Eastern Michigan Athletics
Monday, February 15
Kent, Ohio
5 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
at
Kent State
Photo by: Steven King/Steve King Studios
Volleyball Continues MAC Play at Kent State Thursday
2/13/2021 6:28:00 PM | Volleyball
First serve is scheduled for 5 p.m. between the Eagles and Golden Flashes
| Volleyball at Kent State | |
| Dates | Monday, Feb. 15 at 5 p.m. |
| Venue | Kent, Ohio | KSU Development Center |
| Preview Info | EMU Notes |
| Television | BoxCast |
| Live Stats | Fan Stats | Media Stats |
| @EMUVolleyball | @EMUAthletics | |
KENT, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team continues its five-game road trip Monday, Feb. 15, when the Eagles challenge Kent State University. The contest is scheduled for 5 p.m. inside KSU's Development Center.
Eastern Michigan (1-3, 1-3 MAC) split the season series of the shortened 2020-21 spring season to Northern Illinois, Feb. 11-12. The Eagles notched the 3-1 victory over the Huskies in the series opener, but fell, 3-1, the following day. Kent State (6-0, 6-0 MAC) remains undefeated in Mid-American Conference play, as the Golden Flashes defeated Akron, 3-1, in both matches, Feb. 11-12.
Fans can catch the action on BoxCast and can follow along on EMUEagles.com/livestats or on Twitter by following @EMUVolleyball.
AMONG THE LEADERS: Eastern Michigan leads the Mid-American Conference averaging 19.3 digs per set. The Eagles also rank second in the league kill per set (14.3) and opponent service aces (0.73). The Green and White's 13.1 assists per set is good for third in the conference.
Individually, senior Franki Strefling leads the MAC in both kills per set (4.67) and points per set (4.93), while sophomore Jayden Otto is second with 11.67 assists per set. Strefling's 4.67 kills per set ranks 14th in the NCAA.
1,000-DIG CLUB: Senior Franki Strefling surpassed 1,000 career digs in a 3-1 victory over Northern Illinois, Feb. 11. The outside hitter only needed 13 digs going into the match against the Huskies and ended the evening with a career-high 26 digs. Strefling is the 17th EMU volleyball player to accomplish this feat.
The Niles, Mich. native has 1,030 career digs and is leading the team this season with 71 digs (4.73 dps).
CLOSING IN ON ANOTHER 1,000: Senior Franki Strefling is on pace to reach the 1,000-plateau in career kills. The outside hitter needs 127 more kills (873 total) to reach 1,000. Strefling would be the 13th Eagle to record 1000-career kills. The senior already surpassed 1,000 career digs in a 3-1 victory at Northern Illinois, Feb. 11. Reaching 1,000 career kills and digs would make Strefling the sixth EMU player to accomplish this feat and the first since Becky Baltarie (2002-05).
The Niles, Mich. native leads EMU in both kills (70) and digs (71).
SET OR BE SET: Sophomore Jayden Otto posted dominant performances in a 3-1 loss at Northern Illinois, Feb. 12. The setter notched a career-high 58 assists to go along with six digs and two kills. Her 58-assist performance broke an EMU four-set record in the modern statistical era (since 2008). The previous record was held by Kim Hildreth and Mallory Rajewski, who both tallied 56 assists. Hildreth etched her name in the record book at Ball State, Oct. 6, 2012, then Rajewski tied the mark at Northern Illinois, Nov. 10, 2018.
Otto's 58 assists against NIU also ties for the second-most in the conference this season. The sophomore ranks second in the MAC averaging 11.67 assists per set.
OTTO-MATIC: This season, sophomore Jayden Otto has taken over as the "quarterback" of the Eastern Michigan offense. The setter has tallied 40-plus assists in three-straight matches, including two contests with 50-or-more assists. Most recently, Otto tallied a career-best 58 assists at Northern Illinois, Feb. 12.
Otto leads the team averaging 11.67 assists per set, which ranks second in the Mid-American Conference.
STREFLING ON FIRE: Senior Franki Strefling has been on fire offensively and defensively over the first four matches for the shortened 2020-21 spring season. The outside hitter has recorded three-straight double-doubles with her most recent performance (19 kills, 17 digs) at Northern Illinois, Feb. 12.
Strefling also tallied a career-high 23 kills with 26 digs in the series opener at NIU, Feb. 11. Her 23 kills tied for fourth in program history for four sets in the modern statistical era (since 2008).
