season, including a pair of wins in the postseason.
SUCCESS IN SEPTEMBER: The month of September has treated the Green and White well, going 221-197-5 all-time. EMU has posted nine double-digit win totals in the month of September, including a perfect 12-0 back in 1990. The Eagles are 2-0 so far this September and have the opportunity to post a 14-0 mark if they remain undefeated throughout the month.
EYEING THE EMU RECORD BOOK: Senior outside hitter Rachel Iaquaniello will soon be recognized as one of the most storied players in Eastern Michigan volleyball history during the 2012 campaign.
The two-time first team All-MAC selection is looking to become just the second three-time first-team nominee in Eastern's history. The only other EMU volleyballer to wear that crown is Roxanne Munch, who did so from 1987-1989. Iaquaniello earned her first-team honors in both the 2010 and 2011 campaigns.
Since donning the Green and White for Eastern, the Plymouth, Mich. native has recorded 1,525 kills, which ranks second all-time in EMU laurels. Iaquaniello averaged 465 kills per season in her first three and looks to break Munch's record of 1,537 kills which was set 23 years ago in 1989. Iaquaniello also sits second all-time in the career record book with 4,285 attack attempts. She averaged 1,363 attacks in her first three seasons and needs 27 to tie Jennifer Nighswander, who had 4,456 in her career at Eastern.
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 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.
MAKING THEIR HOME ON THE ROAD: The Eagles started the season with just one home match prior to opening the Mid-American Conference schedule against Western Michigan Friday, Sept. 21. EMU was on the road for its first four matches at the Memphis Invitational, Aug. 24-25, and hosted Cleveland State Tuesday, Aug. 28. The Green and White will spend the next eight matches on the road before hosting the Broncos to start MAC play, Sept. 21.
IAQUANIELLO NAMED TO ALL UIC INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT TEAM: Eastern Michigan University volleyball standout Rachel Iaquaniello was named to the All-Tournament team at the 2012 University of Illinois-Chicago Invitational last weekend. The senior outside hitter posted 51 kills in three matches, including an average of 4.25 kills per set. The Plymouth, Mich. native also notched 35 digs and 11 blocks at the tournament.
On the season, Iaquaniello has piled up 130 kills in eight matches, averaging 4.19 kills per set. She has also improved her attack percentage and blocking numbers this season. Last year, the senior posted a .197 attack percentage for the season. Through eight matches, she is hitting .244 this year. In 2011, Iaquaniello notched just 30 blocks in 32 matches. This season, she has already earned 16 blocks.
HOT SHOT FRESHMEN: A pair of first-year collegiate athletes in Alyssa Davis and Sierra Reed are earning their starting spots by posting exceptional numbers this season.
Davis, who is a setter from Kalamazoo, Mich., has played well in her eight matches for the Eagles. The freshman has posted 190 assists in that time, averaging 8.64 assists per set while setting the Green and White's offense.
Defensively, it has been Reed who has lifted Eastern. Reed has started at libero in each of the Eagles' eight matches and has notched 142 digs in that time. The Parker City, Ind. native has averaged 4.58 digs per set and has just 10 reception errors in her first eight collegiate matches.
FOUR-SET PHENOMS: Eastern has played in three matches that have lasted four sets this season. In those three matches, EMU is 3-0 and has held its opponents to a .185 attack percentage. Kristen Baker has posted a hitting percentage of .375 while averaging 2.67 kills per set in four-set matches. As a team, the Green and White has hit .234 during that time.
LEADING THE WAY: As of Sept. 5, the Eagles are leading the conference overall with a 6-2 record. Eastern is also the only team to have played eight matches to this point and their .750 winning percentage is the highest in the conference with Western Michigan coming in second at 4-2 (.667).
LEADING THE MAC IN...: Eastern has been near the top of the conference in multiple categories both as a team and individually. Eastern's offense has played far and above last season's offense.
As a team, the Green and White is third in the conference in assists per set, kills per set and aces per set. As of Sept. 1, EMU is averaging 12.74 assists per game which is third to just Western Michigan (14.33) and Ball State (13.12). On the attacking end, the Green and White is averaging 13.78 kills per set which is third to Western (14.71) and BSU (13.92) as well. EMU's 1.44 aces per set ranks third behind Bowling Green (1.50) and Buffalo (1.48) in the conference.
Defensively as a team the Eagles are second in the conference behind Western Michigan in digs per set. While the Broncos average 18.90, EMU is posting 17.78 digs per set.
Individually, Eastern has a few student-athletes showing off their skill on the hardwood. Rachel Iaquaniello is leading the MAC in kills at 4.37 per set, with the next closest, Meg Riley of Miami, coming in with 3.67 per set. Kristen Baker ranks eighth in the conference in attack percentage at a .272 clip. Megan Crawshaw is fourth in the MAC for blocking, averaging 1.15 blocks per set, while Sierra Reed is seventh in digs per set, with 4.56.
(All MAC statistical leaders are as of Sept. 1, 2012.)
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