Eastern Michigan Athletics
Thursday, November 15
Oxford, Ohio
4:30 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
18-13
3
vs
0
Kent State
13-18
1
2
3
F
Kent State
26
19
20
0
Eastern Michigan
28
25
25
3
Photo by: Steven King/Steve King Studios
No. 5 Eagles Knock Out No. 8 Kent State with Sweep
11/15/2018 8:04:00 PM | Volleyball
Eastern advances to the MAC Tournament Quarterfinal with a match against Buffalo up next
OXFORD, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team kicked off the Mid-American Conference Tournament with a 3-0 sweep of No. 8-seeded Kent State University Thursday, Nov. 15. The No. 5 Eagles advance to take on No. 4 University at Buffalo Friday, Nov. 16, at 4:30 p.m.
EMU and KSU locked in a tight match from the beginning, but ultimately Eastern was able to pull away and knock out the Golden Flashes, 28-26, 25-19, 25-20.
Senior Jordan Smith (Solon, Iowa-Solon) continued her recent hot streak, pounding 18 kills on 51 attempts while also contributing four total blocks and an ace. In her last three matches, Smith is averaging 20 kills per match, 5.45 kills per set, and is hitting .242.
Eastern received a balanced scoring effort from the rest of the roster, as sophomore Franki Strefling (Niles, Mich.-Buchanan) was the only other Eagle with double-digit kills, finishing with 10. The outside hitter added 13 digs for her seventh double-double of the season.
The defense was spectacular for the Green and White, with libero Alyssa LaFace (Allen Park, Mich.-Allen Park) leading four players in double figure digs with 26. Junior Riley Taylor (Indianapolis, Ind.-Perry Meridian) tied Strefling for the second-most with 13, and redshirt senior setter Mallory Rajewski (Midland, Mich.-Midland) turned in 10 to go along with 39 assists and six kills.
Rajewski's 39 helpers pushed her past the 3,000 assist mark for her career. She is just the sixth player to reach that mark, and is the fifth to have 3000+ assists and 1,000+ digs.
Overall, the Eagles controlled all of the important team categories, finishing with a higher attack percentage (.203 to .089), more kills (52 to 30), more assists (46 to 23), more blocks (9 to 4), and more service aces (5 to 3).
EMU returns to action in the quarterfinal round of the MAC Tournament against the University at Buffalo at 4:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16, in Oxford, Ohio at Miami University
EMU and KSU locked in a tight match from the beginning, but ultimately Eastern was able to pull away and knock out the Golden Flashes, 28-26, 25-19, 25-20.
Senior Jordan Smith (Solon, Iowa-Solon) continued her recent hot streak, pounding 18 kills on 51 attempts while also contributing four total blocks and an ace. In her last three matches, Smith is averaging 20 kills per match, 5.45 kills per set, and is hitting .242.
Eastern received a balanced scoring effort from the rest of the roster, as sophomore Franki Strefling (Niles, Mich.-Buchanan) was the only other Eagle with double-digit kills, finishing with 10. The outside hitter added 13 digs for her seventh double-double of the season.
The defense was spectacular for the Green and White, with libero Alyssa LaFace (Allen Park, Mich.-Allen Park) leading four players in double figure digs with 26. Junior Riley Taylor (Indianapolis, Ind.-Perry Meridian) tied Strefling for the second-most with 13, and redshirt senior setter Mallory Rajewski (Midland, Mich.-Midland) turned in 10 to go along with 39 assists and six kills.
Rajewski's 39 helpers pushed her past the 3,000 assist mark for her career. She is just the sixth player to reach that mark, and is the fifth to have 3000+ assists and 1,000+ digs.
Overall, the Eagles controlled all of the important team categories, finishing with a higher attack percentage (.203 to .089), more kills (52 to 30), more assists (46 to 23), more blocks (9 to 4), and more service aces (5 to 3).
EMU returns to action in the quarterfinal round of the MAC Tournament against the University at Buffalo at 4:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16, in Oxford, Ohio at Miami University
Team Stats
KENTST
EMU
Kills
30
51
Errors
19
22
Attempts
124
143
Hitting %
.089
.203
Points
37.0
65.0
Assists
27
46
Aces
3
5
Blocks
4.0
9.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
18
Aces
1
Blocks
4
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
6
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Players Mentioned
DS/L
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