Eastern Michigan Athletics

Photo by: Steven King/Steve King Studios
Hamby's Career-High Sends Eastern Past Western, 3-1
10/6/2018 7:20:00 PM | Volleyball
Junior Ariel Hamby had a personal-best 13 kills in the match
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team made it three straight Mid-American Conference wins with a 3-1 victory over Western Michigan University inside the Convocation Center, Saturday, Oct. 6.
After falling in the first set, 25-18, Eastern (13-7, 5-1 MAC) recovered with wins of 25-7, 25-8, and 25-21. The single-digit defensive performances marked the first two times that Western (12-8, 2-4 MAC) was held under 10 points this season.
Junior Ariel Hamby (Oak Park, Ill.-Oak Park River Forest) led the way for Eastern with a career-high 13 kills, including an outstanding seven-kill, no-error second set. The right-side attacker now has more kills this season (141) than in her first two combined (140).
Adding to the offensive attack was senior Jordan Smith (Solon, Iowa-Solon), who had 12 kills and nine digs, falling just short of a double-double. Both redshirt junior Cassie Haut (Monroe, Mich.-St. Mary Central Catholic) and sophomore April Houston (Minneapolis, Minn.-Southwest) finished with nine kills, with Haut churning out a .615 attack percentage and Houston turning in a .412.
Redshirt senior Mallory Rajewski (Midland, Mich.-Midland) led the way for the match in terms of assists, dishing out 31, while also registering a double-double thanks to 10 digs. Leading the defense was senior libero Alyssa LaFace (Allen Park, Mich.-Allen Park), who had a match-high 16 digs. Also chipping in double-digit digs was sophomore Franki Strefling (Niles, Mich.-Buchanan), who had 13 to go along with six kills.
EMU dominated WMU in terms of hitting percentage, out-pacing the Broncos .312 to .039. The Eagles held Western to negative attacking percentages in two of the four sets. Eastern Michigan also finished with more kills (52 to 35), assists (48 to 34), digs (58 to 53), blocks (7 to 3), and aces (6 to 3) in the match.
The Eagles' longest homestand of the season continues next weekend, as the Eagles welcome Miami University to the Convocation Center Friday, Oct. 12 for a 7 p.m. match.
After falling in the first set, 25-18, Eastern (13-7, 5-1 MAC) recovered with wins of 25-7, 25-8, and 25-21. The single-digit defensive performances marked the first two times that Western (12-8, 2-4 MAC) was held under 10 points this season.
Junior Ariel Hamby (Oak Park, Ill.-Oak Park River Forest) led the way for Eastern with a career-high 13 kills, including an outstanding seven-kill, no-error second set. The right-side attacker now has more kills this season (141) than in her first two combined (140).
Adding to the offensive attack was senior Jordan Smith (Solon, Iowa-Solon), who had 12 kills and nine digs, falling just short of a double-double. Both redshirt junior Cassie Haut (Monroe, Mich.-St. Mary Central Catholic) and sophomore April Houston (Minneapolis, Minn.-Southwest) finished with nine kills, with Haut churning out a .615 attack percentage and Houston turning in a .412.
Redshirt senior Mallory Rajewski (Midland, Mich.-Midland) led the way for the match in terms of assists, dishing out 31, while also registering a double-double thanks to 10 digs. Leading the defense was senior libero Alyssa LaFace (Allen Park, Mich.-Allen Park), who had a match-high 16 digs. Also chipping in double-digit digs was sophomore Franki Strefling (Niles, Mich.-Buchanan), who had 13 to go along with six kills.
EMU dominated WMU in terms of hitting percentage, out-pacing the Broncos .312 to .039. The Eagles held Western to negative attacking percentages in two of the four sets. Eastern Michigan also finished with more kills (52 to 35), assists (48 to 34), digs (58 to 53), blocks (7 to 3), and aces (6 to 3) in the match.
The Eagles' longest homestand of the season continues next weekend, as the Eagles welcome Miami University to the Convocation Center Friday, Oct. 12 for a 7 p.m. match.
Team Stats
WMU
EMU
Kills
35
52
Errors
30
12
Attempts
128
128
Hitting %
.039
.313
Points
41.0
65.0
Assists
34
48
Aces
3
6
Blocks
3.0
7.0
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
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