Eastern Michigan Athletics
Photo by: EMU Athletics/Randy Mascharka
EMU Heads to Athens in Hopes of MAC Title Run
11/17/2015 1:34:00 PM | Volleyball
The Eagles locked up the No. 8 seed to make their 15th-straight MAC Tournament
| Complete Release (.pdf) | Tournament Central |
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- After locking up the No. 8 seed in the 2015 Mid-American Conference Volleyball Tournament with a pair of victories in the last weekend of the regular season, the Eastern Michigan University volleyball team will travel to Athens, Ohio to compete for a MAC Tournament title. The Eagles (14-15, 6-10 MAC) will faceoff with the No. 5-seeded Western Michigan University Thursday, Nov. 19, at 5:30 p.m. at the Ohio University Convocation Center. The Broncos (14-17, 10-6 MAC) will come into the contest after losing a pair of matches in the final weekend of the regular season.
If the Green and White is able to defeat WMU, the Eagles would move on to the second round of the tournament. In that round, the Eagles would see the No. 4 seed, Miami University. Eastern dropped the regular season matchup with the Redhawks (20-9, 12-4 MAC), 1-3, Oct. 16.
Finally, EMU would take on No. 1-seeded Northern Illinois University in the semifinals, Nov. 21, at 5:30 p.m. before reaching the finals on Monday, Nov. 24. The Huskies (18-10, 13-3 MAC) swept the regular season series.
FINISHING THE SEASON WITH A BANG: After losing six-straight matches, Eastern Michigan had its back against the wall in terms of grabbing a top-eight spot and earning a bid to the 2015 MAC Volleyball Tournament. Knowing they needed to win both matches in the final weekend of the regular season, Head Coach Kimi Olson and her squad buckled down and got to work in a pair of road matches. The Green and White first dispatched of Ball State, 3-1, Nov. 13, before heading to Toledo, Ohio to square off with the UT Rockets. Looking dead to rights heading into the fourth set, EMU rallied in sets four and five to defeat Toledo, 3-2, and earn the No. 8 seed in the MAC Tournament.
FOLLOW THE ACTION LIVE: The MAC Digital Network will be carrying live streaming video of all MAC Tournament matches, as well as live stats for each match. You can find links for video and stats at EMUEagles.com.
JUST ANOTHER ONE FOR THE MANTLE: Corynne Smith was again named the Mid-American Conference Volleyball West Defensive Player of the Week, Nov. 17. The honor marks the 11th of Smith's career and the fifth time this season that she has earned the award.
Smith anchored the Eastern Michigan defense on its way to locking up the final spot in the 2015 Mid-American Conference Volleyball Tournament last weekend, Nov. 13-14. The Norwalk, Ohio native grabbed a total of 55 digs in the Eagles' pair of victories, including tying her season-high of 37 in the No. 8 seed clinching, five set win at Toledo, Nov. 14. Smith made just one reception error throughout the weekend, boasting a .966 reception percentage. In total, the 5-foot-3 libero averaged 6.11 digs per set, good for more than 0.50 digs more per set than the MAC's league leader on the season.
HAUT EARNS HER FIRST WEEKLY AWARD: Freshman Cassie Haut earned the first accolade of her young EMU career Tuesday, Nov. 17, when the MAC office announced her as the MAC West Co-Offensive Player of the Week.
Haut was an integral part to the EMU offense last weekend. The Monroe, Mich. native put together the best outing of her young EMU career Friday versus Ball State when she notched a career-high 16 kills on 27 attempts, while making just three errors, good for a .481 hitting percentage. The 6-foot-2 middle blocker also grabbed 12 kills against Toledo as Eastern clinched their spot in the MAC Tournament. In total, Haut averaged 3.11 kills per set, 3.44 points per frame and hit at a .328 clip for the weekend. Additionally, Haut posted five blocks in the two matches.
ITS A YEARLY OCCURANCE: Not every team makes it to the MAC Volleyball Tournament every season, but over the last 15 seasons, EMU can say it has done just that. The Eagles have not missed out on a postseason berth since 2000 when the Green and White went 7-23, including a 5-13 MAC record.
THEN THERE WERE THREE: Senior libero Corynne Smith has put together an extremely successful career at Eastern Michigan. Smith is already third on the all-time digs list. Smith has recorded 2,094 digs for her career, making her just the third in school history to record 2,000-or-more digs. The other two Eagles to complete this feat are all-time digs leader Ashley Cudney (2,198) and Haley Stein (2,158).
