Volleyball Continues Road Stint at Ohio and Kent State

Volleyball at Ohio & Kent State
Date	Friday, Oct. 8 at 4 p.m. \| Saturday, Oct. 9 at 4 p.m.
Venue	Convocation Center - Athen's Ohio \| M.A.C. Center - Kent, Ohio
Preview Info	EMU Notes
Watch	ESPN+ (Friday) \| BoxCast (Saturday)
Live Stats	Live Stats
Twitter	@EMUVolleyball \| @EMUAthletics

ATHENS, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team continues a four-match road stint by visiting Ohio University Friday, Oct. 8, and Kent State University Saturday, Oct. 9. Both matches will begin at 4 p.m.
   EMU (6-9, 1-3 MAC) snapped a three-match losing streak with a thrilling five-set win over Northern Illinois, Oct. 2. Ohio (1-14, 1-3 MAC) is on a three-match losing skid. The Bobcats last dropped a three-set affair at Ball State, Oct. 1. Kent State (6-10, 1-3 MAC) are also on a three-match losing streak as the Golden Flashes fell to Toledo, 3-0, Oct. 2.
   Fans can catch the match at Ohio on ESPN+ with Claire Geary and Sedric Granger on the call. Saturday's match at Kent State will be available on BoxCast with Tyler Henry providing the play-by-play. As always, fans can follow along on EMUEagles.com/livestats or on Twitter by following @EMUVolleyball.

AMONG THE LEADERS: Eastern Michigan ranks second in the Mid-American Conference in opponent blocks with 1.81 blocks per set and fourth in blocks averaging 2.12 blocks per set. Additionally, the Eagles are fifth in service aces per set at 1.40.
   Individually, redshirt sophomore Raeven Chase leads the conference averaging 1.19 blocks per set (63 total). Additionally, the middle blocker ranks fifth with a .329 hitting percentage (134-39-289). Freshman Madeline Timmerman is fourth in the MAC with 0.36 aces per set, while sophomore Jayden Otto ranks eighth with 0.30 aces per set. Furthermore, Otto averages 9.81 assists per set, which is good for fifth in the conference. Classmate Kamryn Stilwell ranks fifth averaging 4.23 digs per set.

BASHAM WITH A CAREER DAY: Sophomore Samantha Basham recorded a career day in EMU's 3-2 victory over Northern Illinois, Oct. 2. The outside hitter tallied a personal-best 20 kills to go along with four blocks and two digs. Additionally, the Granville, Ohio native boasted a .383 hitting percentage (20-2-47).
   Basham leads the team averaging 2.88 kills per set (147 total) and has led the Eagles in that category six times this season.

FIRST MAC VICTORY: Eastern Michigan earned its first Mid-American Conference win of the 2021 season with a 3-2 victory over Northern Illinois, Oct. 2. The five-set match was the second this season, in which EMU won both.

CAN YOU DIG IT?: Sophomore Kamryn Stilwell has started as Eastern's primary libero in every match so far this season. The defensive specialist has tallied a team-high 224 digs, which doubles the next highest at 105. She's averaging 4.23 digs per set, which is good for fifth in the Mid-American Conference.
   Stilwell has recorded double-figure digs in eight of the last nine matches, with her most recent performance with 15 at Northern Illinois, Oct. 2.

BLOCK PARTY: Redshirt sophomore Raeven Chase continues to be a strong force at the net for Eastern Michigan. She leads the team with 63 total blocks (16-47) for a 1.19 blocks-per-set average. That average leads the Mid-American Conference.
   Chase posted a season-high nine blocks (1-8) in a 3-2 victory at Northern Illinois, Oct. 2. Additionally, she has led the team in blocks in 12 matches this season.
   The middle blocker has tallied 232 career blocks (42-190). She needs nine more block solos and 64 block assists to break into the top-10 of the EMU record book.

