Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, October 20
Convocation Center
7 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
11-14, 3-6MAC
3
vs
1
Akron
6-15, 2-7MAC
1
2
3
4
F
Akron
15
22
25
16
1
Eastern Michigan
25
25
23
25
3
Photo by: EMU Athletics/Andrew Mascharka
Eagles Take Down Zips 3-1
10/20/2017 9:58:00 PM | Volleyball
Redshirt junior Mallory Rajewski posted a double-double with 29 assists and 13 digs
Highlights
Photo Gallery
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team got back in the win column, defeating the University of Akron in four sets Friday evening, Oct. 20, inside the Convocation Center. The Eagles (11-14, 3-6 MAC) were narrowly denied a sweep, but snapped a five-game losing streak with a convincing 3-1 (25-15, 25-22, 23-25, 25-16) win over the Zips (6-15, 2-7 MAC).
The Green and White overmatched the Zips with 54 kills and a .260 attacking percentage, while Akron totaled 46 kills and hit at a .124 clip. Defensively, EMU out-blocked Akron 14-4 and produced 73 digs compared to Akron's total of 66. The result also extended Akron's losing skid to six consecutive matches.
Redshirt junior Mallory Rajewski (Midland, Mich. – Midland) finished with 13 digs and a team-high 29 assists and was the lone Eagle to register a double-double, doing so for the seventh consecutive match. Sophomore Camille Schomer (Rochester, Mich. – Oakland Christian) led EMU with 25 digs, while sophomore Riley Taylor (Indianapolis, Ind. – Perry Meridian) added 11 assists. Freshman April Houston (Minneapolis, Minn. – Southwest) also contributed a team-best .462 attacking percentage with seven kills, tying her career-high. Houston also added in a career-high seven blocks. Emily Wiegand was the only Zip to earn a double-double with 34 assists and 13 digs.
Leading the offense for the Eagles was junior outside hitter Jordan Smith (Solon, Iowa-Solon), who finished with 12 kills. Seniors Samantha Falco (Antioch,Ill.-Antioch Community) and Kelly Ferguson (Lemont, Ill.-Lemont) each finished with nine kills and hit .421 and .368 respectively, while junior Cassie Haut (Monroe, Mich.-St. Mary Catholic Central) also tallied nine kills, hit .444, added five digs, and set a new career-high with three aces.
After dropping the opening serve, the Green and White won the next four points and eight of the next 11 to jump out to an early 8-4 advantage, prompting Akron to burn its first timeout. The visitors initially responded well by cutting the deficit to 9-8, but EMU replied by taking six of the next seven points, resulting in the Zips calling their second and final timeout of the set. The Eagles continued to dominate the opening frame, at one stage rattling off seven consecutive points to take a commanding 19-9 lead en route to a convincing 25-15 first-set victory.
The second set proved to be a much closer affair, as the Eagles .225 clip edged the Zips' much-improved .205 rating. Nine ties and four lead changes in the opening half of the frame kept the teams level at 14-14. The Eagles finally made a breakthrough, grabbing five of the next six points to take a 19-15 lead, the largest lead held by either side to that point in the set. The Zips captured the following three points to cut the deficit to one and prompt head coach Kimi Olson to use a timeout. EMU responded by taking three of the next four points to grab a 22-19 lead, and held off the Zips 25-22 to take a two-set advantage.
In search of their seventh sweep of the season, the Eagles continued to apply pressure and took an early 8-4 edge, spurring the Zips to use a timeout. The move had little effect as the Green and White scored five of the next eight points, leading the Zips to call a second timeout. The Zips, once trailing by as many as seven, responded by winning the next five points to go ahead 20-19, their first lead of the frame. Despite calling timeouts on back-to-back points, the Eagles were not able to halt the Zips' positive swing in momentum. In total, Akron would score 15 of the final 21 points to win the third set 25-23 and force a fourth frame. The Zips won their first set against the Eagles since a 3-1 decision back on Oct. 24, 2015.
The Eagles were too much for the Zips in what proved to be the final frame, overwhelming the Zips with a match-best .297 clip. Once again, EMU got off to a strong start, capturing seven of the first eight points and taking a commanding 12-4 lead during a stretch in which Akron burned both timeouts. Thanks in large part to 11 digs by Schomer and nine assists from Rajewski, EMU's lead was never in doubt as the Eagles cruised to a comfortable 25-16 victory to seal the match.
Eastern Michigan returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 21 when it hosts the University at Buffalo. First serve between the Eagles and Bulls is set for 7 p.m. inside the Convocation Center.
