Eastern Michigan Athletics
Thursday, February 18
Akron, Ohio
7 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
at
Akron
Photo by: Steven King/Steve King Studios
Volleyball Preps for Two-Match Series at Akron
2/17/2021 4:58:00 PM | Volleyball
The Eagles average 19.8 digs per set, which leads the MAC and ranks eighth in the NCAA
| Volleyball at Akron | |
| Dates | Thursday, Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. | Friday, Feb. 19 at 7 p.m. |
| Venue | Akron, Ohio | James A Rhodes Arena |
| Preview Info | EMU Notes |
| Television | ESPN+ (Thursday) | ESPN3 (Friday) |
| Live Stats | Fan Stats | Media Stats |
| @EMUVolleyball | @EMUAthletics | |
AKRON, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team will conclude its five-game road stint with a two-match series at the University of Akron starting Thursday, Feb. 18. Both matches are scheduled for 7 p.m. inside UA's James A. Rhodes Arena.
Eastern Michigan (2-3, 2-3 MAC) stunned undefeated Kent State with a 3-2 victory, Feb. 15. The Eagles have won two of their last three matches. Akron (2-6, 2-6 MAC) dropped two matches to in-state rival KSU, losing both 3-1, Feb. 11-12.
Fans can catch the series opener on ESPN+. Friday's match will be broadcast on ESPN3. Fans can also follow along on EMUEagles.com/livestats or on Twitter by following @EMUVolleyball.
AMONG THE LEADERS: Eastern Michigan leads the Mid-American Conference averaging 19.8 digs per set, which ranks eighth in the NCAA. The Eagles also rank third in the league kills per set (14.0) and opponent service aces (0.60). The Green and White's 12.9 assists per set is good for fourth in the conference.
Individually, senior Franki Strefling leads the MAC in both kills per set (4.75) and points per set (4.95), while sophomore Jayden Otto is third with 11.4 assists per set. Strefling's 4.75 kills per set ranks 13th in the NCAA.
1,000-DIG CLUB: Senior Franki Strefling surpassed 1,000 career digs in EMU's 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 1,055 career digs and is leading the team this season with 96 digs (4.80 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 102 more kills (898 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 (95) and digs (96).
SHUTTING DOWN THE GOLDEN FLASHES: The Eagles posted a five-set thriller victory against previously undefeated Kent State, Feb. 15. Eastern Michigan recorded a .209 hitting percentage (65-23-201) and held the Golden Flashes to a .180 clip (61-24-205), which was a season-low for KSU.
CAREER DAY FOR JANSKY: Sophomore Alayna Jansky led Eastern Michigan defensively in its 3-2 win at Kent State, Feb. 15. The outside hitter tallied a career-high 27 digs to go along with six kills and two total blocks (1-2).
Jansky has recorded four-straight matches with double-figure digs and has led the team in digs two times this season. The Mukwonago, Wis. native ranks third on the team averaging 4.05 digs per set (81 total).
CAREER DAY FOR BASHAM: Sophomore Samantha Basham recorded a career-best 15 kills in a 3-2 win at Kent State, Feb. 15. The outside hitter also added four block assists ana a personal-high three service aces to her statline.
Basham has recorded double-figure kills in three matches this season. The Granville, Ohio native ranks second on the team with 55 kills, averaging 2.75 per set.
CAN YOU DIG IT?: Freshman Bella Hommes continues to prove herself as Eastern Michigan's libero. The freshman notched a career-high 21 digs in a 3-2 victory at Kent State, Feb. 15. Hommes also added six assists to her statline against the Golden Flashes.
The defensive specialist has recorded double-figure digs in four consecutive matches with, including two matches with 20+. Hommes has led the team in digs three times this season and ranks second on the team with 83 digs, averaging 4.15 dps.
STREFLING EARNS MAC WEST PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Senior Franki Strefling was named the Mid-American Conference West Division Offensive Player of the Week, the league office announced today, Feb. 15. The honor is the first for Strefling in her career.
Strefling, an outside hitter, tallied 42 kills in two matches at Northern Illinois, Feb. 11-12, which included a career-high 23 kills in the series opener against the Huskies. She boasted a .327 hitting percentage (42-9-101) in eight sets and averaged 5.75 points and 5.38 digs 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 four-straight matches, including three contests with 50-or-more assists. Most recently, Otto tallied 53 assists in a 3-2 victory at Kent State, Feb. 15.
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 four-straight double-doubles with her most recent performance (25 kills, 25 digs) at Kent State, Feb. 15.
Strefling tallied a career-high 25 kills against the Golden Flashes. Her 25-kill performance ties for fourth in program history for five-sets in the modern statistical era (2008-present).
The Niles, Mich. native leads the team in both kills (95) and digs (96), as well as ranks first in the Mid-American Conference averaging 4.75 kills per set and 4.95 points per set.
