Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, February 19
Akron, Ohio
7 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
3-4, 3-4MAC
3
at
1
Akron
3-7, 3-7MAC
1
2
3
4
F
Eastern Michigan
25
25
15
25
3
Akron
20
18
25
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Photo by: Steven King/Steve King Studios
Volleyball Bests Akron, 3-1
2/19/2021 9:34:00 PM | Volleyball
April Houston tied a career-high with 16 kills
AKRON, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team posted a four-set victory (25-20, 25-18, 15-25, 25-19) over the University of Akron tonight, Feb. 19, inside UA's James A. Rhodes Arena. With the win, EMU improves to 3-4 overall (3-4 MAC), while Akron drops to 3-7 (3-7 MAC).
Senior April Houston (Minneapolis, Minn.-Southwest) led the Eagles and tied a career-high with 16 kills. The middle blocker also boasted a .316 hitting percentage (16-4-38). Classmate Franki Strefling (Niles, Mich.-Buchanan) and sophomore Samantha Basham (Granville, Ohio-Newark Catholic) added nine and seven kills, respectively.
Leading the offense was sophomore Jayden Otto (Crystal Lake, Ill-Prairie Ridge), who tallied 37 assists to go along with 10 digs and three kills.
Defensively, freshman Bella Hommes (Grand Rapids, Mich.-Forest Hills Northern) recorded her second-straight 30-plus dig performance with 31. Hommes also added four assists to her statline. Sophomore Alayna Jansky (Mukwonago, Wis.-Mukwonago) and Strefling contributed 19 and 16 digs, respectively. Additionally, redshirt sophomore Raeven Chase (Toronto, Ont.-Michael Power St. Joseph Catholic) recorded 2.5 total blocks (0-5).
The Eagles posted a .171 hitting percentage (47-18-170), while Akron recorded a .125 percent efficiency (52-29-184). UA held the advantage in kills (52-47), assists (49-42), service aces (8-4), digs (95-92), and total blocks (11-8).
Akron started the first set on a 7-1 scoring run. The Eagles sparked some offense with three-straight points to cut the Zips' lead to four, 10-6. EMU continued its momentum and tied up the set at 16-all after back-to-back kills from Houston. The Green and White ended the set on a 9-4 run to seal the 25-20 victory.
Leading by one set, the scoring went back-and-forth to begin the second set. Over the next few possessions, Eastern posted a 5-0 scoring stint to take the three-point lead, 10-7. The Eagles' offensive fire continued, as EMU won the second set, 25-18. The Eagles lead 2-0 for the match.
Akron responded with a 9-2 run to start the third set. The Eagles struggled to find their offense and cut the Zips' advantage to four points, 11-7. However, UA outpaced EMU to take the 10-point victory in set three, 25-15.
After dropping the third set, the Eagles responded with a 9-4 scoring drive to begin the fourth set. EMU's spark sustained throughout the set, as it claimed the 25-19 set win, and took the match, three sets to one.
Eastern Michigan will return to Ypsilanti to host the University at Buffalo for a two-match series starting Thursday, Feb. 25. The series opener is slated to begin at 6 p.m. inside the Convocation Center.
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.
Senior April Houston (Minneapolis, Minn.-Southwest) led the Eagles and tied a career-high with 16 kills. The middle blocker also boasted a .316 hitting percentage (16-4-38). Classmate Franki Strefling (Niles, Mich.-Buchanan) and sophomore Samantha Basham (Granville, Ohio-Newark Catholic) added nine and seven kills, respectively.
Leading the offense was sophomore Jayden Otto (Crystal Lake, Ill-Prairie Ridge), who tallied 37 assists to go along with 10 digs and three kills.
Defensively, freshman Bella Hommes (Grand Rapids, Mich.-Forest Hills Northern) recorded her second-straight 30-plus dig performance with 31. Hommes also added four assists to her statline. Sophomore Alayna Jansky (Mukwonago, Wis.-Mukwonago) and Strefling contributed 19 and 16 digs, respectively. Additionally, redshirt sophomore Raeven Chase (Toronto, Ont.-Michael Power St. Joseph Catholic) recorded 2.5 total blocks (0-5).
The Eagles posted a .171 hitting percentage (47-18-170), while Akron recorded a .125 percent efficiency (52-29-184). UA held the advantage in kills (52-47), assists (49-42), service aces (8-4), digs (95-92), and total blocks (11-8).
Akron started the first set on a 7-1 scoring run. The Eagles sparked some offense with three-straight points to cut the Zips' lead to four, 10-6. EMU continued its momentum and tied up the set at 16-all after back-to-back kills from Houston. The Green and White ended the set on a 9-4 run to seal the 25-20 victory.
Leading by one set, the scoring went back-and-forth to begin the second set. Over the next few possessions, Eastern posted a 5-0 scoring stint to take the three-point lead, 10-7. The Eagles' offensive fire continued, as EMU won the second set, 25-18. The Eagles lead 2-0 for the match.
Akron responded with a 9-2 run to start the third set. The Eagles struggled to find their offense and cut the Zips' advantage to four points, 11-7. However, UA outpaced EMU to take the 10-point victory in set three, 25-15.
After dropping the third set, the Eagles responded with a 9-4 scoring drive to begin the fourth set. EMU's spark sustained throughout the set, as it claimed the 25-19 set win, and took the match, three sets to one.
Eastern Michigan will return to Ypsilanti to host the University at Buffalo for a two-match series starting Thursday, Feb. 25. The series opener is slated to begin at 6 p.m. inside the Convocation Center.
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
UA
Kills
47
52
Errors
18
29
Attempts
170
184
Hitting %
.171
.125
Points
59.0
71.0
Assists
44
51
Aces
4
8
Blocks
8.0
11.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
16
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
7
Aces
1
Blocks
0
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Players Mentioned
OH/RS
/ VolleyballMB
/ Volleyball
DS
/ VolleyballMB
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
S
/ VolleyballOH
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