The Niles, Mich. native leads the team in both kills (70) and digs (71), as well as ranks first in the Mid-American Conference averaging 4.67 kills per set and 4.93 points per set.
FIRST SEASON VICTORY: Eastern Michigan earned its first victory of the shortened 2020-21 spring season with a 3-1 win over Northern Illinois, Feb. 11. The Green and White posted a season-high 67 kills against the Huskies, and recorded a .271 attacking percentage (67-21-170). Additionally, the EMU defense tallied 83 digs and held NIU to 58 kills.
MAKIN' HISTORE: Eastern Michigan is six victories away from reaching 700 wins in the program's 44-year history. The Eagles hold an 694-698-16 overall record.
The 1990 squad holds the program wins record with 30 victories. That team became the first EMU volleyball squad to reach a postseason tournament, when the Green and White played in the Women's Invitational Volleyball Championship. The Green and White also claimed the MAC West Division title in 2005, while the Eagles notched their first Mid-American Conference Tournament title in 2018 to advance to the NCAA Tournament.
SCOUTING KENT STATE: Led by eighth-year head coach Don Gromala, Kent State enters Monday's match undefeated with a 6-0 mark. The Golden Flashes posted two four-set victories over rival Akron, Feb. 11-12.
KSU is led by Savannah Matthews who is averaging 4.00 kills per set (84 total) and 4.43 points per set, while Taylor Heberle is adding 3.45 kills a game and 4.03 points. Leading the offensive is setter Alex Haffner, who is averaging 12.52 assists per set, which leads the MAC. Defensively, the Golden Flashes are led by Erin Gardner who is tallying 4.57 digs per set, while Lana Strejcek is recording a team-best 1.24 blocks a game.
Kent State averages 15.1 kills per set and holds a .291 hitting percentage (256-81-601), both which lead the MAC. KSU is holding its opponents to 12.0 kills a game and a .158 hitting clip (204-101-653). Defensively, the Golden Flashes are posting 17.2 digs per set and 2.2 blocks per set.
LAST TIME VERSUS THE GOLDEN FLASHES: Eastern Michigan fought back from a 2-1 deficit, but fell in a five-set thriller to Kent State, Nov. 9, 2019.
Down a set, 2-1, the Eagles played an inspired fourth frame. Behind by one point, 16-15, Eastern went on an impressive run, winning the next six points to take a 20-16 lead. EMU closed the game out, winning 25-19, and sending the match to a fifth, and final, frame.
Despite EMU's best efforts, Kent State (13-13, 6-8) proved too powerful in the fifth set. With the score tied, 3-3, the Golden Flashes went on a 12-5 run, closing the final set out, 15-9.
Eastern was paced by Cassie Haut, who turned in a 19-kill, eight-dig performance, while hitting .308. Riley Taylor also contributed 53 assists for the Green and White.
ALL-TIME VERSUS KENT STATE: Monday's match will be the 60th meeting between the Eagles and the Golden Flashes. Eastern Michigan holds the all-time series advantage, 37-21-1. However, KSU won the lone match in 2019 (Nov. 9), as Kent State defeated EMU, 3-2, in Kent, Ohio. That Kent victory snapped a three-game winning streak for Eastern Michigan.
The Eagles hold a 6-4 mark over the last 10 meetings.
ALL-TIME VERSUS THE MAC: The Green and White holds a 269-339-1 program mark against Mid-American Conference teams. Eastern has played Western Michigan the most (93 times), while facing Central Michigan 89 times, and Ball State 78 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 7-13 MAC record.
CAREER DAY FOR BASHAM: Sophomore Samantha Basham had a career day against Western Michigan, Feb. 5. The outside hitter started her first collegiate match and notched a personal-best 14 kills on 40 attempts. Basham also added a career-high seven digs to her statline.
The Granville, Ohio native ranks second on the team with 40 kills, averaging 2.67 per set.
CAN YOU DIG IT?: Freshman Bella Hommes proved herself in Eastern Michigan's opening matches against Western Michigan, Feb. 4-5. Hommes earned her first collegiate start Friday, Feb. 4, before posting a career-high 20 digs against the Broncos Saturday, Feb. 5. The freshman also personal-best six assists.
Hommes ranks second on the team with 62 digs, averaging 4.13 digs.