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 third in the MAC averaging 11.4 assists 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 five victories away from reaching 700 wins in the program's 44-year history. The Eagles hold an 695-698-16 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 AKRON: Led by eighth-year head coach Don Gromala, Akron enters the week's series on a two-match losing streak. The Zips fell to in-state rival Kent State in both matches (3-1), Feb. 11-12. UA holds a 2-6 overall and Mid-American Conference record.
Akron is paced offensively by Shelby Fulmer, who is averaging 2.32 kills per set, while Teagan Ochaya is adding 2.16. Leading the Zips' offensive is setter Emily Weigand who is averaging 5.73 assists per set, which ranks ninth in the conference. Weigand also ranks second in the MAC with 0.50 service aces per game. Taylor Sharrits is tallying a team-high 5.58 digs per set, which is good for fourth in the MAC, while Megan Kelly is recording 1.00 block a game.
The Zips average 11.0 kills per set and holds a .167 hitting percentage (209-96-676). Akron also leads the MAC with 1.57 services per set. Defensively, UA is posting 13.5 digs per set and 1.6 blocks a game.
LAST TIME VERSUS THE ZIPS: Eastern Michigan rallied to force a fourth set against Akron, but fell 18-25, 20-25, 25-23, 18-25, Oct. 26, 2019.
Franki Strefling paced the Eagles with 26 digs and 15 kills for her 17th double-double of the campaign, while Riley Taylor contributed a team-high 43 assists and tied for the team lead with a trio of block-assists. Camille Schomer paced the Green and White with 28 digs and a pair of service aces, while Mackenzie Garis added 14 digs of her own.
Akron narrowly bested the Eagles in several statistical categories, including digs (93-92), assists (49-47), and service aces (4-2). The Zips ended the contest with a .209 attacking efficiency, but EMU was unable to extend the match to a decisive fifth set as it finished at a .115 clip.
ALL-TIME VERSUS AKRON: Thursday's and Friday's matches between the Eagles and Zips will be the 41st and 42nd meetings in program history. Eastern Michigan trails in the all-time series, 19-21. Akron posted the 3-1 victory last season, Oct. 26, 2019. That UA victory snapped a three-game winning streak for Eastern Michigan.
The Eagles hold a 7-3 mark over the last 10 meetings.
ALL-TIME VERSUS THE MAC: The Green and White holds a 270-339-1 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.
ON THE HORIZON: Eastern Michigan returns to Ypsilanti to host Ohio University Sunday, Feb. 21, inside the Convocation Center. The match is slated for noon and will be broadcast on ESPN+.
Sunday's match will be the first meeting between the Eagles and Bobcats during the shortened 2020-21 season. EMU trails in the all-times series, 17-40-1. The Eagles defeated the Bobcats, 3-1, last season (Oct. 5, 2019), which snapped a 17-match losing streak against OU.
Eastern Michigan (2-3, 2-3 MAC) stunned undefeated Kent State with a 3-2 victory, Feb. 15. The Eagles have won two of their last three matches. Akron (2-6, 2-6 MAC) dropped two matches to in-state rival KSU, losing both 3-1, Feb. 11-12.
Fans can catch the series opener on ESPN+. Friday's match will be broadcast on ESPN3. Fans can also follow along on EMUEagles.com/livestats or on Twitter by following @EMUVolleyball.
AMONG THE LEADERS: Eastern Michigan leads the Mid-American Conference averaging 19.8 digs per set, which ranks eighth in the NCAA. The Eagles also rank third in the league kills per set (14.0) and opponent service aces (0.60). The Green and White's 12.9 assists per set is good for fourth in the conference.
Individually, senior Franki Strefling leads the MAC in both kills per set (4.75) and points per set (4.95), while sophomore Jayden Otto is third with 11.4 assists per set. Strefling's 4.75 kills per set ranks 13th in the NCAA.
1,000-DIG CLUB: Senior Franki Strefling surpassed 1,000 career digs in EMU's 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 1,055 career digs and is leading the team this season with 96 digs (4.80 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 102 more kills (898 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 (95) and digs (96).
SHUTTING DOWN THE GOLDEN FLASHES: The Eagles posted a five-set thriller victory against previously undefeated Kent State, Feb. 15. Eastern Michigan recorded a .209 hitting percentage (65-23-201) and held the Golden Flashes to a .180 clip (61-24-205), which was a season-low for KSU.
CAREER DAY FOR JANSKY: Sophomore Alayna Jansky led Eastern Michigan defensively in its 3-2 win at Kent State, Feb. 15. The outside hitter tallied a career-high 27 digs to go along with six kills and two total blocks (1-2).
Jansky has recorded four-straight matches with double-figure digs and has led the team in digs two times this season. The Mukwonago, Wis. native ranks third on the team averaging 4.05 digs per set (81 total).