OTTO-MATIC: Quarterbacking the EMU offense again this season is sophomore Jayden Otto. Most recently, the setter notched 40 assists in a 3-2 win over Northern Illinois, Oct. 2.
   Otto etched her name in the EMU record book as she tallied 40 assists in a 3-0 victory over Boston College, Sept. 18. The 40 assists ties for seventh in program history for a three-set match in the modern statistical era (since 2008). Additionally, the sophomore tallied 41 assists in a three-set sweep over Belmont, Sept. 11. Her 41-assist performance is tied for fifth in program history for a three-set match in the modern statistical era (since 2008).
   Otto averages 9.81 assists per set, which is good for fifth in the Mid-American Conference. She has led the Eagles in assists every match so far this season and needs 467 more assists (1,497 total) to break into the top-10 of the EMU record books.

BASHAM BREAKING THROUGH: Sophomore Samantha Basham continues to be a go-to attacker for the Eagles. The outside hitter ranked second on the team with 19 total kills (2.71 kps) in the Mid-American Conference opening series, Sept. 23-24. Basham tallied a weekend-best 13 kills against Western Michigan, Sept. 23.
   Additionally, the sophomore posted a strong performance at the UIC Invitational, Sept. 10-11. The outside hitter led the Eagles in back-to-back matches with a season-high 14 kills against both UIC, Sept. 10, and Belmont, Sept. 11. Furthermore, the Granville, Ohio native notched a season-best .600 hitting percentage (14-2-20) against the Bruins.
   Basham ranks first on the team averaging 2.76 kills per set (116 total) and has led EMU in kills five times this season.

ACE, ACE BABY: Eastern Michigan has tallied 74 service aces this season. The 74 aces equals to 91.4% of EMU's total from last spring when the Eagles tallied 81.
   The Green and White average 1.4 aces per set, which ranks fifth in the Mid-American Conference. Last season, the Eagles tallied 1.0 aces per set.
   Leading the Eagles in aces is freshman Madeline Timmerman, who has 19 total aces. Additionally, sophomore Jayden Otto and freshman Annie Lockett and have recorded 16 and 12, respectively.

SCOUTING OHIO: Led by second-year Head Coach Geoff Carlston, Ohio enters Friday's match with a 1-14 overall record and a 1-3 Mid-American Conference mark. The Bobcats won their first conference match of the 2021 season against Toledo, 3-0, Sept. 24. However, OU is on a three-match losing streak after a 3-0 loss at Ball State, Oct. 1.
   Ohio is paced offensively by Caroline Clippard, who is averaging 3.09 kills per set. She is followed by Maggie Nedoma, who has recorded a team-best 169 kills for a 3.07 kills-per-set average. Tria McLean is spearheading the Bobcat offense with 7.83 assists per set, which is good for ninth in the MAC. Defensively, Ohio is led by Sam Steele with 4.94 digs per set, which ranks third in the conference. Additionally, Caitlin O'Farrell leads the team with 0.75 blocks per set.
   Ohio leads the conference with opponent digs with 12.6, while ranking second in opponent assists (11.36), and fourth in opponent kills (12.43) and opponent blocks (2.0), respectively. The Bobcats average 11.89 kills per set. Defensively, OU is adding 1.70 blocks per set and 12.49 digs per set.

ALL-TIME VERSUS OHIO: Friday's match will be the 60th meeting between the Eagles and Bobcats in program history. Eastern Michigan trails in the all-time series, 18-40-1. EMU snapped a 17-match win streak for OU in 2019, when the Green and White posted the 3-1 victory, Oct. 5. Additionally, the Eagles have won the last two meetings.

LAST TIME VERSUS THE BOBCATS: Eastern Michigan posted a three-set victory (25-22, 25-21, 25-18) over Ohio, March 8, inside the Convocation Center.
   Former Eagle Franki Strefling surpassed 1,000 kills in her career, an accomplishment only 12 other Eagles in program history can say they have achieved. She is also the sixth player in EMU history to record both 1,000 career digs and kills.
   Strefling posted a game-high 15 kills and added 14 digs. Helping out the attack were April Houston and Samantha Basham, who collected nine and eight kills, respectively.
    Guiding the attack was Jayden Otto, who dished out 34 assists. Defensively, Bella Hommes and Kamryn Stilwell led the way with 17 and 13 digs, respectively. Stillwell's 13 digs was a career-high. Raeven Chase showed why she is among the leaders in blocks per set in the Mid-American Conference, collecting seven total blocks on the afternoon.
    Overall, the Eagles were able to lead the Bobcats in a variety of categories, including kills (40-33), hitting percentage (.165-.079), assists (37-28), and service aces (5-2).

