Eastern Michigan Athletics
Six Eagles Earn Spot on Volleyball Academic All-MAC Team
4/20/2021 3:05:00 PM | Volleyball
86 student-athletes were honored by the conference
CLEVELAND, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – Six Eastern Michigan University volleyball student-athletes landed a spot on the Academic All-Mid-American Conference team, the league office announced today, April 20. The Green and White has had six honorees for two consecutive years and in three of the last four seasons.
Senior April Houston (Minneapolis, Minn.-Southwest), redshirt sophomore Raeven Chase (Toronto, Ontario, Canada-Michael Power St. Joseph Catholic), sophomores Alayna Jansky (Mukwonago, Wis.-Mukwonago), Jayden Otto (Crystal Lake, Ill.-Prairie Ridge) and Kamryn Stilwell (Parma, Ohio-Padua Franciscan), and redshirt freshman Krista Blakely (Detroit, Mich.-University High School Academy) all earned the award.
Bowling Green led the conference with 10 recipients, while Ball State and Toledo tallied nine each. Akron and Northern Illinois followed with eight honorees with Central Michigan, Kent State, and Miami recording seven, respectively. EMU finished with six, and Ohio and Western added five, Buffalo notched four, respectively.
The Academic All-MAC honor is for a student-athlete who has excelled in athletics and academics over the course of the 2020-21 year. To qualify, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA and have participated in at least 50 percent of the contests for that particular sport.
Houston, a power-hitting middle blocker, started all 20 matches this season. She racked up 179 kills, 37 blocks, and 207.5 points in 76 sets played for the Green and White. The Minneapolis, Minn. native tallied seven 10-plus kill performances, including a career-high 16 kills twice (at Akron, Feb. 19; vs. Ball State, March 27). Houston, a public relations major, is a two-time Academic All-MAC honorees and holds a 3.25 gpa.
Chase earned the nod for the second consecutive season, closing out an impressive season in 2020-21. She played in all 20 matches for the Eagles and paced the Mid-American Conference averaging 1.45 blocks per set (100 total). Her blocks-per-set average was also good for 13th in the nation. The middle blocker proved why she was the best in the conference with a five-set program record in the modern statistical era (since 2008) with 15 blocks (1-14) against Ball State, March 27. The Toronto, Ontario, Canada native is an exercise science intent major and holds a 3.45 gpa.
Jansky played a vital role in the back row for Eastern Michigan as she saw game action in 18 matches this season. The sophomore ranked third on the team with 215 total digs (3.16 dps) and collected 84 kills on the year. She tallied 11 double-figure dig performances, including a personal-high 27 digs in EMU's impressive five-set win at Kent State, Feb. 15. Jansky boasts a 3.66 gpa and is an sport management major.
Otto became a critical piece of the Eastern Michigan lineup in her second season with the team as the primary setter for the Eagles. The Crystal Lake, Ill. native started all 20 matches and tallied 800 assists for a 10.3 assists-per-set average. 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 boasts a 3.93 gpa and is a public relations major.
Stilwell, a criminology and criminal justice major, appeared in 16 matches for the Eagles during the 2020-21 spring season. The Parma, Ohio native averaged 1.56 digs per set (70 total) and notched a career-high 13 digs in a 3-0 victory over Ohio, March 8. The defensive specialist holds a 3.64 gpa.
Blakely emerged in 2020-21 as a key reserve for Eastern Michigan after redshirting in her freshman campaign. The Detroit, Mich. native played in 12 matches for the Eagles and notched 37 kills, 27 blocks, and 51.5 points in 31 sets played. The powerful outside hitter recorded a personal-best eight kills against Toledo, March 5, and collected six blocks at Akron, Feb. 18. Blakely is a media studies and journalism major with a 3.78 gpa.
After wrapping up the 2020-21 shortened season, Head Coach Darcy Dorton, along with 14 set-to-return Eagles will be back to work this summer, preparing for the 2021 fall season, while will begin in late-August.
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.