CAREER DAY FOR BASHAM: Sophomore Samantha Basham recorded a career-best 15 kills in a 3-2 win at Kent State, Feb. 15. The outside hitter also added four block assists ana a personal-high three service aces to her statline.
Basham has recorded double-figure kills in three matches this season. The Granville, Ohio native ranks second on the team with 55 kills, averaging 2.75 per set.
CAN YOU DIG IT?: Freshman Bella Hommes continues to prove herself as Eastern Michigan's libero. The freshman notched a career-high 21 digs in a 3-2 victory at Kent State, Feb. 15. Hommes also added six assists to her statline against the Golden Flashes.
The defensive specialist has recorded double-figure digs in four consecutive matches with, including two matches with 20+. Hommes has led the team in digs three times this season and ranks second on the team with 83 digs, averaging 4.15 dps.
STREFLING EARNS MAC WEST PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Senior Franki Strefling was named the Mid-American Conference West Division Offensive Player of the Week, the league office announced today, Feb. 15. The honor is the first for Strefling in her career.
Strefling, an outside hitter, tallied 42 kills in two matches at Northern Illinois, Feb. 11-12, which included a career-high 23 kills in the series opener against the Huskies. She boasted a .327 hitting percentage (42-9-101) in eight sets and averaged 5.75 points and 5.38 digs 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 four-straight matches, including three contests with 50-or-more assists. Most recently, Otto tallied 53 assists in a 3-2 victory at Kent State, Feb. 15.
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 four-straight double-doubles with her most recent performance (25 kills, 25 digs) at Kent State, Feb. 15.
Strefling tallied a career-high 25 kills against the Golden Flashes. Her 25-kill performance ties for fourth in program history for five-sets in the modern statistical era (2008-present).
The Niles, Mich. native leads the team in both kills (95) and digs (96), as well as ranks first in the Mid-American Conference averaging 4.75 kills per set and 4.95 points per set.
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 third in the MAC averaging 11.4 assists 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 five victories away from reaching 700 wins in the program's 44-year history. The Eagles hold an 695-698-16 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 AKRON: Led by eighth-year head coach Don Gromala, Akron enters the week's series on a two-match losing streak. The Zips fell to in-state rival Kent State in both matches (3-1), Feb. 11-12. UA holds a 2-6 overall and Mid-American Conference record.
Akron is paced offensively by Shelby Fulmer, who is averaging 2.32 kills per set, while Teagan Ochaya is adding 2.16. Leading the Zips' offensive is setter Emily Weigand who is averaging 5.73 assists per set, which ranks ninth in the conference. Weigand also ranks second in the MAC with 0.50 service aces per game. Taylor Sharrits is tallying a team-high 5.58 digs per set, which is good for fourth in the MAC, while Megan Kelly is recording 1.00 block a game.
The Zips average 11.0 kills per set and holds a .167 hitting percentage (209-96-676). Akron also leads the MAC with 1.57 services per set. Defensively, UA is posting 13.5 digs per set and 1.6 blocks a game.
LAST TIME VERSUS THE ZIPS: Eastern Michigan rallied to force a fourth set against Akron, but fell 18-25, 20-25, 25-23, 18-25, Oct. 26, 2019.
Franki Strefling paced the Eagles with 26 digs and 15 kills for her 17th double-double of the campaign, while Riley Taylor contributed a team-high 43 assists and tied for the team lead with a trio of block-assists. Camille Schomer paced the Green and White with 28 digs and a pair of service aces, while Mackenzie Garis added 14 digs of her own.
Akron narrowly bested the Eagles in several statistical categories, including digs (93-92), assists (49-47), and service aces (4-2). The Zips ended the contest with a .209 attacking efficiency, but EMU was unable to extend the match to a decisive fifth set as it finished at a .115 clip.
ALL-TIME VERSUS AKRON: Thursday's and Friday's matches between the Eagles and Zips will be the 41st and 42nd meetings in program history. Eastern Michigan trails in the all-time series, 19-21. Akron posted the 3-1 victory last season, Oct. 26, 2019. That UA victory snapped a three-game winning streak for Eastern Michigan.
The Eagles hold a 7-3 mark over the last 10 meetings.
ALL-TIME VERSUS THE MAC: The Green and White holds a 270-339-1 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.
ON THE HORIZON: Eastern Michigan returns to Ypsilanti to host Ohio University Sunday, Feb. 21, inside the Convocation Center. The match is slated for noon and will be broadcast on ESPN+.
Sunday's match will be the first meeting between the Eagles and Bobcats during the shortened 2020-21 season. EMU trails in the all-times series, 17-40-1. The Eagles defeated the Bobcats, 3-1, last season (Oct. 5, 2019), which snapped a 17-match losing streak against OU.
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