Eagles Welcome Toledo and Ball State for Homecoming Weekend

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- After two weekends of Mid-American Conference action, the Eastern Michigan University volleyball team returns to the Convocation Center floor this weekend, Oct. 9-10, as part of Homecoming weekend. The Eagles (9-8, 1-3 MAC) will take on a pair of MAC West opponents as the University of Toledo and Ball State University both come to Ypsilanti.

Eastern will square off with the Rockets (3-14, 0-4 MAC) Friday at 5 p.m. in the Convo. Toledo has yet to record a conference victory and is the only institution remaining without a league victory. The match will mark the 66th all-time meeting between the two squads.

The Cardinals (9-9, 3-1 MAC) have started the conference campaign strong, finishing the first two weekends with a 3-1 record. Ball State comes to the Convocation Center Saturday, Oct. 10, for a 7:30 p.m. match. The contest will be the 69th time the two teams have tangled. All patrons of the EMU Homecoming Football game against Akron on Saturday can show their ticket stub for complimentary entrance into the volleyball match.

DISMANTLING THE ROCKETS: Eastern Michigan has owned the series with the Rockets, dropping just 13 matches in 65 contests. With a dominant 52-13 lead in the overall series with Toledo, the Eagles took both matches with UT a season ago. Most recently, the Green and White defeated Toledo, 3-1, at the Convocation Center, Nov. 7, in its final home weekend of the 2014 campaign.

Toledo comes into Friday evening's matchup struggling. With just a 3-14 record, the Rockets are currently on a five-match losing streak, dating back to Sept. 18 when the Rockets took two matches in a doubleheader during non-conference play. Toledo is looking for its first win in Mid-American Conference play after starting the MAC season 0-4. Saige Thomas and Rachel Vidourek lead th offense at 2.46 and 2.58 kills per set, repsectively, while Alex Hines serves as the primary setter with 9.41 assists per game. Maurissa Leonard leads the defense picking up 4.52 digs per frame.

CATCHING UP ON THE CARDS: Eastern Michigan, unfortunately, has not had the same success against Ball State as it has versus Toledo. The Eagles trail the all-time series with Ball State, 23-45. Last year, the Green and White split its matches with the Co-MAC West Division leaders, most recently defeating the Cardinals, 3-2, on Senior Night at the Convo, Nov. 8.

Despite dropping its most recent decision, 1-3, at the hands of Western Michigan, Oct. 3, the Cardinals have won three-of-four matches since starting Mid-American Conference play. Ball State uses one of the best setters in the conference to make its offense go. Jenna Spadafora is second in the MAC in assists per frame (9.86) and she uses a quartet of attackers who average at least two kills per set, led by Kelly Hopkins' 2.35 per frame. As a team, the Cardinals' defense is their strongest point, posting the second best opponent hitting percentage in the conference (.198).

SOLVING THE SETTER DISPUTE: Heading into Mid-American Conference play, the Eagles were splitting time between senior Alyssa Davis and redshirt freshman Mallory Rajewski at the setter position. Following running a two-setter offense through the first 15 matches of the 2015 season, it looks as though Rajewski has earned the nod at setter, starting the last two matches in the spot. Through those two matches, the Green and White is 1-1 and the Midland, Mich. native is averaging 10.86 assists per frame which would lead the conference as Ohio's Abby Gilleland posts a league-best 10.35.

COMING FROM MUNCIE: Eastern's Saturday opponent Ball State is not the only part of Saturday's match that will be from Muncie, Ind. for the 7:30 p.m. contest. EMU assistant volleyball coach Darcy Dorton is familiar with Ball State as the former European professional volleyball player hails from the same city as the MAC West institution. In fact, Dorton graduated from Delta High School in Mucie.

OLSON LOOKING TO JOIN ELITE COMPANY: First-year Head Coach Kimi Olson is the eighth coach in Eastern Michigan volleyball history. Currently sporting a 9-8 record, Olson is attempting to become just the third coach to open their tenure by putting together a winning record in the first season. Dennis Caldwell, EMU's head coach in its inaugural season of varsity volleyball, posted a 15-10-2 record in 1976, while eight-year head coach Nona Richardson posted a 14-11 record during the 1988 campaign.

A LOOK AT THE CONFERENCE LEADERS: As of the most recent full statistical release by the MAC, the EMU volleyball team is near the top in multiple categories. In fact, Eastern is first in assists per set (12.21), while also ranking second in digs per set (16.11) and third in opponent hitting percentage (.201) and kills per set (12.82).

Individually, Stacey Perinar is second in the the conference in kills per set at 4.03 per frame, while Corynne Smith is third in the MAC in digs per set (5.10). Cassie Haut also finds herself in the 10th spot overall in blocks per set (0.93).

NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT: EMU's senior libero, Corynne Smith, has been one of the top libero's in the conference since taking over the spot in 2013. In fact, Smith has become one of the best in the NCAA. She is averaging 5.10 digs per set which is 22nd in the country. In addition to Smith's success, fellow senior Stacey Perinar has made her way onto the national scene as well, sitting tied for 46th in the NCAA in kills per set at 4.03. Perinar is also 14th in country in attacks per set.

Overall, the Eagles have become well-known for their defensive prowess. As a team, the Green and White's 16.11 digs per set is the 44th-best in the country.

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Players Mentioned

Alyssa Davis

Cassie Haut

Stacey Perinar

Mallory Rajewski

Corynne Smith

Eastern Michigan Athletics