AMONG THE EMU BLOCKING ELITE: A pair of EMU senior middle blockers have seen their numbers rise the charts of the all-time block assists leaders in Eastern Michigan volleyball history during their careers. Kelsey Jones and Katie Krasowski are currently ranked in the top-15 in EMU history for block assists. Krasowski has 223, putting her at 12th all-time, while Jones' 218 ranks as 14th in Eastern Michigan laurels.
ACING THE COMPETITION: Senior outside hitter Stacey Perinar has been an extremely effective offensive weapon for the Eagles and it hasn't been solely at the net. The Channahon, Ill. native has recorded 83 aces in her career, which is good for 14th all-time in EMU history. In addition, Corynne Smith's 73 aces is just five shy of the top-15.
ONE OF THE ALL-TIME GREATS: It comes as no surprise following her successful career at EMU, that senior Corynne Smith will go down as one of the best to pass through EMU, including her playing time. With 466 sets played, Smith is currently eighth all-time.
ANOTHER HISTORIC SEASON: Eastern Michigan libero Corynne Smith continues to etch her name in the EMU record book, and the 2015 campaign has been more of the same. Smith currently has 602 digs on the year. That number is good for fifth in a single season. She is in some slim company as the senior is just one-of-two EMU liberos to have three seasons which rank in the top-10 single season dig totals all-time. The only other Eagle to complete that feat is Haley Stein, who owns the No. 1, 3 and 6 spots, while Smith has posted the No. 2, 5 and 8 positions. With two matches remaining, Smith should move at least two more spots up the list as the next two numbers are 554 and 558.
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. The Eagles are second in digs per game (17.15), while they rank third in assists per frame (12.12) and fourth in opponent hitting percentage (.199).
Individually, Stacey Perinar is fourth in the the conference in kills per set at 3.62 per frame, while Corynne Smith is second in the MAC in digs per set (5.42). Cassie Haut ranks ninth in the conference in blocks per set at 0.86.
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 5.42 digs per set which is 13th in the country. Currently, Smith has the sixth-most digs (2,094) by any active player in the NCAA. In addition to Smith's success, fellow senior Stacey Perinar has made her way onto the national scene as well. Perinar also 13th 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 17.02 digs per set is the 22nd-best in the country.
If the Green and White is able to defeat WMU, the Eagles would move on to the second round of the tournament. In that round, the Eagles would see the No. 4 seed, Miami University. Eastern dropped the regular season matchup with the Redhawks (20-9, 12-4 MAC), 1-3, Oct. 16.
Finally, EMU would take on No. 1-seeded Northern Illinois University in the semifinals, Nov. 21, at 5:30 p.m. before reaching the finals on Monday, Nov. 24. The Huskies (18-10, 13-3 MAC) swept the regular season series.
FINISHING THE SEASON WITH A BANG: After losing six-straight matches, Eastern Michigan had its back against the wall in terms of grabbing a top-eight spot and earning a bid to the 2015 MAC Volleyball Tournament. Knowing they needed to win both matches in the final weekend of the regular season, Head Coach Kimi Olson and her squad buckled down and got to work in a pair of road matches. The Green and White first dispatched of Ball State, 3-1, Nov. 13, before heading to Toledo, Ohio to square off with the UT Rockets. Looking dead to rights heading into the fourth set, EMU rallied in sets four and five to defeat Toledo, 3-2, and earn the No. 8 seed in the MAC Tournament.
FOLLOW THE ACTION LIVE: The MAC Digital Network will be carrying live streaming video of all MAC Tournament matches, as well as live stats for each match. You can find links for video and stats at EMUEagles.com.
JUST ANOTHER ONE FOR THE MANTLE: Corynne Smith was again named the Mid-American Conference Volleyball West Defensive Player of the Week, Nov. 17. The honor marks the 11th of Smith's career and the fifth time this season that she has earned the award.
Smith anchored the Eastern Michigan defense on its way to locking up the final spot in the 2015 Mid-American Conference Volleyball Tournament last weekend, Nov. 13-14. The Norwalk, Ohio native grabbed a total of 55 digs in the Eagles' pair of victories, including tying her season-high of 37 in the No. 8 seed clinching, five set win at Toledo, Nov. 14. Smith made just one reception error throughout the weekend, boasting a .966 reception percentage. In total, the 5-foot-3 libero averaged 6.11 digs per set, good for more than 0.50 digs more per set than the MAC's league leader on the season.
