Eastern Michigan Athletics
Thursday, February 11
DeKalb, Ill.
6 p.m CT
Eastern Michigan University
1-2,1-2MAC
3
at
1
Northern Illinois
1-6,1-6MAC
1
2
3
4
F
Eastern Mich.
25
23
27
25
3
Northern Ill.
20
25
25
21
1
Photo by: Steven King/Steve King Studios
Volleyball Earns Victory over Northern Illinois, 3-1
2/11/2021 9:40:00 PM | Volleyball
Franki Strefling recorded career night with 23 kills and 26 digs
DEKALB, Ill. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team notched its first victory of the 2020-21 spring season, as the Eagles downed Northern Illinois University in four sets, 25-20, 23-25, 27-25, 25-21, tonight, Feb. 11, inside NIU's Convocation Center.
EMU (1-2, 1-2 MAC) posted a .271 attack percentage (67-21-170) and dominated on defense with 80 digs, compared to NIU's (1-6, 1-6 MAC) .230 clip (58-20-165) and 68 digs.
Four Eagles recorded double-digit kill performances with senior Franki Strefling (Niles, Mich.-Buchanan) pacing the Green and White with a career-high 23 kills and a .400 hitting percentage (23-3-50). The outside hitter's 23 kills ties for fourth in program history for four sets in the modern statistical era (2008-present). Supporting Strefling offensively was sophomore Samantha Basham (Granville, Ohio-Newark Catholic) and junior Abbey Kearney (Las Vega, Nev.-Palisades Charter) who each added 12 kills, while sophomore Alayna Jansky (Mukwonago, Wis.-Mukwonago) tallied 11, respectively.
Running the offense was sophomore setter Jayden Otto (Crystal Lake, Ill.-Prairie Ridge), who collected a career-high 54 assists to go along with eight digs and three kills. Her 54 dimes ranks fourth in program history for four sets in the modern statistical era.
Defensively, Eastern was paced by Strefling with 26 digs. Her 23-kill and 26-dig performance is her second double-double of the season and the 37th of her career. Additionally, the Niles, Mich. native surpassed 1,000 career digs and became the 17th EMU volleyball player to accomplish this feat.
Three other Eagles posted double-digit digs as Janksy added 17, while freshman Bella Hommes (Grand Rapids, Mich.-Forest Hills Northern) and junior Mackenzie Garis (Crystal Lake, Ill.-Prairie Ridge) tallied 16 and 12, respectively. Redshirt sophomore Raeven Chase (Toronto, Ont.-Michael Power St. Joseph Catholic) also notched a team-high three blocks (1-4).
Eastern held the advantage in points (78-71), kills (67-58), assists (63-53), and digs (83-68). However, Northern Illinois won the block battle (10-9) and posted three service aces.
The Eagles started set one strong offensively with a 4-1 lead. However, the Huskies responded with a 9-2 scoring run to take the 10-6 advantage. EMU answered with four-straight points highlighted by two Strefling kills tying the set at 11-apiece. The scoring went back-and-forth until the Green and White went on a 6-2 scoring stint to take the four-point lead, 20-16. The Eagles never looked back as EMU took set one, 25-20.
Up one set, both teams started the second set solid as the score was neck and neck at 11-11. Then, the Huskies sparked a 7-3 run to take the 18-13 edge, forcing an EMU timeout. NIU continued momentum during the next few possessions, remaining in the lead at 23-16. The Eagles tried to complete the comeback, going on a 7-2 at the end of the set, but Northern Illinois tied up the match at 1-1, winning the second set, 25-23.
Heading into set three, Eastern Michigan began the set with a 4-2 lead after back-to-back kills from Jansky. Northern Illinois tried to spark some offense and tied the game up at 9-9, but EMU went on a 5-2 run to extend its lead to three, 14-11. The scoring went back-and-forth the rest of the set with both teams not gaining more than a two-point lead, but the Eagles prevailed and took the third set, 27-25.
The Eagles started the fourth set on a 7-5 scoring stint. EMU continued the offensive spark with three-straight kills from kills to extend its lead to 13-8. The Green and White's momentum was nonstop throughout the set, as the Eagles finished with the 25-21 victory and claimed the match, 3-1.
Eastern will continue the two-match series at Northern Illinois Friday, Feb. 12. The match is slated for 5 p.m. ET and will be aired on NIU All-Access.
