Eastern Michigan Athletics
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Eagle Freshmen Power EMU Volleyball to Four Set Win
10/10/2015 10:15:00 PM | Volleyball
The Eagles close their four-match home stand with a 3-1 mark
Postgame interview with Head Coach Kimi Olson
Photo Gallery
Video Highlights.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team emerged victorious at home versus Mid-American Conference foe Ball State University Saturday, Oct. 10, by a final margin of 3-1 (26-28, 25-19, 26,24, 25-17). Freshman Jordan Smith (Solon, Iowa - Solon) led the Eagles (11-8; 3-3 MAC), tallying a career-high 17 kills and 8 digs on the night while redshirt freshman Mallory Rajewski (Midland, Mich. - Midland) directed the EMU attack with a double-double, including a whopping 51 assists and 10 digs.Rajewski's helping hands balanced the attack and led the Midland, Mich. native to a career-high in assists.
The opening set was marked by back and forth play, as the two teams remained tied 5-5 after the first 10 points. The Eagles remained within one point of the Cardinals throughout the majority of the match, as neither team could jump out to a sizable lead. Ball State went on a short streak, extending their lead to 19-15 before the Eagles came right back with a kill from freshman Cassie Haut (Monroe, Mich. - St. Mary Catholic Central). Haut, who hit at an incredible .565 clip with a career-high 15 kills, kept the Eagles close for the remainder of the set, but the Green and White ultimately fell 28-26.
The Eagles opened the second set strong behind an ace from Rajewski. EMU grabbed the lead early, and did not surreneder it for the remainder of the set. Senior Corynne Smith (Norwalk, Ohio - St. Paul) totaled 9 digs in the set on her way to a match-high of 29 digs, marking the seventh time this season she has recorded 20 or more digs. The Eagles closed out the set on a kill from senior Stacey Perinar (Channahon, Ill. - Minooka Community), 25-19. Perinar finished the match with 10 kills and 8 digs, just shy of a double-double.
Ball State began the third set with two quick points before Haut responded with a kill to get the Eagles on the board. The two teams went back and forth, eventually tying at 7-7. Perinar briefly put the Green and White ahead before the Cardinals roared back and tied it up at 11. Neither team could gain ground, as the Eagles and Cardinals remained locked at 24 near the end of the set. A serving error on Ball State and another ace by Rajewski propelled the Eagles to a 26-24 win in the third set.
With the Eagles ahead two sets to one, the Green and White attack came to overpowered the Cardinals in the final set. As a team, EMU hit at a .324 clip while holding Ball State to a .062 clip due to solid defense from the Eagles. Eastern ran out to a quick 10-3 lead on back-to-back aces from freshman Alyssa LaFace (Allen Park, Mich. - Allen Park), who went on to tally a career-high 14 digs on the night. The Green and White attack continued to fire on all cylinders with Rajewski distributing the ball evenly, increasing their lead to 22-12 before the Cardinals attempted to mount a rally. Despite scoring a quick three points, the Cardinals ended up dropping the final set 25-17 to EMU, and the Eagles emerged victorious, 3-1.
With the win, the Eagles close out their four-game home stand with a 3-1 mark.
EMU heads on the road next week, with trips to Miami, Friday, Oct. 16, and Bowling Green, Saturday, Oct. 17. The following weekend, the Green and White return home for matches with Buffalo Friday, Oct. 23, and Akron Saturday, Oct. 24.
Photo Gallery
Video Highlights.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team emerged victorious at home versus Mid-American Conference foe Ball State University Saturday, Oct. 10, by a final margin of 3-1 (26-28, 25-19, 26,24, 25-17). Freshman Jordan Smith (Solon, Iowa - Solon) led the Eagles (11-8; 3-3 MAC), tallying a career-high 17 kills and 8 digs on the night while redshirt freshman Mallory Rajewski (Midland, Mich. - Midland) directed the EMU attack with a double-double, including a whopping 51 assists and 10 digs.Rajewski's helping hands balanced the attack and led the Midland, Mich. native to a career-high in assists.
The opening set was marked by back and forth play, as the two teams remained tied 5-5 after the first 10 points. The Eagles remained within one point of the Cardinals throughout the majority of the match, as neither team could jump out to a sizable lead. Ball State went on a short streak, extending their lead to 19-15 before the Eagles came right back with a kill from freshman Cassie Haut (Monroe, Mich. - St. Mary Catholic Central). Haut, who hit at an incredible .565 clip with a career-high 15 kills, kept the Eagles close for the remainder of the set, but the Green and White ultimately fell 28-26.
The Eagles opened the second set strong behind an ace from Rajewski. EMU grabbed the lead early, and did not surreneder it for the remainder of the set. Senior Corynne Smith (Norwalk, Ohio - St. Paul) totaled 9 digs in the set on her way to a match-high of 29 digs, marking the seventh time this season she has recorded 20 or more digs. The Eagles closed out the set on a kill from senior Stacey Perinar (Channahon, Ill. - Minooka Community), 25-19. Perinar finished the match with 10 kills and 8 digs, just shy of a double-double.
Ball State began the third set with two quick points before Haut responded with a kill to get the Eagles on the board. The two teams went back and forth, eventually tying at 7-7. Perinar briefly put the Green and White ahead before the Cardinals roared back and tied it up at 11. Neither team could gain ground, as the Eagles and Cardinals remained locked at 24 near the end of the set. A serving error on Ball State and another ace by Rajewski propelled the Eagles to a 26-24 win in the third set.
With the Eagles ahead two sets to one, the Green and White attack came to overpowered the Cardinals in the final set. As a team, EMU hit at a .324 clip while holding Ball State to a .062 clip due to solid defense from the Eagles. Eastern ran out to a quick 10-3 lead on back-to-back aces from freshman Alyssa LaFace (Allen Park, Mich. - Allen Park), who went on to tally a career-high 14 digs on the night. The Green and White attack continued to fire on all cylinders with Rajewski distributing the ball evenly, increasing their lead to 22-12 before the Cardinals attempted to mount a rally. Despite scoring a quick three points, the Cardinals ended up dropping the final set 25-17 to EMU, and the Eagles emerged victorious, 3-1.
With the win, the Eagles close out their four-game home stand with a 3-1 mark.
EMU heads on the road next week, with trips to Miami, Friday, Oct. 16, and Bowling Green, Saturday, Oct. 17. The following weekend, the Green and White return home for matches with Buffalo Friday, Oct. 23, and Akron Saturday, Oct. 24.
Team Stats
BSU
EMU
Kills
53
63
Errors
23
22
Attempts
162
170
Hitting %
.185
.241
Points
69.0
74.0
Assists
49
58
Aces
7
4
Blocks
9.0
7.0
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
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