Roback's 21 Kills Propels EMU to Five Set Comeback Victory

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BUFFALO, N.Y. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team has started its season 2-0 after coming back from two sets down against Hartford University Friday, Aug. 30, to prevail in a five set victory at the 2013 Golden Griffin Invitational. EMU dropped the first two sets, 23-25 and 24-26, before rattling off three straight, 25-17, 25-16 and 15-12, to earn its second win in as many attempts.

Paige Roback (Maumee, Ohio-Notre Dame Academy) led the Eastern offense with 21 kills, while posting 18 digs. The senior outside hitter also set a match-high in kills and posted the best attack percentage, .340 (21-4-50), in the Eagles' second victory of the 2013 season. Stacey Perinar (Channahon, Ill.-Minooka Community) notched her second-straight double-digit kill performance with 12, while Erin Short (Orrville, Ohio-Orrville) added 10 of her own. Alyssa Davis (Kalamazoo, Mich.-Plainwell) posted 39 assists in five sets, while Sierra Reed (Muncie, Ind.-Wapahani) led the match with 26 digs. As a team the Eagles had 13 total blocks including eight block assists from redshirt-sophomore Kesley Jones (Reed City, Mich.-Reed City).

EMU dropped the first set, 25-23, after hitting .205 (11-3-39) in the frame. Hartford was strong offensively in the first set picking up 19 kills, including seven from Dionna Kirton and a three-for-four performance from Maya Louis. Jill Briner (Oak Park, Ill.-Oak Park and River Forest (Northeastern)) posted six assists in the first set, while Megan Crawshaw (Mattawan, Mich.-Mattawan) and Roback each had a trio of kills.

The Green and White fell behind, 2-0, after a 26-24 setback in the second frame. Eastern had trouble keeping up with the Hawks' offense as Hartford posted a .333 (17-5-36) attack percentage in the set. Roback and Short were each able to pick up four kills, and Davis had 10 assists in the frame but EMU had just a .200 (13-6-35) hitting percentage in the set.

After falling behind two sets, the Green and White ramped up the offense in the third set to cut into the deficit, 2-1. The Eagles had just two attack errors in the 25-17 set victory, including a 7-1-12 performance from Roback, good for a .500 attack percentage. Davis added another 10 assists to her total, while Eastern defense held Hartford to a .152 (12-7-33) hitting percentage in the set.

EMU continued to play stellar defense en route to a 25-16 fourth set victory. On their way to tying the match the defense only allowed a -.048 (8-10-42) attack percentage from the Hawks. Roback added another four kills and Davis setup nine points for the Eagles to take the match to a fifth and final set.

Eastern again held Hartford to a dismal .043 (7-6-23) hitting percentage in the final set, while EMU had just three attack errors in the 15-12 fifth set win that gave the Eagles their second win of the 2013 campaign.

After a 2-0 start, the Eagles continue the 2013 campaign Saturday, Aug. 31, with their final match of the Golden Griffin Invitational. EMU will take on Cleveland State University Saturday afternoon with first serve slated for 2 p.m. at Koessler Athletic Center.

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Team Stats

Paige Roback

Stacey Perinar

Erin Short

Kelsey Jones

Eastern Michigan Athletics