For more information on Eastern Michigan volleyball, follow the team's official Twitter account at Twitter.com/EMUVolleyball, on Facebook at Facebook.com/EMUVB, or on Instagram at Instagram.com/emu_volleyball.
EMU (1-2, 1-2 MAC) posted a .271 attack percentage (67-21-170) and dominated on defense with 80 digs, compared to NIU's (1-6, 1-6 MAC) .230 clip (58-20-165) and 68 digs.
Four Eagles recorded double-digit kill performances with senior Franki Strefling (Niles, Mich.-Buchanan) pacing the Green and White with a career-high 23 kills and a .400 hitting percentage (23-3-50). The outside hitter's 23 kills ties for fourth in program history for four sets in the modern statistical era (2008-present). Supporting Strefling offensively was sophomore Samantha Basham (Granville, Ohio-Newark Catholic) and junior Abbey Kearney (Las Vega, Nev.-Palisades Charter) who each added 12 kills, while sophomore Alayna Jansky (Mukwonago, Wis.-Mukwonago) tallied 11, respectively.
Running the offense was sophomore setter Jayden Otto (Crystal Lake, Ill.-Prairie Ridge), who collected a career-high 54 assists to go along with eight digs and three kills. Her 54 dimes ranks fourth in program history for four sets in the modern statistical era.
Defensively, Eastern was paced by Strefling with 26 digs. Her 23-kill and 26-dig performance is her second double-double of the season and the 37th of her career. Additionally, the Niles, Mich. native surpassed 1,000 career digs and became the 17th EMU volleyball player to accomplish this feat.
Three other Eagles posted double-digit digs as Janksy added 17, while freshman Bella Hommes (Grand Rapids, Mich.-Forest Hills Northern) and junior Mackenzie Garis (Crystal Lake, Ill.-Prairie Ridge) tallied 16 and 12, respectively. Redshirt sophomore Raeven Chase (Toronto, Ont.-Michael Power St. Joseph Catholic) also notched a team-high three blocks (1-4).
Eastern held the advantage in points (78-71), kills (67-58), assists (63-53), and digs (83-68). However, Northern Illinois won the block battle (10-9) and posted three service aces.
The Eagles started set one strong offensively with a 4-1 lead. However, the Huskies responded with a 9-2 scoring run to take the 10-6 advantage. EMU answered with four-straight points highlighted by two Strefling kills tying the set at 11-apiece. The scoring went back-and-forth until the Green and White went on a 6-2 scoring stint to take the four-point lead, 20-16. The Eagles never looked back as EMU took set one, 25-20.
Up one set, both teams started the second set solid as the score was neck and neck at 11-11. Then, the Huskies sparked a 7-3 run to take the 18-13 edge, forcing an EMU timeout. NIU continued momentum during the next few possessions, remaining in the lead at 23-16. The Eagles tried to complete the comeback, going on a 7-2 at the end of the set, but Northern Illinois tied up the match at 1-1, winning the second set, 25-23.
Heading into set three, Eastern Michigan began the set with a 4-2 lead after back-to-back kills from Jansky. Northern Illinois tried to spark some offense and tied the game up at 9-9, but EMU went on a 5-2 run to extend its lead to three, 14-11. The scoring went back-and-forth the rest of the set with both teams not gaining more than a two-point lead, but the Eagles prevailed and took the third set, 27-25.
The Eagles started the fourth set on a 7-5 scoring stint. EMU continued the offensive spark with three-straight kills from kills to extend its lead to 13-8. The Green and White's momentum was nonstop throughout the set, as the Eagles finished with the 25-21 victory and claimed the match, 3-1.
Eastern will continue the two-match series at Northern Illinois Friday, Feb. 12. The match is slated for 5 p.m. ET and will be aired on NIU All-Access.
For more information on Eastern Michigan volleyball, follow the team's official Twitter account at Twitter.com/EMUVolleyball, on Facebook at Facebook.com/EMUVB, or on Instagram at Instagram.com/emu_volleyball.
Team Stats
EMU
NIU
Kills
67
58
Errors
21
20
Attempts
170
165
Hitting %
.271
.230
Points
78
71
Assists
63
53
Aces
2
3
Blocks
9
10
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
23
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
11
Aces
1
Blocks
2
Players Mentioned
OH/RS
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