Eagles Comeback Bid Falls Short

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YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team's comeback fell short against the University of Buffalo, Friday, Oct. 23, in the Convocation Center. Buffalo (4-17; 3-6) took the first two sets before downing the Eagles (12-10; 4-5) in set five to take the match, 3-2 (26-24, 25-16, 24-26, 18-25, 15-13). Senior Corynne Smith (Norwalk, Ohio-St. Paul) led the Eagles with a season-high 31 digs, while senior Stacey Perinar (Channahon, Ill.-Minooka) registered a career-high 23 kills to lead the Eagles' attack. She also added 14 digs on her way to her ninth double-double of the season. Additionally, Senior Dori Harrison (Euclid, Ohio-Beaumont School) added career-highs in kills (9) and digs (15) in the loss.

Perinar registered the 1,000^th kill of her career in the opening set while redshirt senior Katie Krasowski (Oak Lawn, Ill.-Marist) paced the attack with a team-best .600 hitting percentage. Perinar totaled a set-high eight kills and the Eagles attack hit at a .216 clip. However, inconsistent defense allowed the Bulls to boast a match-best .316 clip. Despite the significant edge on attack, the Eagles leveled the score at 24 late in the set before Buffalo closed the set with back-to-back kills. Taking the set, 26-24, Buffalo held a 1-0 lead in the match.

Hitting woes plagued the Eagles in the second set, as Buffalo hit .256 on their way to a 25-16 set victory. Smith tallied a set-high seven digs to lead the EMU defensive effort.

Trailing in the early going of set three, the Eagles battled back to tie the score at 18. Fueled by Harrison on attack and the stout defense of Smith, the Green and White rallied to a 26-24 win. Harrison led the Eagles with six kills while Smith added 13 digs.

Fighting to force a decisive fifth set, the Eagles turned to Perinar and Krasowski as the duo combined for seven kills. Krasowski added two blocks while Haut matched the senior's defensive effort, as the Eagles held the Bulls to a .000 clip in the set.

Eastern Michigan jumped out to an early lead in set five, only to have the Bulls charge back to even the score at seven. Buffalo rattled off three consecutive points, taking a 10-7 lead, which forced an EMU timeout. Out of the break, the Eagles clawed their way back within one but a kill by the Bulls ended the set, 15-13 in favor of the visitors. Perinar led the Eagles with five kills in the set, adding three digs and one block to her stat line.

The Eagles close out week five of Mid-American Conference play Saturday, Oct. 24, against Akron in game two of their four-game homestand. The MAC divisional crossover match is set for 5 p.m. in the Convocation Center.

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Team Stats

Stacey Perinar

Kelsey Jones

Dori Harrison

Devon Murray

Players Mentioned

Dori Harrison

Katie Krasowski

Stacey Perinar

Corynne Smith

Players Mentioned

Dori Harrison

Katie Krasowski

Stacey Perinar

Corynne Smith

Eastern Michigan Athletics