Eastern Drops Four Setter in First Road MAC Match

DeKALB, Ill. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University started its Mid-American Conference road schedule with a four set loss to Northern Illinois University Friday, Oct. 4, at Victor E. Court in DeKalb, Ill. The Eagles (11-7, 1-2 MAC) won the first set in extra points, 26-24, before falling in three straight to the Huskies (10-7, 2-1 MAC), 21-25, 19-25 and 21-25.

The EMU offense was spread out throughout the match as the Green and White had three student-athletes post double-digit kills in the loss. Erin Short (Orrville, Ohio-Orrville) tied a season-best 12 kills, while posting a .344 hitting percentage with just one error in 32 attack attempts. Stacey Perinar (Channohan, Ill.-Minooka Community) and Paige Roback (Maumee, Ohio-Notre Dame Academy) each posted double-figure kill totals with 12 and 10, respectively. Devon Murray (Shelby, Ohio-Shelby) tied a career-best, five kills and Jill Briner (Oak Park, Ill.-Oak Park and River Forest (Northeastern)) tied her career-high at Eastern with 26 assists, along with a pair of service aces. Alyssa Davis (Kalamazoo, Mich.-Plainwell) added 13 assists of her own, as the Eagles posted a .131 attack percentage.

On the defensive side of the net, the Green and White posted nine total blocks, including the second solo block of Murray's career, while she also tied her career-best of five block assists. Corynne Smith (Norwalk, Ohio-St. Paul) totaled 27 digs, the third-most in her career, while Perinar and Roback each added double-digit digs with 10 and 13, respectively.

Eastern opened the match by taking a one-set lead after dropping the Huskies, 26-24, in the first frame. Short had a strong first set, picking up four kills and hitting .364 without making an attack error in 11 attempts. The defense totaled four blocks, one solo and two assists from Murray alone and Smith posted 10 of her digs in the opening frame. As a team, the Green and White held NIU to a .120 attack percentage, while hitting .137 on its own side.

Despite posting three blocks in the second set, the Eagles could not overcome a .216 hitting percentage by NIU, including a .625 performance from the Huskies' Sarah Angelos. On the other side of the net, EMU hit .184 in the frame with 13 kills and six errors in 38 attempts. Despite falling, 21-25, in the set, Short had another phenomenal performance, hitting .571 with four kills on seven tries. Perinar added four kills of her own in the frame.

Perinar led the offense in the third frame with four kills, while Short notched three of her own, however the rest of the EMU offense struggled as the team posted just an .057 attack percentage in the 19-25 set loss. The Eagles fell behind two sets to one after Northern Illinois posted a .250 attack percentage with five kills from Jenna Radtke.

The final set saw Eastern hit .139 in a 21-25 set loss. Murray and Roback led the offense with three kills. The Huskies, however, hit .279 including four kills from Angelos and five from Mackenzie Roddy. Briner posted nine assists but the Huskies were able to set up 18-of-18 kills in the frame to take a four set victory.

The Eagles continue MAC play Saturday, Oct. 5, at Western Michigan University. The Green and White travel to Kalamazoo, Mich. to take on the Broncos at University Arena. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday evening.

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Team Stats

Erin Short

Stacey Perinar

Paige Roback

Devon Murray

Eastern Michigan Athletics