Eastern Returns Home to Continue MAC Play

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team struggled in the second weekend of Mid-American Conference play, dropping a pair of matches. EMU first fell at Northern Illinois University Friday, Oct. 4, in four sets at Victor E. Court, before traveling to Kalamazoo, Mich. and suffering its second four set loss in a row, at the hands of Western Michigan University.

This week, the Green and White returns home for a pair of matches at the Convocation Center. The Eagles will first welcome in-state MAC foe Central Michigan University to Ypsilanti Thursday, Oct. 10, for a 7 p.m. tilt. After the Chippewas come to town, Eastern will take on No. 18-ranked Ohio University. The Bobcats come to the Convo Saturday, Oct. 12, after winning four-straight to open conference play. EMU and OU hit the floor at 7 p.m. Saturday evening.

ON THE HORIZON: After this weekend's competition, the Eagles will hit the road again. The Eagles will head to Ohio to take on a pair of MAC East Division foes. The Green and White will head to Oxford, Ohio to take on Miami Thursday, Oct. 17, before squaring off with Bowling Green, Oct. 18.

ALL-TIME AGAINST THE OPPONENTS: EMU has played in 125 matches combined against this week's opponents.

Eastern will play in a pair of MAC matches this week, first squaring off with Central Michigan Thursday, Oct. 10. The Eagles and Chippewas have met on the hardwood 76 times in the history of the two programs. Central has been dominant in the series, with a 53-23 edge. Last season, the two squads split a pair of matches, with EMU taking the second match, Nov. 1, in three sets at home.

Ohio comes to the Convo holding a 32-16-1 record against the Eagles. Last year, the Green and White dropped a three set decision in Athens, Ohio, Sept. 29.

TIME TO DECLAW THE CATS: Eastern Michigan has had issues when taking on the Bobcats in recent years. The Eagles have not beaten Ohio since the 2001 season when they knocked off the Bobcats in three sets, Oct. 19. In that span, the Green and White has taken just seven sets from Ohio over an 11 match span.

WELCOME TO THE 1,000 CLUB: Senior Paige Roback recently amassed her 1,000th kill while donning the Green and White. The Maumee, Ohio native's first kill of the four set win over Toledo, Sept. 28, made her just the 12th ever student-athlete at Eastern to notch 1,000 kills in a career.

Roback is also closing in on her 1,000th dig, sitting at 928 currently. She is averaging 2.75 digs per set and has averaged 125 sets per season. If her averages stay true, she would pick up roughly 344 digs for the 2013 campaign and accumulate 1,085 for her career.

MAKING HER WAY TO 1,000: Fellow senior Erin Short is closing in on that same feat, looking to become the 13th member of the 1,000 kill club at Eastern. The Orrville, Ohio native has totaled 916 kills in her career. Based on her season average the last three years, Short should accumulate roughly 251 kills this season which would give her 1,004 career kills.

SHORT'S CAREER KILL COUNT: The Eagles' senior outside hitter Erin Short notched 17 kills in the Green and White's four set loss to Western Michigan Saturday, Oct. 5. The offensive output was a career-best for the senior from Orrville, Ohio.

MURRAY'S MAJOR WEEKEND: Freshman Devon Murray is filling in for the injured Kelsey Jones and has taken advantage of that opportunity. The Shelby, Ohio native set a career-high in kills Saturday, Oct. 5, against Western Michigan when she totaled seven kills. The freshman middle blocker also set a career-best in blocks after totaling six against Northern Illinois, Oct. 4, including the second solo block of her career.

EAGLES TO UNITE AT CONVOCATION CENTER: The Thursday, Oct. 10, matchup with Central Michigan will serve as the EMU 'Eagles Unite' game for the volleyball season. The new mantra of the Eastern Michigan University Department of Athletics – "Eagles Unite" – is more than just a catchy slogan, but a campaign of support that pervades all of EMU's 21 varsity sports. The athletic department is encouraging student-athletes to attend specific sporting events that serve as the opportunity for them to show their school pride both on and off the field while building camaraderie amongst other student-athletes.

FOR THE 34TH TIME: Eastern Michigan has been a member of the Mid-American Conference for 33 years. The 2013 conference slate will serve as EMU's 34th season as a member of the MAC, including the Eagles' first place MAC West finish in 2005, when they totaled a 14-2 record.

IN THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT: The Eagles are not only leading the MAC in a few categories, but they are ranked in the top-50 nationally in a pair of them as well. EMU is ranked 25th overall in aces per set at 1.65, while it is 39th overall in digs per set with 16.14.

Individually, redshirt-sophomore middle blocker Kelsey Jones is posting 1.31 blocks per set, which ranks at the 34th best total in the nation. Corynne Smith is currently ranked 34th overall in the country in digs per set. The sophomore is averaging 4.94 digs in her first season starting at libero for the Green and White.

LEADING THE LEAGUE, AS USUAL: Over the last few years, EMU has been near the top of the Mid-American Conference in digs and this season is no different. The Eagles are currently leading the league in total digs with 1,146. The next closest is Northern Illinois who has notched just 1,103 in the same amount of sets, while the Green and White is currently posting 16.14 digs per set and Ball State is second in that category with 16.11 per game.

Corynne Smith is third in the conference with 4.94 digs per set, but is leading the conference in overall digs. She has totaled 351 digs in 71 sets, while the leaders in the conference, Kelly Svoboda (Buffalo) and Jenna Coates (Central Michigan), are averaging 5.81 and 5.72 digs, respectively.

CATCH THE ACTION ON EAGLE ALL-ACCESS: For the fifth consecutive year the Eastern Michigan Athletic Media Relations Department will offer live broadcasts of each EMU volleyball match during the 2013 season. Chad Bush will be your play-by-play man, while Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations, Greg Steiner, will serve as the analyst.

All 11 home matches will be provided over the internet with both audio and video coverage. To subscribe to Eagle All-Access, head to EMUEagles.com/showcase. Subscriptions start at $6.95 for a 24-hour pass, $10.95 for an entire month and $79.95 for a full calendar year. The next scheduled broadcast is Oct. 10, when the Eagles square off with Central Michigan. The coverage will start at 6:50 p.m.

SERVING UP VICTORY: After finishing last season as the eighth best serving team in the Mid-American Conference, the Eagles have made themselves known as a force from behind the service line. The Green and White is leading the conference in service aces, posting 117 so far this season. Ball State ranks second in overall aces at 92. EMU is averaging 1.65 aces per set which is 0.18 more than the next closest as Buffalo and Ohio who average 1.47 per game.

Individually, Natalie Folk has looked stellar serving for the Eagles. Folk is ranked seventh in the conference, posting 0.30 aces per set.

MOVING UP THE RANKS: Senior Paige Roback has accumulated 166 kills this season to up her career total to 1,026. That amount ranks as the 12th most in Eastern Michigan laurels. Alyssa Davis has added 351 assists to her total from a year ago, making her total of 1,008 assists the 13th most in EMU history. The sophomore has a good chance of moving up the list with over two seasons of eligibility remaining.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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