Short Named MVP, Eagles Sweep Brown Invitational

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team continued its dominance this week as it won its fourth-straight match in three sets. The Eagles (7-4) topped the host institution, Brown University, in its final match of the 2013 Brown Invitational. EMU knocked off the Bears (2-5), 25-16, 25-20 and 25-14. It was the first time since the 2011 season that Eastern had won four consecutive matches in three sets. The last time that feat occurred; the Eagles topped Miami (OH), Bowling Green, Buffalo and Akron from Oct. 14-Oct. 22.

Erin Short (Orrville, Ohio-Orrville) was named the Most Valuable Player of the Brown Invitational after averaging 2.67 kills per set and hitting .393 over the course of three matches. The Orrville, Ohio native notched 1.11 blocks per set and averaged 3.33 points per game in her run to MVP. Kelsey Jones (Reed City, Mich.-Reed City) averaged 1.62 blocks per set throughout the Brown Invitational and hit .346 with 1.25 kills per game to earn All-Tournament Team honors.

The Eagles spread out the offense in the victory over Brown, as it did most of the weekend. EMU had nine student-athletes with a kill and Short led the way with nine in 21 attempts, posting a .333 (9-2-21) attack percentage. Stacey Perinar (Channahon, Ill.-Minooka Community) accumulated eight kills, while Paige Roback (Maumee, Ohio-Notre Dame Academy) added five of her own. Jill Briner (Oak Park, Ill.-Oak Park and River Forest (Northeastern)) had a balanced attack offensively. The junior totaled a match-high 18 assists, while also picking up three kills and a service ace. Natalie Folk (Saline, Mich.-Saline) had five of Eastern's eight aces in the match. As a team, Eastern hit .267 (36-8-105) in the match with just eight attack errors throughout the match.

Defensively, the Eagles posted nine blocks, with Short leading that category as well. The senior had a solo block to go along with three block assists. Jones had four block assists, while Megan Crawshaw (Mattawan, Mich.-Mattawan) and Devon Murray (Shelby, Ohio-Shelby) each added three of their own. Corynne Smith (Norwalk, Ohio-St. Paul) led the match in digs with 17.

Eastern started out the match hot defensively, as it posted four of its nine blocks in the opening frame, while also allowing just one reception error in the set. The Bears were held to a .044 (12-10-45) attack percentage after being forced into 10 errors. On the other side of the net, EMU made just three attack errors and held a .244 (13-3-41) hitting percentage, including a 4-of-6 performance from Perinar to lead the Eagles to a 25-16 opening set win.

After jumping out to the quick 1-0 lead, EMU did not slow down and took a two-set lead. Short and Roback helped with three kills each as the team hit .250 (11-3-32) in the set. Five of the six Eagle starters posted kills in the frame, while holding Brown to a .150 (13-7-40) attack percentage. The Green and White came up with three blocks in the set including two block assists from Crawshaw to seal a 25-20 set win.

Eastern closed the door in dominating fashion during the third set. The Eagles took the frame, 25-14, while holding the Bears to a .150 (13-7-40) attack percentage. Short and Roback each added three more kills, while Eastern Michigan had just three attack errors and hit .250 (11-3-32) to sweep the Brown Invitational in just nine sets.

The Eagles take two days off before they host IPFW Tuesday, Sept. 17, for a midweek tilt at the Convocation Center. First serve is slated for 7 p.m. in Ypsilanti.

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Team Stats

Erin Short

Stacey Perinar

Paige Roback

Kelsey Jones

Eastern Michigan Athletics