SCOUTING KENT STATE: Led by ninth-year Head Coach Don Gromala, Kent State enters Saturday's match with a 6-10 overall record with a 1-3 Mid-American Conference mark. The Golden Flashes are on a three-match losing skid after a 3-0 loss at Toledo, Oct. 2
   KSU is led by Savannah Matthews, who is averaging 3.16 kills per set (174 total) and 3.61 points per set, while Melissa Kolurbasi is adding 2.50 kills a set. Leading the Kent offense is setter Alex Haffner, who is tallying 9.35 assists per set. Her assists-per-set average ranks seventh in the conference. Defensively, Kent State is led by Erin Gardner, who has recorded 5.36 digs per set while Ashley Guse is adding a team-best 1.00 blocks per set.
   Kent State averages 11.8 kills per set and holds its opponents to 13.0 kills a game. The Golden Flashes rank seventh in the league with a .228 opponent hitting percentage (750-287-2034). Defensively, KSU is third in the MAC averaging 2.12 blocks per set.

ALL-TIME VERSUS KENT STATE: Saturday's match will be the 61st meeting between the Eagles and the Golden Flashes. Eastern Michigan holds the all-time series advantage, 38-21-1. The Green and White gave Kent State its first loss of the 2021 spring season with a 3-2 victory, Feb. 15. The Eagles hold a 6-4 mark over the last 10 meetings.

LAST TIME VERSUS THE GOLDEN FLASHES: Eastern Michigan stunned undefeated Kent State in a Mid-American Conference five-set showdown, 3-2 (25-11, 25-21, 21-25, 19-25, 15-8), Feb. 15, 2021. EMU posted a .209 hitting percentage (65-23-201) and held Kent to a .180 clip (61-24-205), which was a season-low for the Golden Flashes.
   Franki Strefling paced the Eagles with her fourth-straight double-double with a career-high 25 kills and 25 digs. The outside hitter boasted a team-high .362 hitting percentage (25-4-58). The senior's 25-kill performance ties for fourth in program history for five-sets in the modern statistical era (2008-present). Samantha Basham was the second Eagle to reach double-figure kills with a career-best 15 kills to go along with a team-high service aces and four block assists.
   Quarterbacking the Eagle offense was setter Jayden Otto, who collected her third-straight 50-plus assists match with 53 dimes. Her 53 assists ties for 10th for five sets in EMU history for the modern statistical era. Otto also added 17 digs and two block assists.
    Defensively, Alayna Jansky tallied a career-high 27 digs to go along with six kills and two total blocks (1-2). Bella Hommes also posted a personal-best in digs with 21.
    The Eagles held the advantage in five categories: kills (65-61), hitting percentage (.209-.180), assists (61-57), service aces (51), and digs (106-102). Kent State won the block battle with 14.0 total blocks (2-18) compared to Eastern's 11.0 (2-16).

ALL-TIME VERSUS THE MAC: The Green and White holds a 277-351-1 program mark against Mid-American Conference teams. Eastern has played Western Michigan the most (95 times) while facing Central Michigan 91 times, and Ball State 80 times. Since the 1980 season when EMU started competing in the MAC, EMU has won one MAC Tournament title (2018) and one MAC West title (2005). Under Darcy Dorton, the Eagles hold a 15-25 MAC record.

ON THE HORIZON: Eastern Michigan will return Ypsilanti for a two-match series with Miami Friday and Saturday, Oct. 15-16 Friday's match is slated for 6 p.m. with Saturday's match time still yet to be determined.

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Players Mentioned

Samantha Basham

Raeven Chase

Bella Hommes

April Houston

Alayna Jansky

Annie Lockett

Jayden Otto

Kamryn Stilwell

Franki Strefling

Madeline Timmerman

Eastern Michigan Athletics