ON THE HORIZON: Eastern Michigan continues a five-game road trip Thursday, Feb. 18, with a two-match series at the University of Akron. The first match is scheduled for 7 p.m. inside UA's James A. Rhodes Arena.
The Eagles trail in the all-time series, 19-21. The Zips posted a 3-1 victory over EMU during the 2019 season, Oct. 26. However, the Green and White has won three of the last four meetings.
Eastern Michigan (1-3, 1-3 MAC) split the season series of the shortened 2020-21 spring season to Northern Illinois, Feb. 11-12. The Eagles notched the 3-1 victory over the Huskies in the series opener, but fell, 3-1, the following day. Kent State (6-0, 6-0 MAC) remains undefeated in Mid-American Conference play, as the Golden Flashes defeated Akron, 3-1, in both matches, Feb. 11-12.
Fans can catch the action on BoxCast and can follow along on EMUEagles.com/livestats or on Twitter by following @EMUVolleyball.
AMONG THE LEADERS: Eastern Michigan leads the Mid-American Conference averaging 19.3 digs per set. The Eagles also rank second in the league kill per set (14.3) and opponent service aces (0.73). The Green and White's 13.1 assists per set is good for third in the conference.
Individually, senior Franki Strefling leads the MAC in both kills per set (4.67) and points per set (4.93), while sophomore Jayden Otto is second with 11.67 assists per set. Strefling's 4.67 kills per set ranks 14th in the NCAA.
1,000-DIG CLUB: Senior Franki Strefling surpassed 1,000 career digs in a 3-1 victory over Northern Illinois, Feb. 11. The outside hitter only needed 13 digs going into the match against the Huskies and ended the evening with a career-high 26 digs. Strefling is the 17th EMU volleyball player to accomplish this feat.
The Niles, Mich. native has 1,030 career digs and is leading the team this season with 71 digs (4.73 dps).
CLOSING IN ON ANOTHER 1,000: Senior Franki Strefling is on pace to reach the 1,000-plateau in career kills. The outside hitter needs 127 more kills (873 total) to reach 1,000. Strefling would be the 13th Eagle to record 1000-career kills. The senior already surpassed 1,000 career digs in a 3-1 victory at Northern Illinois, Feb. 11. Reaching 1,000 career kills and digs would make Strefling the sixth EMU player to accomplish this feat and the first since Becky Baltarie (2002-05).
The Niles, Mich. native leads EMU in both kills (70) and digs (71).
SET OR BE SET: Sophomore Jayden Otto posted dominant performances in a 3-1 loss at Northern Illinois, Feb. 12. The setter notched a career-high 58 assists to go along with six digs and two kills. Her 58-assist performance broke an EMU four-set record in the modern statistical era (since 2008). The previous record was held by Kim Hildreth and Mallory Rajewski, who both tallied 56 assists. Hildreth etched her name in the record book at Ball State, Oct. 6, 2012, then Rajewski tied the mark at Northern Illinois, Nov. 10, 2018.
Otto's 58 assists against NIU also ties for the second-most in the conference this season. The sophomore ranks second in the MAC averaging 11.67 assists per set.
OTTO-MATIC: This season, sophomore Jayden Otto has taken over as the "quarterback" of the Eastern Michigan offense. The setter has tallied 40-plus assists in three-straight matches, including two contests with 50-or-more assists. Most recently, Otto tallied a career-best 58 assists at Northern Illinois, Feb. 12.
Otto leads the team averaging 11.67 assists per set, which ranks second in the Mid-American Conference.
STREFLING ON FIRE: Senior Franki Strefling has been on fire offensively and defensively over the first four matches for the shortened 2020-21 spring season. The outside hitter has recorded three-straight double-doubles with her most recent performance (19 kills, 17 digs) at Northern Illinois, Feb. 12.
Strefling also tallied a career-high 23 kills with 26 digs in the series opener at NIU, Feb. 11. Her 23 kills tied for fourth in program history for four sets in the modern statistical era (since 2008).
The Niles, Mich. native leads the team in both kills (70) and digs (71), as well as ranks first in the Mid-American Conference averaging 4.67 kills per set and 4.93 points per set.