MAC Volleyball Academic All-MAC Team
Alexis Adleta, Akron, Sr., Political Science, 3.7 GPA
Jennifer Durra, Akron, Jr., Supply Chain Management, 3.7 GPA
Shelby Fulmer, Akron, Sr., Physical Therapy, 3.8 GPA
Taylor Kuruzovich, Akron, Sr., Nursing, 3.6 GPA
Lauren Latka, Akron, So., Marketing Management and Sales Management, 3.9 GPA
Teagan Ochaya, Akron, Jr., Criminal Justice and Political Science, 3.7 GPA
Taylor Sharrits, Akron, Sr., Mechanical Engineering, 3.8 GPA
Emily Weigand, Akron, Sr., Accounting, 3.5 GPA
Cailyn Bolser, Ball State, So., Elementary and Special Education, 3.617 GPA
Allison Hamaker, Ball State, Jr., Psychological Science, 3.721 GPA
Kia Holder, Ball State, Sr., Exercise Science, 3.740 GPA
Maggie Huber, Ball State, So., Elementary Education, 3.833 GPA
Natalie Mitchem, Ball State, So., Psychological Science, 3.466 GPA
Marie Plitt, Ball State, So., Psychological Science, 3.616 GPA
Chloe Rickenbach, Ball State, So., Pre-Inrerior Design, 3.602 GPA
Natalie Risi, Ball State, So., Business Analytics, 3.895 GPA
Cathryn Starck, Ball State, Jr., Speech Language Pathology, 3.729 GPA
Jacqueline Askin, Bowling Green, Sr., Marketing, 3.383 GPA
Taylor Haberland, Bowling Green, Sr., BS in Communication Disorders, 3.738 GPA
Petra Indrova, Bowling Green, So., International Business, 3.930 GPA
Nikolija Katanic, Bowling Green, Jr., Supply Chain Management, 3.614 GPA
Hanna Laube, Bowling Green, Jr., History, 4.000 GPA
Madelynn Luebcke, Bowling Green, So., Microbiology, 3.694 GPA
Katelyn Meyer, Bowling Green, Jr., Individualized Studies, 3.829 GPA
Kerstie Shaw, Bowling Green, Sr., Marketing, 3.909 GPA
Yelianiz Torres, Bowling Green, So., Psychology, 3.934 GPA
Julia Walz, Bowling Green, Jr., Health Care Administration, 3.300 GPA
Paige Beck, Buffalo, Jr., Exercise Science, 3.231 GPA
Emma Puzausky, Buffalo, So., Business Administration, 3.726 GPA
Lexi Nordmann, Buffalo, Sr., Mechanical Engineering, 3.757 GPA
Jenna Sonnenberg, Buffalo, So., Exercise Science, 3.915 GPA
Kendall Braate, Central Michigan, Jr., Neuroscience, 3.78 GPA
Anna Erickson, Central Michigan, So., Exercise Science, 3.69 GPA
Sierra Gray, Central Michigan, Jr., History, 3.35 GPA
Lacey Juengel, Central Michigan, So., Health & Physical Education, 3.49 GPA
Lisbeth Rosario-Martinez, Central Michigan, Sr., Community Development, 3.27 GPA
Savannah Thompson, Central Michigan, Jr., Sport Management, 3.38 GPA
Hannah Warners, Central Michigan, Sr., Therapeutic Recreation, 3.61 GPA
Krista Blakely, Eastern Michigan, R-Fr., Media Studies and Journalism, 3.78 GPA
Raeven Chase, Eastern Michigan, R-So., Exercise Science-Intent, 3.45 GPA
April Houston, Eastern Michigan, Sr., Public Relations, 3.25 GPA
Alayna Jansky, Eastern Michigan, So., Sport Management, 3.66 GPA
Kamryn Stilwell, Eastern Michigan, So. Criminology and Criminal Justice, 3.64 GPA
Jayden Otto, Eastern Michigan, So., Public Relations, 3.93 GPA
Morgan Copley, Kent State, So., Nursing, 3.929 GPA
Erin Gardner, Kent State, Jr., Business Management, 3.813 GPA
Alex Haffner, Kent State, R-Jr., Master of Business Administration, 3.887 GPA
Taylor Heberle, Kent State, So., Managerial Marketing, 3.719 GPA
Melissa Kolurbasi, Kent State, Jr., Psychology, 3.691 GPA
Kaeleigh Stang, Kent State, Sr., Nutrition, 3.967 GPA
Danie Tyson, Kent State, Jr., Psychology, 3.516 GPA
Gaby Harper, Miami, Jr., Early Childhood Education, 3.61 GPA
Abigail Huser, Miami, Sr., Middle Childhood Education, 3.74 GPA
Avarie Powell, Miami, Sr., Finance, 3.35 GPA
Sophie Riemersma, Miami, Jr., Finance, 3.65 GPA
Morgan Seaman, Miami, Sr., Supply Chain & Operation Management, 3.35 GPA
Allyson Severance, Miami, So., Accountancy, 3.93 GPA
Sarah Wojick, Miami, Sr., Strategic Communications/Interactive Media Studies, 3.62 GPA
