Eagles Sweep Central to Keep Postseason Hopes Alive

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team got back on track Thursday, Nov. 14, when it got sweet revenge in a sweep versus Central Michigan University, who held a one match lead in the Mid-American Conference West Division standings heading into the contest. The Eagles (15-15, 5-10 MAC) dropped CMU 25-23, 25-13, and 25-19, as Erin Short (Orrville, Ohio-Orrville) made history by notching her 300th career block assists against the Chippewas (11-16, 5-10 MAC). Short became the fifth Eagle to post 1,000 kills and 300 block assists in a career, but she became the first-ever non-middle blocker to complete the feat.

Eastern was very balanced offensively, but Stacey Perinar (Channahon, Ill.-Minooka Community) led the attack with eight kills in the three set match. Short totaled seven kills, with a .318 attack percentage after taking 22 attempts without an error. Jill Briner (Oak Park, Ill.-Oak Park and River Forest (Northeastern)) and Katie Krasowski (Oak Lawn, Ill.-Marist) each accumulated five kills. Briner not only had a .455 attack percentage after going 5-for-11 without an error, but had a team-high 23 assists on the day. As a team, EMU hit .211 in the contest, with 31 kills on 95 attempts and had just 11 errors on the night.

Defensively, the Green and White was strong, stuffing the Chippewas on 12 separate occasions, falling just one team block short of their career-high. Megan Crawshaw (Mattawan, Mich.-Mattawan) and Short led the defense with six block assists, which tied Short's career high. Corynne Smith (Norwalk, Ohio-St. Paul) posted six digs per set to continue her attempt at a run the 2013 MAC Defensive Player of the Year, posting 18 digs in the match. The Eagles held CMU to an .082 attack percentage, including just 34 kills on 110 attempts, with 25 errors.

Despite a struggling offensive output in the first frame, hitting at just an .053 clip, the Green and White was able to take the first set, 25-23. Crawshaw, Krasowski, Perinar and Paige Roback (Maumee, Ohio-Notre Dame Academy) each contributed a pair of kills in the opening frame, while Alyssa Davis (Kalamazoo, Mich.-Plainwell) and Perinar each served up a pair of aces. Smith grabbed nine of her 18 digs in the first set, while both Krasowski and Short recorded a pair of block assists in the first set, helping the Eagles to a one set lead.

A high octane offense was the story of the second set for EMU. The Green and White posted a superior .368 attack percentage, making just two errors on 19 attempts, with nine kills. Briner was able to notch three kills on four attempts, while Short was 4-for-6 in her attack attempts. The EMU defense did not slouch in the frame either, as the Eagles posted five blocks, including a solo from Roback and three assists from both Crawshaw and Short, helping Eastern Michigan cruise to a two set lead.

EMU used a five kill performance in set three to help itself to a sweep of the Chippewas. Briner, Crawshaw and Short each contributed a pair of kills in the 25-19 victory. Briner not only was successful at the net, but the Oak Park, Ill. native posted 10 assists in the set. On the defensive side of the ball, Briner was stellar with three block assists, while Crawshaw and Krasowski were able to stuff a pair. Eastern used a .289 attack percentage, while holding the Chippewas to a .140 percentage on the offensive side.

The Eagles are attempting to make a run into the 2013 MAC Tournament Saturday, Nov. 16, with a match against Kent State University. The Green and White's match with Kent State is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday night. With a victory, the Eagles will earn the seventh seed in the tournament. Conversely, if the Eagles lose, Central loses, and the University at Buffalo goes 1-1 this weekend, the Green and White will earn the eighth seed in the tournament. EMU will find themselves on the outside looking in if Central wins its final match and the Eagles fall, or if Buffalo goes 2-0 this weekend and both Eastern and the Chippewas drop their final matches.

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Team Stats

Stacey Perinar

Erin Short

Jill Briner

Katie Krasowski

Eastern Michigan Athletics