FIRST SEASON VICTORY: Eastern Michigan earned its first victory of the shortened 2020-21 spring season with a 3-1 win over Northern Illinois, Feb. 11. The Green and White posted a season-high 67 kills against the Huskies, and recorded a .271 attacking percentage (67-21-170). Additionally, the EMU defense tallied 83 digs and held NIU to 58 kills.
MAKIN' HISTORE: Eastern Michigan is six victories away from reaching 700 wins in the program's 44-year history. The Eagles hold an 694-698-16 overall record.
The 1990 squad holds the program wins record with 30 victories. That team became the first EMU volleyball squad to reach a postseason tournament, when the Green and White played in the Women's Invitational Volleyball Championship. The Green and White also claimed the MAC West Division title in 2005, while the Eagles notched their first Mid-American Conference Tournament title in 2018 to advance to the NCAA Tournament.
SCOUTING KENT STATE: Led by eighth-year head coach Don Gromala, Kent State enters Monday's match undefeated with a 6-0 mark. The Golden Flashes posted two four-set victories over rival Akron, Feb. 11-12.
KSU is led by Savannah Matthews who is averaging 4.00 kills per set (84 total) and 4.43 points per set, while Taylor Heberle is adding 3.45 kills a game and 4.03 points. Leading the offensive is setter Alex Haffner, who is averaging 12.52 assists per set, which leads the MAC. Defensively, the Golden Flashes are led by Erin Gardner who is tallying 4.57 digs per set, while Lana Strejcek is recording a team-best 1.24 blocks a game.
Kent State averages 15.1 kills per set and holds a .291 hitting percentage (256-81-601), both which lead the MAC. KSU is holding its opponents to 12.0 kills a game and a .158 hitting clip (204-101-653). Defensively, the Golden Flashes are posting 17.2 digs per set and 2.2 blocks per set.
LAST TIME VERSUS THE GOLDEN FLASHES: Eastern Michigan fought back from a 2-1 deficit, but fell in a five-set thriller to Kent State, Nov. 9, 2019.
Down a set, 2-1, the Eagles played an inspired fourth frame. Behind by one point, 16-15, Eastern went on an impressive run, winning the next six points to take a 20-16 lead. EMU closed the game out, winning 25-19, and sending the match to a fifth, and final, frame.
Despite EMU's best efforts, Kent State (13-13, 6-8) proved too powerful in the fifth set. With the score tied, 3-3, the Golden Flashes went on a 12-5 run, closing the final set out, 15-9.
Eastern was paced by Cassie Haut, who turned in a 19-kill, eight-dig performance, while hitting .308. Riley Taylor also contributed 53 assists for the Green and White.
ALL-TIME VERSUS KENT STATE: Monday's match will be the 60th meeting between the Eagles and the Golden Flashes. Eastern Michigan holds the all-time series advantage, 37-21-1. However, KSU won the lone match in 2019 (Nov. 9), as Kent State defeated EMU, 3-2, in Kent, Ohio. That Kent victory snapped a three-game winning streak for Eastern Michigan.
The Eagles hold a 6-4 mark over the last 10 meetings.
ALL-TIME VERSUS THE MAC: The Green and White holds a 269-339-1 program mark against Mid-American Conference teams. Eastern has played Western Michigan the most (93 times), while facing Central Michigan 89 times, and Ball State 78 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 7-13 MAC record.
CAREER DAY FOR BASHAM: Sophomore Samantha Basham had a career day against Western Michigan, Feb. 5. The outside hitter started her first collegiate match and notched a personal-best 14 kills on 40 attempts. Basham also added a career-high seven digs to her statline.
The Granville, Ohio native ranks second on the team with 40 kills, averaging 2.67 per set.
CAN YOU DIG IT?: Freshman Bella Hommes proved herself in Eastern Michigan's opening matches against Western Michigan, Feb. 4-5. Hommes earned her first collegiate start Friday, Feb. 4, before posting a career-high 20 digs against the Broncos Saturday, Feb. 5. The freshman also personal-best six assists.
Hommes ranks second on the team with 62 digs, averaging 4.13 digs.
ON THE HORIZON: Eastern Michigan continues a five-game road trip Thursday, Feb. 18, with a two-match series at the University of Akron. The first match is scheduled for 7 p.m. inside UA's James A. Rhodes Arena.
The Eagles trail in the all-time series, 19-21. The Zips posted a 3-1 victory over EMU during the 2019 season, Oct. 26. However, the Green and White has won three of the last four meetings.
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