HAUT EARNS HER FIRST WEEKLY AWARD: Freshman Cassie Haut earned the first accolade of her young EMU career Tuesday, Nov. 17, when the MAC office announced her as the MAC West Co-Offensive Player of the Week.
Haut was an integral part to the EMU offense last weekend. The Monroe, Mich. native put together the best outing of her young EMU career Friday versus Ball State when she notched a career-high 16 kills on 27 attempts, while making just three errors, good for a .481 hitting percentage. The 6-foot-2 middle blocker also grabbed 12 kills against Toledo as Eastern clinched their spot in the MAC Tournament. In total, Haut averaged 3.11 kills per set, 3.44 points per frame and hit at a .328 clip for the weekend. Additionally, Haut posted five blocks in the two matches.
ITS A YEARLY OCCURANCE: Not every team makes it to the MAC Volleyball Tournament every season, but over the last 15 seasons, EMU can say it has done just that. The Eagles have not missed out on a postseason berth since 2000 when the Green and White went 7-23, including a 5-13 MAC record.
THEN THERE WERE THREE: Senior libero Corynne Smith has put together an extremely successful career at Eastern Michigan. Smith is already third on the all-time digs list. Smith has recorded 2,094 digs for her career, making her just the third in school history to record 2,000-or-more digs. The other two Eagles to complete this feat are all-time digs leader Ashley Cudney (2,198) and Haley Stein (2,158).
AMONG THE EMU BLOCKING ELITE: A pair of EMU senior middle blockers have seen their numbers rise the charts of the all-time block assists leaders in Eastern Michigan volleyball history during their careers. Kelsey Jones and Katie Krasowski are currently ranked in the top-15 in EMU history for block assists. Krasowski has 223, putting her at 12th all-time, while Jones' 218 ranks as 14th in Eastern Michigan laurels.
ACING THE COMPETITION: Senior outside hitter Stacey Perinar has been an extremely effective offensive weapon for the Eagles and it hasn't been solely at the net. The Channahon, Ill. native has recorded 83 aces in her career, which is good for 14th all-time in EMU history. In addition, Corynne Smith's 73 aces is just five shy of the top-15.
ONE OF THE ALL-TIME GREATS: It comes as no surprise following her successful career at EMU, that senior Corynne Smith will go down as one of the best to pass through EMU, including her playing time. With 466 sets played, Smith is currently eighth all-time.
ANOTHER HISTORIC SEASON: Eastern Michigan libero Corynne Smith continues to etch her name in the EMU record book, and the 2015 campaign has been more of the same. Smith currently has 602 digs on the year. That number is good for fifth in a single season. She is in some slim company as the senior is just one-of-two EMU liberos to have three seasons which rank in the top-10 single season dig totals all-time. The only other Eagle to complete that feat is Haley Stein, who owns the No. 1, 3 and 6 spots, while Smith has posted the No. 2, 5 and 8 positions. With two matches remaining, Smith should move at least two more spots up the list as the next two numbers are 554 and 558.
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. The Eagles are second in digs per game (17.15), while they rank third in assists per frame (12.12) and fourth in opponent hitting percentage (.199).
Individually, Stacey Perinar is fourth in the the conference in kills per set at 3.62 per frame, while Corynne Smith is second in the MAC in digs per set (5.42). Cassie Haut ranks ninth in the conference in blocks per set at 0.86.
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 5.42 digs per set which is 13th in the country. Currently, Smith has the sixth-most digs (2,094) by any active player in the NCAA. In addition to Smith's success, fellow senior Stacey Perinar has made her way onto the national scene as well. Perinar also 13th 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 17.02 digs per set is the 22nd-best in the country.
Players Mentioned
MB/RH
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
L
/ Volleyball2026 Volleyball Locker Room Reveal
Sunday, January 25
Giving Tuesday 2025 - EMU Volleyball
Monday, December 01
Giving Tuesday 2025 - Eastern Michigan Volleyball
Monday, December 01
Concluding our senior spotlights with Ella Voorhees!🤩
Saturday, November 08