Eastern Michigan Athletics
Thursday, February 25
Convocation Center
6 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
3-4,3-4MAC
2
vs
3
Buffalo
1-10,1-10MAC
1
2
3
4
5
F
Buffalo
25
21
25
21
15
3
Eastern Mich.
23
25
21
25
7
2
Photo by: Steven King/Steve King Studios
Volleyball Falls to Buffalo in Tough Five-Set Match
2/25/2021 9:02:00 PM | Volleyball
Franki Strefling collects double-double with 26 kills and 11 digs
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team fell to the University at Buffalo in five sets (23-25, 25-21, 21-25, 25-20, 7-15) Thursday, Feb. 26, inside the Convocation Center. The loss drops the Eagles to 3-5 overall and 3-5 in the Mid-American Conference, while the win pushes the Bulls to 1-10 overall and 1-10 in league play.
Senior Franki Strefling (Niles, Mich.-Buchanan) led the attack on offense, collecting a career-high 26 kills, while adding 11 digs. Sophomore Samantha Basham (Granville, Ohio-Newark Catholic) added 13 kills, nine digs, and two service aces.
Guiding the attack was sophomore Jayden Otto (Crystal Lake, Ill.-Prairie Ridge), who dished out 47 assists and added 10 digs. Redshirt sophomore Raeven Chase (Toronto, Ont.-Michael Power St. Joseph Catholic) was also productive, giving the Eagles eight kills.
Defensively, freshman Bella Hommes (Grand Rapids, Mich.-Forest Hills Northern) was able to dig out 22 balls, while junior Mackenzie Garis (Crystal Lake, Ill.-Prairie Ridge) and sophomore Kamryn Stilwell (Parma, Ohio-Padua Franciscan) added 12 and seven digs, respectively.
Buffalo came out swinging in the first set, collecting the first four points before senior April Houston's (Minnaepolis, Minn.-Southwest) kill got the Eagles on the board. Eastern would battle back, however, eventually tying the match at 22. After trading a pair of points to knot the set at 23, the Bulls would string together a mini two-point run to close the game out.
The Green and White flipped the script in the second set, opening the game with a 3-0 run. The Bulls continued to keep the game close, pulling even with the Eagles twice. However, EMU never played from behind in the game and Basham put the Bulls away with a punishing kill.
After finding their rhythm in the second set, the Eagles ambushed the Bulls in the third game, jumping out to a 9-2 lead. Buffalo would then fire back with a 6-0 run, and eventually take a 16-15 lead. Eastern would regain the lead 17-16, but the Bulls came punching back again with a 5-0 run to go up four, 21-17. Houston would stop the run with an overpowering kill, but the Bulls would go on to close out the set, 25-21.
The fourth set was filled with back-and-forth action, as neither team would let the other gain an advantage. Buffalo jumped out to a 13-8 lead before the Eagles went on a 7-1 run to take a 15-14 lead. It was then the Bulls' turn to strike, as they took four points in a row to take an 18-15 lead. Not to be outdone, EMU won the next three points to make the game all square at 18. From that point, the Green and White would win seven of the next 10 points to close out the match, 25-21.
In a deciding fifth set, a Bulls run proved to be too much to overcome for EMU. The Eagles tied the match, 5-5, but an 8-1 run gave Buffalo a 13-6 advantage. They would go on to win the set, 15-7, and take the match 3-2.
Statistically, the Green and White led the Bulls in a few categories, including hitting percentage (.256-.223), digs (76-68) and total blocks (10-7). Buffalo outpaced the Eagles in service aces (11-2), assists (56-51) and kills (66-60).
Eastern Michigan will continue play against Buffalo Friday, Feb. 26, inside the Convocation Center. The match is scheduled for 4 p.m.
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 Franki Strefling (Niles, Mich.-Buchanan) led the attack on offense, collecting a career-high 26 kills, while adding 11 digs. Sophomore Samantha Basham (Granville, Ohio-Newark Catholic) added 13 kills, nine digs, and two service aces.
Guiding the attack was sophomore Jayden Otto (Crystal Lake, Ill.-Prairie Ridge), who dished out 47 assists and added 10 digs. Redshirt sophomore Raeven Chase (Toronto, Ont.-Michael Power St. Joseph Catholic) was also productive, giving the Eagles eight kills.
Defensively, freshman Bella Hommes (Grand Rapids, Mich.-Forest Hills Northern) was able to dig out 22 balls, while junior Mackenzie Garis (Crystal Lake, Ill.-Prairie Ridge) and sophomore Kamryn Stilwell (Parma, Ohio-Padua Franciscan) added 12 and seven digs, respectively.
Buffalo came out swinging in the first set, collecting the first four points before senior April Houston's (Minnaepolis, Minn.-Southwest) kill got the Eagles on the board. Eastern would battle back, however, eventually tying the match at 22. After trading a pair of points to knot the set at 23, the Bulls would string together a mini two-point run to close the game out.
The Green and White flipped the script in the second set, opening the game with a 3-0 run. The Bulls continued to keep the game close, pulling even with the Eagles twice. However, EMU never played from behind in the game and Basham put the Bulls away with a punishing kill.
After finding their rhythm in the second set, the Eagles ambushed the Bulls in the third game, jumping out to a 9-2 lead. Buffalo would then fire back with a 6-0 run, and eventually take a 16-15 lead. Eastern would regain the lead 17-16, but the Bulls came punching back again with a 5-0 run to go up four, 21-17. Houston would stop the run with an overpowering kill, but the Bulls would go on to close out the set, 25-21.
The fourth set was filled with back-and-forth action, as neither team would let the other gain an advantage. Buffalo jumped out to a 13-8 lead before the Eagles went on a 7-1 run to take a 15-14 lead. It was then the Bulls' turn to strike, as they took four points in a row to take an 18-15 lead. Not to be outdone, EMU won the next three points to make the game all square at 18. From that point, the Green and White would win seven of the next 10 points to close out the match, 25-21.
In a deciding fifth set, a Bulls run proved to be too much to overcome for EMU. The Eagles tied the match, 5-5, but an 8-1 run gave Buffalo a 13-6 advantage. They would go on to win the set, 15-7, and take the match 3-2.
Statistically, the Green and White led the Bulls in a few categories, including hitting percentage (.256-.223), digs (76-68) and total blocks (10-7). Buffalo outpaced the Eagles in service aces (11-2), assists (56-51) and kills (66-60).
Eastern Michigan will continue play against Buffalo Friday, Feb. 26, inside the Convocation Center. The match is scheduled for 4 p.m.
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
UB
EMU
Kills
67
60
Errors
25
19
Attempts
184
160
Hitting %
.228
.256
Points
84
72
Assists
56
51
Aces
10
2
Blocks
7
10
Game Leaders
Kills
26
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
13
Aces
2
Blocks
3
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
7
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Players Mentioned
OH/RS
/ VolleyballMB
/ Volleyball
DS
/ Volleyball
DS
/ VolleyballMB
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
DS
/ VolleyballOH
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