Eagles Flock West for Final Road Weekend of 2016

Volleyball at Northern Illinois and Western Michigan
Date:	Friday, Nov. 4 at Northern Illinois \| Saturday, Nov. 5 at Western Michigan
Location:	DeKalb, Ill. \| Kalamazoo, Mich.
Weekly Notes:	EMU Notes
Live Stats:	at Northern Illinois \| at Western Michigan
Watch Live:	at Northern Illinois \| at Western Michigan

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- As we move closer and closer to the end of the 2016 regular season, the Eastern Michigan University volleyball team will travel for its final two road matches of the season this weekend, Nov. 4-5.

Currently riding a three-match losing streak, the Eagles (8-17, 3-9 MAC) head to DeKalb, Ill. to take on Northern Illinois University Friday, Nov. 4. The match with the Huskies (19-5, 11-1) will begin at 7 p.m. CT inside the NIU Convocation Center on Friday night. Following their trek to DeKalb, the Eagles will flock east to Western Michigan University Saturday, Nov. 5. Eastern Michigan will meet up with the Broncos (8-17, 3-9 MAC) at 8 p.m. at University Arena. Both matches can be found online at ESPN 3 or streamed live on the WatchESPN app.

ALL-TIME VERSUS THIS WEEKEND'S OPPONENTS: With the end of Mid-American Conference play looming, the Eagles are looking to turn their fortunes this weekend as they have struggled with the two opponents they square off with over the next few days. In fact, against this weekend's competition, the Green and White hold a 44-94 record, totaling 138 matches played.

KENNELING THE HUSKIES: Northern Illinois has been a thorn in the Eagles' side throughout the years, holding a 32-22 edge over Eastern in 54 meetings. Last year, the Green and White dropped both matches versus the eventual MAC Champions without winning a set. The last time EMU defeated NIU was in the regular season finale of the 2014 campaign when the Eagles took Northern Illinois to a five set match in DeKalb, Ill. However, in the last four seasons, including a loss earlier this season, Oct. 1, the Green and White has gone just 1-6 versus the Huskies, but look to turn the tide Friday evening on the road.

ROPING IN THE BRONCOS: Eastern Michigan will finish the weekend with in-state and MAC West foe Western Michigan on Saturday night. The Eagles and Broncos have met on the hardwood 84 times. The series is heavily in favor of Western Michigan, as the Green and White trail, 22-62. A year ago, the Eagles met the Broncos on three occasions and WMU came away with the victory in all three. However, EMU turned the tide earlier this season, Sept. 30, by defeating Western Michigan for the first time since the semifinals of the MAC Tournament, Nov. 23, 2013. The Eagles had lost five in a row versus Western prior to their three-set victory in September.

WEEKEND ROUNDUP: Eastern had a strugglesome weekend, dropping a pair of crucial MAC West contests at home. The Green and White met Ball State Friday, Oct. 28, falling in four sets, before Toledo came to the Convocation Center and swept the Eagles on the next night.

ROAD WOES: Like most teams in intercollegiate athletics, EMU has had much less success on the road. So far this season, the Eagles are 2-9 in true road matches. In the history of the program, the Green and White maintains a 184-267 overall record away from Ypsilanti. In addition to that number, Eastern Michigan holds just a 101-165 mark away from the Convo. Last year, EMU went 5-8 in true road matches.

COMFORTS OF THE CONVO: Since beginning play in 1976, Eastern Michigan has compiled a 227-170 record on their home court, highlighted by a 116-83 mark since moving to the Convocation Center in 1998.

RISING TO THE TOP: EMU's libero Alyssa LaFace has continued to improve since she took over the libero spot exclusively. Since the beginning of conference play, LaFace is averaging 4.31 digs per set. For the season, the Allen Park, Mich. native is posting 3.94 digs per set, good for the seventh-best mark in the Mid-American Conference. In addition, LaFace set a career-best with 25 digs on the road at Buffalo, Oct. 22.

AN EARLY LOOK AT THE MAC TOURNAMENT: The way things currently stand, the EMU volleyball team would be on the outside looking in for the 2016 MAC Volleyball Tournament. With the season nearly completed, the Eagles hold a 3-9 record, which is tied for eighth-best in the conference. However, the Green and White is tied with Central Michigan, who defeated EMU earlier this season. The Chippewas hold a tiebreaker over Eastern, putting the Eagles in ninth currently. Miami holds the top spot, with Northern Illinois taking second and Ohio in third. There is also a three way tie for fourth, while Kent State holds the seventh spot.

OFFENSIVE STRUGGLES: The Eastern Michigan offense has struggled so far this season. In fact, the squad ranks 11th in the conference in hitting percentage (.174), assists (11.29/set) and 10th in kills (12.05/set).

TAYLOR HAS TAKEN OVER: Although both freshman Riley Taylor and redshirt sophomore Mallory Rajewski have been starting matches as of late, Taylor has become the Green and White's main setter since starting Mid-American Conference play. Taylor is posting 31.2 assists per match and 7.63 assists per set. For the entire season, Taylor leads EMU with 484 assists, good for a 6.21 per set average.

ON THE HORIZON: After hitting the road for a pair of Mid-American Conference West Division matches this weekend, Nov. 4-5, the Eagles will return to the Convocation Center for the final weekend of regular season play next weekend. EMU will take on Central Michigan, Thursday, Nov. 10, before hosting Kent State, Saturday, Nov. 12. The Thursday contest is set for 7 p.m., while the Saturday matchup is slated for 5 p.m. and will serve as the Eagles' Senior Day as they celebrate Devon Murray and Melva Smith.

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Players Mentioned

Alyssa LaFace

Devon Murray

Mallory Rajewski

Melva Smith

Riley Taylor

Eastern Michigan Athletics