Eagles Open Up Home Schedule With a Pair of MAC Matches

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- Head Coach Kimi Olson and the Eastern Michigan University volleyball team will finally return to the Convocation Center for regular season volleyball action this Thursday, Oct. 1, and Saturday, Oct. 3. The Eagles (8-7, 0-2 MAC) will take on Central Michigan University in their home opener, before welcoming the Mid-American Conference East Division leaders from Ohio University Saturday.

EMU hosts the Chippewas (6-9, 1-1 MAC) in the Convocation Center Thursday night at 7 p.m. The match will mark the 79th all-time meeting between the two in-state rivals as the Eagles look to win their home opener

Two nights later, the Green and White will host the Bobcats (12-3, 2-0 MAC) who have not lost a MAC regular season contest since the 2013 campaign. EMU will attempt to hand OU its first MAC loss of the season. Saturday's 5 p.m. match will be the first ever "Teal Attack Game" at the Convocation Center. Wear teal to help raise awareness of ovarian cancer.

TEAL ATTACK AT THE CONVO: Fans and all other patrons are encouraged to wear teal to Saturday's match versus Ohio. Teal Attack is a movement centered on high school and collegiate athletic events to raise awareness and funds for ovarian cancer support. All proceeds from the event will go toward supporting the Michigan Ovarian Cancer Alliance. Former EMU volleyball assistant coach Karen O'Brien is the Teal Attack Coordinator and will be honored at the game as she is a survivor of ovarian cancer.

CHIP DIP: Central Michigan has been dominant in the series with EMU. The Eagles trail by a 24-54 margin with its opponent from Mount Pleasant, Mich., but have split their regular season matchups in each of the last four seasons. Last time out, the Green and White dropped Central Michigan, 3-2, Oct. 30, 2014, at the Convocation Center, but fell earlier in the season at CMU, 1-3, Sept. 25.

Central comes into the Friday evening match sporting just a 6-9 overall record while going 1-1 in its first MAC weekend. CMU's offense is led by Jordan Bueter at the net who averages 3.22 kills per set, while Kathia Sanchez' 8.79 assists per frame ranks as the best for the Chippewas. Defensively, Angelique White leads Central with 1.07 blocks per game, the best in the MAC, while Jamison Wolffis boasts 4.15 digs per set, good for seventh in the conference.

CATCHING UP ON THE CATS: Ohio has continued to cruise in Mid-American Conference play, dating back to the 2013 campaign. The Bobcats have not dropped a regular season match to a conference institution since Oct. 19, 2013. Over that span, OU has won 24-straight against MAC foes in regular season play. Eastern has not defeated Ohio since Oct. 1, 1999 when EMU topped the Bobcats, 3-1, in Athens, Ohio.

OU is on a five-match winning streak heading into the second weekend of Mid-American Conference play. Overall on the season, Ohio is 12-3 and has not lost a match since Sept. 12 when Louisville knocked off the Bobcats on their home floor. Jamie Kosiorek has the most kills, 3.32 per set, for the Bobcats, while Karin Bull hits at a .329 percentage, good for third in the MAC. Abby Gilleland leads the conference with 10.27 assists per frame, while Meredith Ashy's 5.39 digs per set is the best in the MAC.

CAT CONNECTION: EMU assistant volleyball coach Michael Shearer is familiar with the Bobcat squad. Shearer spent the 2014 campaign as a volunteer assistant coach for Ohio's MAC East Division Champion squad.

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 second in assists per set (12.04), while also ranking second in opponent hitting percentage (.196) and digs per set (16.69).

Individually, Stacey Perinar leads the conference in kills per set at 4.08 per frame, while Corynne Smith is second in the MAC in digs per set (5.04).

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 5.04 digs per set which is tied for 25th 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 44th in the NCAA in kills per set at 4.08.

Overall, the Eagles have become well-known for their defensive prowess. As a team, the Green and White's 16.10 digs per set is the 41st-best in the country.

NON-CONFERENCE SUCCESS: Despite finishing non-conference play on a somewhat sour note, Kimi Olson and her squad enjoyed success throughout the majority of the "preseason". The Eagles completed the non-conference portion of the 2015 with an 8-5 record, marking the sixth-straight season that EMU has entered Mid-American Conference play with a ledger on the positive side. The last time EMU was under the .500 mark in non-conference play was 2009 when it went 1-16.

SMITH SETS HER SIGHTS ON HISTORY: After back-to-back seasons as one of the top libero's in the Mid-American Conference, senior Corynne Smith is looking to make a run at becoming the EMU all-time dig leader. The Norwalk, Ohio native is 501 digs shy of former Eagle Ashley Cudney's 2,266. During the 2013 season, Smith totaled 684 digs and will look to improve on her 577 from last season.

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Players Mentioned

Stacey Perinar

Corynne Smith

Eastern Michigan Athletics