EMU Volleyball Wraps Non-Conference Play at Robert Morris Invitational

Volleyball at Robert Morris Sheraton Innvitational
Date	Friday Sept. 14 \| 10 a.m., 4 p.m. \| Saturday Sept. 15 \| 1 p.m.
Venue	Moon Township, Pa. - North Athletic Complex
Preview Info	EMU Notes
Live Stats	vs. Houston \| at Robert Morris \| vs. Duquesne
Video Broadcast	vs. Houston \| at Robert Morris \| vs. Duquesne
Twitter	@EMUVolleyball \| @EMUAthletics

MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. - The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team returns to action in its final non-conference tournament of the season, traveling to the Steel City of Pittsburgh to take part in the Robert Morris Invitational, Sept. 14-15. The Eagles will take on the University of Houston, Robert Morris University, and Duquesne University in the two-day event.

All three of Eastern's matches will be streamed on NEC Front Row, provided by Robert Morris. Fans can also follow the action via live stats.

SERIES HISTORY: EMU has an overall record of 6-2 against the teams of the 2018 Robert Morris Invitational, holding an 0-1 mark against Houston, a 4-1 record against Robert Morris, and a 2-0 tally against Duquesne.

The Eagles last played Houston at the Women's Invitational Volleyball Championships Championship in Knoxville, Tenn., Nov. 29, 1990. The Cougars ended the best season in Eastern history with a 3-1 victory.

EMU and Robert Morris have a more recent history, having played each other in the 2017 season. The Green and White came away with a sweep at the Butler Invitational a year ago.

Finally, Eastern takes on Duquesne, who it hasn't seen on the court since 2013. In that season, the Eagles and Dukes squared off in the Coca-Cola Michigan Invitational, with EMU coming away with a 3-1 win.

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: For the first time since 2015, Eastern Michigan has garnered multiple Mid-American Conference West Players of the Week. Senior Jordan Smith (Solon, Iowa-Solon) was named MAC Offensive Player of the Week while redshirt senior Mallory Rajewski (Midland, Mich.-Midland) and junior Riley Taylor (Indianapolis, Ind.-Perry Meridian) were collectively MAC West Setter of the Week, Sept. 10.

The trio join senior libero Alyssa LaFace (Allen Park, Mich.-Allen Park) as Eagles who have earned conference honors in 2018, as LaFace was named MAC West Defensive Player of the Week, Sept. 5.

The last time EMU had multiple Player of the Week honors was Nov. 17, 2015, when Corynne Smith and then-freshman Cassie Haut (Monroe, Mich.-St. Mary Catholic Central) were crowned by the conference as Defensive and Offensive Players of the Week, respectively.

SMITH'S ACCOLADES KEEP STACKING: After being named to the St. John's Kaiser Classic All-Tournament team to open the 2018 season, senior Jordan Smith continues to add to her growing list of accolades.

The Solon, Iowa native became just the 15th player in program history to reach the 1,000 kill mark, while also earning the title of the William and Mary Colonial Classic Most Valuable Player. To cap off the busy start to the season, Smith was named MAC West Offensive Player of the Week, Sept. 10.

CHASING THE 1,000/1,000 CLUB: Only seven women in the history of Eastern Michigan volleyball have reached 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs for their respective careers. After reaching the 1,000 kill mark against Savannah State, Sept. 8, senior Jordan Smith has the chance to become number eight.

The outside hitter has 773 digs in her career, and would would be the first Eagle to join the 1,000/1,000 club since Paige Roback in 2013.

TOURNAMENT CHAMPS: EMU swept the weekend at the William and Mary Colonial Classic to be crowned tournament champions, Sept. 7-8, defeating Norfolk State, Savannah State, and William and Mary in straight sets.

The championship was the first for Eastern since the 2015 season when the Eagles took the IUPUI Hampton Inn Invitational title. That weekend, the Green and White defeated West Virginia, IUPUI, and UNC Charlotte.

HANDY HAMBY: Junior Ariel Hamby (Oak Park, Ill.-Oak Park River Forest) has been a game-changer for the Eagles on the right side in her third season in the Green and White. The Oak Park, Ill. native has three double-digit kill performances on the campaign, and has the second-best attack percentage on the team at .297.

After averaging 0.85 kills per set as a freshman and 0.98 as a sophomore, Hamby is averaging 1.85 kills per set in 2018, good for fourth for EMU.

MILESTONE WATCH: Senior setter Mallory Rajewski spent the 2017 season chasing 2,000 assists, becoming just the eighth player in EMU history to pass the mark, currently sitting in seventh place in Eastern laurels with 2,462 assists. The Midland, Mich. native set a personal-best for assists in a season with 891 last year, and needs 925 assists to move into the top five all-time.

STAYING HAUT: Redshirt junior Cassie Haut was named to the William and Mary Colonial Classic All-Tournament team thanks to her strong performances against Savannah State and William and Mary. The redshirt junior had 19 kills and a .484 attack percentage in the two matches.

The All-Tournament team marks the second in-season tournament honor for the Monroe, Mich. native, having also been named to the St. John's Kaiser Classic All-Tournament team.

The middle blocker tied a career-high with 23 kills against Harvard, Sept. 2, while also hitting .629 in the match. She is leading the Mid-American Conference in attack percentage at .381, and is also averaging 3.00 kills per set and 1.03 blocks per set.

ON THE HORIZON: Eastern Michigan enters play in the Mid-American Conference with a split week, beginning at Central Michigan University, Thursday, Sept. 20, at 7 p.m.

The Eagles then welcome Kent State University to the Convocation Center, Saturday, Sept. 22, at 5 p.m. for their first home MAC match.

EMU Volleyball Wraps Non-Conference Play at Robert Morris Invitational

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Players Mentioned

Ariel Hamby

Cassie Haut

Alyssa LaFace

Mallory Rajewski

Corynne Smith

Jordan Smith

Riley Taylor

Eastern Michigan Athletics