Eastern Starts 2013 Out With a Four Set Win at Canisius

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BUFFALO, N.Y. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University Head Volleyball Coach Kim Berrington opened her 18th season at the helm of the volleyball program with a 3-1 victory over Canisius College at the 2013 Golden Griffin Invitational Friday, Aug. 31. The new look Eagles showed versatility across the court including a top-notch performance from sophomore outside hitter Stacey Perinar (Channahon, Ill.-Minooka Community) who posted her first career 20-kill match as well as her first double-double at the collegiate ranks.

Perinar led EMU with career-best 20 kills and 12 digs in the four set match. The sophomore shattered her previous career-high in kills by 16, while notching 10 more digs than in any other single match of her freshman campaign. Megan Crawshaw (Mattawan, Mich.-Mattawan) had a double-digit performance with 12 kills, while posting a .308 (12-4-26) attack percentage. Paige Roback (Maumee, Ohio-Notre Dame Academy) added 11 kills and 17 digs for her first double-double of the season, while Alyssa Davis (Kalamazoo, Mich.-Plainwell) set up the offense for the majority of the match and collected 42 assists. Kelsey Jones (Reed City, Mich.-Reed City) had a career-match as well after posting nine kills on 15 attempts without an attack error. She led the Eagles in attack percentage at .600.

Defensively, Corynne Smith (Norwalk, Ohio-St. Paul) accumulated 31 digs to lead EMU, while the Green and White notched seven total blocks including four block assists from Erin Short (Orrville, Ohio-Orrville). Jones had one solo block and a trio of block assists in the win.

In the first set the Eagles trailed 23-19 and with their backs against the wall, they were able to rattle off five-straight points to take a 24-23 lead. It took just three more points for the Green and White to take the set, 26-24, when Jones banged home her fourth kill of the game. Despite hitting just .151 (18-10-53) the Eagles defense was able to keep the Golden Griffins to just 10 kills in the opening frame. Perinar led EMU with six kills, while Crawshaw and Jones each added four and Roback contributed three in the first set win.

Set two was a different story for the Eagles as they allowed Canisius to tie the match, 1-1, after a 27-25 set loss. The Eagles had just nine kills in the frame, while hitting at a .023 (9-8-44) clip. Despite Perinar adding four kills, the Green and White could only muster another five kills from the rest of the squad. However, Eastern's defense was able to hold the Golden Griffins to a .085 (12-8-47) attack percentage in the set.

The third frame proved to be the Eagles' most dominant offensive showing in the match. As a team, EMU hit .320 (20-4-50) with just four attack errors in the set. Perinar added another six to her total, while Crawshaw notched five more. Davis set up most of those kills as she picked up 16 assists in the frame, which helped Eastern to a 25-22 set victory, putting the Green and White back on-top, 2-1.

The fourth set was the final that EMU took, 25-19. Short posted five of her seven total kills in the set, while Perinar added another four. Davis notched 14 assists in the frame as EMU went 19-8-47 for a .234 attack percentage. Defensively, the Green and White held Canisius to just six kills and a .114 (6-2-35) hitting percentage in the final frame.

The Eagles are back in action later this evening when they take on Hartford University in their second match of 2013. First serve is slated for 6 p.m. at the Koessler Athletic Center in Buffalo, N.Y.

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Team Stats

Stacey Perinar

Megan Crawshaw

Paige Roback

Kelsey Jones

Eastern Michigan Athletics