Photo Gallery
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team got back in the win column, defeating the University of Akron in four sets Friday evening, Oct. 20, inside the Convocation Center. The Eagles (11-14, 3-6 MAC) were narrowly denied a sweep, but snapped a five-game losing streak with a convincing 3-1 (25-15, 25-22, 23-25, 25-16) win over the Zips (6-15, 2-7 MAC).
The Green and White overmatched the Zips with 54 kills and a .260 attacking percentage, while Akron totaled 46 kills and hit at a .124 clip. Defensively, EMU out-blocked Akron 14-4 and produced 73 digs compared to Akron's total of 66. The result also extended Akron's losing skid to six consecutive matches.
Redshirt junior Mallory Rajewski (Midland, Mich. – Midland) finished with 13 digs and a team-high 29 assists and was the lone Eagle to register a double-double, doing so for the seventh consecutive match. Sophomore Camille Schomer (Rochester, Mich. – Oakland Christian) led EMU with 25 digs, while sophomore Riley Taylor (Indianapolis, Ind. – Perry Meridian) added 11 assists. Freshman April Houston (Minneapolis, Minn. – Southwest) also contributed a team-best .462 attacking percentage with seven kills, tying her career-high. Houston also added in a career-high seven blocks. Emily Wiegand was the only Zip to earn a double-double with 34 assists and 13 digs.
Leading the offense for the Eagles was junior outside hitter Jordan Smith (Solon, Iowa-Solon), who finished with 12 kills. Seniors Samantha Falco (Antioch,Ill.-Antioch Community) and Kelly Ferguson (Lemont, Ill.-Lemont) each finished with nine kills and hit .421 and .368 respectively, while junior Cassie Haut (Monroe, Mich.-St. Mary Catholic Central) also tallied nine kills, hit .444, added five digs, and set a new career-high with three aces.
After dropping the opening serve, the Green and White won the next four points and eight of the next 11 to jump out to an early 8-4 advantage, prompting Akron to burn its first timeout. The visitors initially responded well by cutting the deficit to 9-8, but EMU replied by taking six of the next seven points, resulting in the Zips calling their second and final timeout of the set. The Eagles continued to dominate the opening frame, at one stage rattling off seven consecutive points to take a commanding 19-9 lead en route to a convincing 25-15 first-set victory.
The second set proved to be a much closer affair, as the Eagles .225 clip edged the Zips' much-improved .205 rating. Nine ties and four lead changes in the opening half of the frame kept the teams level at 14-14. The Eagles finally made a breakthrough, grabbing five of the next six points to take a 19-15 lead, the largest lead held by either side to that point in the set. The Zips captured the following three points to cut the deficit to one and prompt head coach Kimi Olson to use a timeout. EMU responded by taking three of the next four points to grab a 22-19 lead, and held off the Zips 25-22 to take a two-set advantage.
In search of their seventh sweep of the season, the Eagles continued to apply pressure and took an early 8-4 edge, spurring the Zips to use a timeout. The move had little effect as the Green and White scored five of the next eight points, leading the Zips to call a second timeout. The Zips, once trailing by as many as seven, responded by winning the next five points to go ahead 20-19, their first lead of the frame. Despite calling timeouts on back-to-back points, the Eagles were not able to halt the Zips' positive swing in momentum. In total, Akron would score 15 of the final 21 points to win the third set 25-23 and force a fourth frame. The Zips won their first set against the Eagles since a 3-1 decision back on Oct. 24, 2015.
The Eagles were too much for the Zips in what proved to be the final frame, overwhelming the Zips with a match-best .297 clip. Once again, EMU got off to a strong start, capturing seven of the first eight points and taking a commanding 12-4 lead during a stretch in which Akron burned both timeouts. Thanks in large part to 11 digs by Schomer and nine assists from Rajewski, EMU's lead was never in doubt as the Eagles cruised to a comfortable 25-16 victory to seal the match.
Eastern Michigan returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 21 when it hosts the University at Buffalo. First serve between the Eagles and Bulls is set for 7 p.m. inside the Convocation Center.
Team Stats
AKR
EMU
Kills
46
54
Errors
27
16
Attempts
153
146
Hitting %
.124
.260
Points
57.0
77.0
Assists
41
48
Aces
7
9
Blocks
4.0
14.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
12
Aces
1
Blocks
5
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
9
Kills
9
Aces
3
Blocks
3
Players Mentioned
MB
/ VolleyballMB
/ VolleyballMB/RS
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
DS/L
/ VolleyballOH
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