A New Era in EMU Volleyball Begins at the Queen City Classic

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team opens up the 2015 campaign with a new leader at the head of the program. Kimi Olson begins her first season as the head coach of the EMU volleyball squad this weekend, Aug. 28-29, when the Green and White head to Cincinnati, Ohio for the Queen City Classic hosted by both the University of Cincinnati and Xavier University.

The Eagles open the season with a Friday, Aug. 28, match at Noon from Fifth Third Arena, the home of the Cincinnati Bearcats, versus Northern Kentucky University. Eastern continues its opening day with a matchup against the Bearcats at 7 p.m. Friday night. EMU will close out its opening weekend Saturday, Aug. 29, when the Eagles head across town to square off with Xavier at the Cintas Center. Eastern will hit the floor against the Musketeers at Noon before heading back from the Buckeye State.

A NEW ERA: EMU volleyball will see a new boss on the sideline this season for the first time since 1995 as Kimi Olson takes over the reigns of the program after former coach Kim Berrington stepped down following the 2014 campaign. The 2015 season will be Olson's first as an NCAA head coach as she arrived to Ypsilanti from College of Charleston where she was an assistant coach for five seasons.

ALL-TIME AGAINST THE OPPONENTS: EMU has only played in 14 matches combined against this weekend's foes. The Green and White takes on Northern Kentucky for the third time in both squads' histories. It will be the second-straight season that the Eagles and the Norse will square off on the court. Although the all-time series is split, the Green and White defeated NKU, 3-0, Sept. 6, in Highland Heights, Ky. at the Norse's own tournament last season.

The Bearcats of Cincinnati are the Eagles' most common opponent over the weekend at the Queen City Classic. EMU has taken on UC seven times, coming away with an all-time lead, 4-3, in the series. Eastern last squared off with the Bearcats during the 2013 campaign. The Eagles swept Cincinnati, 3-0, Sept. 21, at the Spartan Invitational, hosted by Michigan State in East Lansing, Mich.

Finally, the Eagles will lock up with Xavier in their final match of the tournament. Eastern holds a decisive 4-1 lead in the series with the Musketeers. EMU last tangled with Xavier during the 2007 season when it went down to Cincinnati for a tournament hosted by the Musketeers and then in a contest in Ann Arbor, Mich. for a tournament hosted by Michigan. In two matches with Xavier, the Eagles split their contests, winning the first, 3-1, Sept. 1, but fell six days later, 3-0, Sept. 7.

NEW EAGLES LAND IN YPSI: The EMU volleyball squad has three new faces roaming the locker rooms in the Convocation Center this season. A trio of freshmen join the squad and look to help the Green and White look with solid production out of its newest additions.

Head Coach Kimi Olson brings in Cassie Haut from St. Mary Catholic Central in Monroe, Mich. Haut was named MIVCA Class C All-State First Team during her sophomore through senior campaigns, while also being named as a Miss Volleyball finalist and earned spots on the Beast of the East All-Tournament Team and Under Armour Watch List. In addition to her success on the court, Haut was a three-time MIVCA Academic All-State honoree.

Alyssa LaFace comes in as a defensive specialist from Allen Park, Mich. LaFace was named Allen Park High School volleyball's Most Valuable Player during her sophomore campaign and was a two-time All-Downriver League award winner. She was named to the all-region team twice and earned a spot on the News Herald's all-area team. In addition, LaFace was an All-State Honorable Mention awardwinner in her junior and senior years.

Jordan Smith hails from Solon, Iowa and comes to Eastern Michigan following her high school career at Solon High School. At SHS she was selected as the Class 3A Player of the Year and earned first team all-state honors as her team won the state championship. Smith was named to the AVCA Under Armour All-American Watch List after leading the IHSAA 3A in kills. In club ball, Smith was part of a club team that finished as the 2013 Silver Medalist 16 Open Division, 2012 Gold Medalist 15 National Division and 2011 Bronze Medalist 14 American Division.

SMITH SETS HER SIGHTS ON HISTORY: After back-to-back seasons as one of the top libero's in the Mid-American Conference, Corynne Smith is looking to make a run at becoming the EMU all-time dig leader. The Norwalk, Ohio native is 706 digs shy of former Eagle Ashley Cudney's 2,198. During the 2013 season, Smith totaled 684 digs and will look to improve on her 581 from last season in hopes of becoming EMU's top libero of all-time.

IN SEARCH OF A SETTER: Last season, the Eagles had a First Team All-MAC setter in Jill Briner. Now, Eastern is looking to fill that role. Senior Alyssa Davis has experience setting for EMU and actually ranks 14th on the all-time assists list with 1,061. In addition to Davis, the Green and White look to redshirt-freshman Mallory Rajewski to spend some time setting. Rajewski is hitting the floor again after sitting out the 2014 campaign due to a knee injury prior to the season.

A SENIOR-LAIDEN SEASON: In her first season at the helm of the EMU volleyball program, head coach Kimi Olson will have the help of strong senior leadership. Although it will create a busy recruiting season, Olson will have the help of six seniors on the roster during her first year. Olson will rely on Alyssa Davis, Corynne Smith, Stacey Perinar, Kelsey Jones, Katie Krasowski and Dori Harrison to help lead the 2015 squad.

CATCH THE ACTION ON EAGLE ALL-ACCESS: For the sixth-consecutive year, the Eastern Michigan Athletic Media Relations Department will offer live broadcasts of each EMU volleyball match during the 2015 season.

All eight home matches will be provided over the internet with both audio and video coverage. To subscribe to Eagle All-Access, head to EMUEagles.com/showcase. Subscriptions start at $6.95 for a 24-hour pass, $10.95 for an entire month and $79.95 for a full calendar year. The first scheduled broadcast is Oct. 1, when the Eagles square off with Central Michigan. The coverage will start at 6:50 p.m

EASTERN MICHIGAN MOVES TO THE ESPN3 FORMAT: The EMU Department of Athletics announced, June 28, that the Eagles will produce live content that will be aired nationally on ESPN3. The University's production program, a component of the Mid-American Conference's 13-year agreement with ESPN, will allow for a minimum of 35 EMU Athletics sporting events to be carried exclusively on ESPN3.

The programming will be produced entirely by members of the Eastern Michigan University community, including athletics department staff members, distinguished professionals and students from the Department of Communication, Media & Theatre Arts. Although the dates have yet to be decided, at least two EMU volleyball matches are scheduled to be the pilot contests for Eastern Michigan's ESPN broadcasts.

EAGLES PICKED FIFTH IN MAC PRESEASON POLL: After ballots were filled out by all of the head volleyball coaches in the Mid-American Conference, the EMU squad is slated to finish fifth in the MAC West Division. Northern Illinois was selected as the division favorite with seven first place votes, while Ohio again ranks at the top of the MAC poll in the East Division after garnering 10 first place votes. As for the predicted MAC Tournament Champions. Ohio led the race with eight votes to take the championship, while Northern Illinois received three and EMU garnered a single vote as the favorite in the tournament.

A New Era in EMU Volleyball Begins at the Queen City Classic

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Players Mentioned

Jill Briner

Alyssa Davis

Dori Harrison

Cassie Haut

Kelsey Jones

Katie Krasowski

Alyssa LaFace

Stacey Perinar

Mallory Rajewski

Corynne Smith

Jordan Smith

Eastern Michigan Athletics