EMU Volleyball Outlasts Toledo En-Route to 3-0 Sweep

Highlights.

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team opened homecoming weekend in Ypsilanti with a 3-0 (31-29, 27-25, 25-21) sweep of the University of Toledo (3-15; 0-5 MAC), Friday, Oct. 9, in the Convocation Center. Senior Stacey Perinar (Channahon, Ill.-Minooka Community) registered a double-double, leading the Eagles (10-8; 2-3 MAC) with 15 kills while adding 11 digs. Redshirt freshman Mallory Rajewski (Midland, Mich.-Midland) directed the EMU attack, handing out 37 assists.

Paced by the offensive play of junior Devon Murray (Shelby, Ohio-Shelby) and freshman Cassie Haut (Monroe, Mich.-St. Mary Catholic Central), the Eagles outlasted the Rockets, 31-29, in the opening set. Rajewski added a trio of well-timed kills and one ace while senior Katie Krasowski (Oak Lawn, Ill.-Marist) registered two blocks to lead the defensive charge.

Trailing 24-20, the Eagles rallied behind the play of Murray and Perinar. Working their way back to a 29-29 tie, a Toledo hitting error was followed by a kill by Perinar, sealing the Eagles 31-29 set win.

The tightly contested match carried over to the second set as the teams needed extra points once again. While the first set was fueled by strong play on the attack, set two featured a defensive battle. Eastern Michigan held the Rockets to a .111 clip for the set while hitting .080 themselves. Perinar led the defensive effort, posting seven digs in the set while senior Corynne Smith (Norwalk, Ohio-St. Paul) and freshman Alyssa LaFace (Allen Park, Mich.-Allen Park) added five digs each.

Holding a 20-19 lead late, the Eagles held off a late push by the Rockets. Freshman Jordan Smith (Solon, Iowa-Solon) crushed a ball off the block for a kill before an attacking error on Toledo gave EMU the 27-25 set win.

Playing with a 2-0 lead in the match, the Eagles hit a match-best .371 clip in the third set to complete the sweep. Rajewski dished out 14 assists to eight different Eagles to keep the Toledo defense on their heels while Perinar tallied seven of her match-high 15 kills in the final frame.

With EMU in front 23-19 in the third set, Toledo called a timeout in hopes of cutting the Eagles' momentum. After a hitting error by the Rockets, Toledo pulled within three, 24-21, but Rajewski set a hot-handed Perinar on the outside to put the set away, 25-21, and complete the sweep, 3-0.

Eastern Michigan closes out its four-game home stand, Saturday, Oct. 10, against Ball State University. The Eagles will clash with the Cardinals at 7:30 p.m. in the Convocation Center. Fans attending the EMU homecoming football game against Akron can receive free admission into the volleyball match by showing their football ticket stub at the gate.

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Team Stats

Stacey Perinar

Katie Krasowski

Devon Murray

Cassie Haut

Players Mentioned

Cassie Haut

Katie Krasowski

Alyssa LaFace

Devon Murray

Stacey Perinar

Mallory Rajewski

Corynne Smith

Jordan Smith

Players Mentioned

Cassie Haut

Katie Krasowski

Alyssa LaFace

Devon Murray

Stacey Perinar

Mallory Rajewski

Corynne Smith

Jordan Smith

Eastern Michigan Athletics