Eastern Michigan Athletics

Photo by: Steven King/Steve King Studios
Rajewski and Smith Lead Eagles Past Huskies, 3-1
11/10/2018 10:47:00 PM | Volleyball
Both Eagles set personal-highs en route to the EMU victory
DEKALB, Ill. (EMUEagles.com) – Redshirt senior Mallory Rajewski (Midland, Mich.-Midland) and senior Jordan Smith (Solon, Iowa-Solon) led the Eastern Michigan University volleyball team to a 3-1 victory over Northern Illinois University Saturday, Nov. 10, at Victor E. Court.
Rajewski set a career-high of 56 assists, tying the modern-era (2008-present) record for assists in a four-set match, and marked the first time an Eagle setter has surpassed 55 assists since Jill Briner had 57 on Nov. 22, 2013. On the attack, Smith crushed 27 kills, a new career-high, and tied the record for most kills in a four-set match during the modern statistical era.
With the win, Eastern Michigan finishes with the most overall wins (17) and conference wins (nine) in the Kimi Olson era. EMU also secures the No. 5 seed of the upcoming Mid-American Conference Tournament and will take on No. 8 seed Kent State University Thursday, Nov. 15 at 4:30 p.m.
Joining Smith in double-digit kills for the match was redshirt junior Cassie Haut (Monroe, Mich.-St. Mary's Catholic Central), who finished with 15 and an attack percentage of .367. Senior Alyssa LaFace (Allen Park, Mich.-Allen Park) led the team with 24 digs, while sophomore Franki Strefling (Niles, Mich.-Buchanan) put up a season-best 17 digs and Rajewski added 13.
Though the Eagles were out-blocked (9 to 5) in the match, they held the advantage in attack percentage (.271 to .193), kills (65 to 52), and assists (61 to 50).
EMU finishes the season with a record of 17-13 and will play on the first day of the Mid-American Conference Tournament Thursday, Nov. 15. The Eagles' take on Kent State University at 4:30 p.m. in Millett Hall on the campus of Miami University.
Rajewski set a career-high of 56 assists, tying the modern-era (2008-present) record for assists in a four-set match, and marked the first time an Eagle setter has surpassed 55 assists since Jill Briner had 57 on Nov. 22, 2013. On the attack, Smith crushed 27 kills, a new career-high, and tied the record for most kills in a four-set match during the modern statistical era.
With the win, Eastern Michigan finishes with the most overall wins (17) and conference wins (nine) in the Kimi Olson era. EMU also secures the No. 5 seed of the upcoming Mid-American Conference Tournament and will take on No. 8 seed Kent State University Thursday, Nov. 15 at 4:30 p.m.
Joining Smith in double-digit kills for the match was redshirt junior Cassie Haut (Monroe, Mich.-St. Mary's Catholic Central), who finished with 15 and an attack percentage of .367. Senior Alyssa LaFace (Allen Park, Mich.-Allen Park) led the team with 24 digs, while sophomore Franki Strefling (Niles, Mich.-Buchanan) put up a season-best 17 digs and Rajewski added 13.
Though the Eagles were out-blocked (9 to 5) in the match, they held the advantage in attack percentage (.271 to .193), kills (65 to 52), and assists (61 to 50).
EMU finishes the season with a record of 17-13 and will play on the first day of the Mid-American Conference Tournament Thursday, Nov. 15. The Eagles' take on Kent State University at 4:30 p.m. in Millett Hall on the campus of Miami University.
Team Stats
EMU
NIU
Kills
65
52
Errors
20
21
Attempts
166
161
Hitting %
.271
.193
Points
75.0
66.0
Assists
61
50
Aces
5
5
Blocks
5.0
9.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Players Mentioned
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