Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
12-12, 4-7MAC
Northern Illinois
13-10, 9-2MAC
NIU Overpowers EMU Volleyball, 3-0
10/30/2015 8:54:00 PM | Volleyball
Senior Stacey Perinar recorded 19th match with double-digit kills this season
Video Highlights.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team dropped the first match of their final week at home, 3-0, against Northern Illinois University, Friday, Oct. 30. The team fell in three sets (25-19, 25-18, 25-19) behind offensive struggles and running into a hot NIU (13-10, 9-2 MAC) squad.
The Eagles (12-12; 4-7 MAC) were led by seniors Stacey Perinar (Channahon, Ill. – Minooka Community) and Katie Krasowski (Oak Lawn, Ill. – Marist), who had 14 and six kills, respectively. Redshirt freshman Mallory Rajewski (Midland, Mich. – Midland) tallied 28 assists on the night while senior Corynne Smith (Norwalk, Ohio – St. Paul) paced the Eagle defense with 14 digs. Overall, the Eagles only managed to hit at a .055 clip while NIU was in an offensive rhythm the entire match, as they hit .286.
The first set began with Perinar making her presence known, as she notched the first kill of the game. The two teams traded points early on until NIU opened an 11-7 lead. However, Perinar halted the run with another kill and senior Kelsey Jones (Reed City, Mich.-Reed City) came up with a big block, bringing the score to 12-10 in favor of the Huskies. The Eagles' offensive struggles continued, as the Northern Illinios increased their lead to 5. Freshman Cassie Haut (Monroe, Mich.-St. Mary Catholic Central) kill put a stop to the NIU run, while a sneaky finesse move from Rajewski brought the Eagles within three. EMU cut the NIU later cut the lead to two, but errors on the Eagles gave the Huskies the win in the first set, 25-19.
Similar to the first set, neither team could jump to an early lead in the second frame. An early Perinar ace gave the Eagles a quick 2-1 lead, but the teams then traded points playing to a tie, 5-5. The Huskies then jumped ahead by three, never surrendering the lead the rest of the way. The Eagles mounted a late rally to pull within six, but the Huskies prevailed, taking the second set 25-18.
Yet again, EMU scored the first point in the third set, but then fell behind early, 5-1. The NIU offense stayed hot throughout the set, as they opened an early 12-4 lead, on their way to a match-best .333 clip. The Eagles mounted another late rally, cutting the lead to just six behind kills from multiple Eagles. The rally was too little too late, as the Huskies claimed the set, 25-19, and the match, 3-0.
EMU closes out their home schedule tomorrow, Saturday Oct. 31, with a match against Western Michigan at 5 p.m. The Halloween clash is the Eagles' last home game of the 2015 campaign and will feature a halftime ceremony for senior day. The Green and White will recognize the six seniors on this year's squad.
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