Kelsy Turskey, NIU, Jr., Health Science/Pre-Physical Therapy, 4.0 GPA
Brianna Scuric, NIU, So., Nutrition, Dietetics & Wellness, 3.913 GPA
Angie Gromos, NIU, Jr., Marketing, 3.696 GPA
Kennedy Shelley, NIU, Jr., Elementary Education-Bilingual/ESL, 3.635 GPA
Jasmine Kemp, NIU, Jr., Health Promotion, 3.453 GPA
Kennedy Wallace, NIU, Sr., Business Administration, 3.442 GPA
Grace Balensiefer, NIU, Jr., Nutrition, Dietetics & Wellness, 3.351 GPA
Samantha Juarez, NIU, So., Sociology, 3.255 GPA
Ciara Livingway, Ohio, So., Communication Studies, 3.487 GPA
Olivia Margolies, Ohio, So., Communication Studies, 3.748 GPA
Caitlin O'Farrell, Ohio, R-Fr., Nursing, 3.75 GPA
Lauren Park, Ohio, Jr., Communication Sciences & Disorders, 3.872 GPA
Macy Reihing, Ohio, Sr., Communication Studies, 3.804 GPA
Liz Beasley, Toledo, So., Nursing, 3.915 GPA
Abby Erickson, Toledo, Fr. (R), Chemical Engineering, 3.864 GPA
Rhyenne Filisi, Toledo, So., Pre-Psychology, 3.312 GPA
Ryann Jaqua, Toledo, So., Pre-Marketing, 3.313 GPA
Chloee Kleespies, Toledo, Sr., Biology, 3.496 GPA
Rhyen Neal, Toledo, Sr., Health Care Administration, 3.609 GPA
Abby Ray, Toledo, So., Pre-Nursing, 3.823 GPA
Emma Swope, Toledo, Sr., Public Health, 3.512 GPA
Olivia Vance, Toledo, So., Pre-Marketing, 3.688 GPA
Charley Andrews, Western Michigan, R-Jr., Exercise Science, 3.69 GPA
Rachel Bontrager, Western Michigan, Sr., Elementary Professional Education, 3.71 GPA
Maggie King, Western Michigan, So., Child & Family Development, 3.94 GPA
Meredith Phillips, Western Michiigan, Jr., Biomedical Science, 3.68 GPA
Cassandra Smigiel, Western Michigan, Sr., Engineering Design Technology, 3.26 GPA
Senior April Houston (Minneapolis, Minn.-Southwest), redshirt sophomore Raeven Chase (Toronto, Ontario, Canada-Michael Power St. Joseph Catholic), sophomores Alayna Jansky (Mukwonago, Wis.-Mukwonago), Jayden Otto (Crystal Lake, Ill.-Prairie Ridge) and Kamryn Stilwell (Parma, Ohio-Padua Franciscan), and redshirt freshman Krista Blakely (Detroit, Mich.-University High School Academy) all earned the award.
Bowling Green led the conference with 10 recipients, while Ball State and Toledo tallied nine each. Akron and Northern Illinois followed with eight honorees with Central Michigan, Kent State, and Miami recording seven, respectively. EMU finished with six, and Ohio and Western added five, Buffalo notched four, respectively.
The Academic All-MAC honor is for a student-athlete who has excelled in athletics and academics over the course of the 2020-21 year. To qualify, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA and have participated in at least 50 percent of the contests for that particular sport.
Houston, a power-hitting middle blocker, started all 20 matches this season. She racked up 179 kills, 37 blocks, and 207.5 points in 76 sets played for the Green and White. The Minneapolis, Minn. native tallied seven 10-plus kill performances, including a career-high 16 kills twice (at Akron, Feb. 19; vs. Ball State, March 27). Houston, a public relations major, is a two-time Academic All-MAC honorees and holds a 3.25 gpa.
Chase earned the nod for the second consecutive season, closing out an impressive season in 2020-21. She played in all 20 matches for the Eagles and paced the Mid-American Conference averaging 1.45 blocks per set (100 total). Her blocks-per-set average was also good for 13th in the nation. The middle blocker proved why she was the best in the conference with a five-set program record in the modern statistical era (since 2008) with 15 blocks (1-14) against Ball State, March 27. The Toronto, Ontario, Canada native is an exercise science intent major and holds a 3.45 gpa.
Jansky played a vital role in the back row for Eastern Michigan as she saw game action in 18 matches this season. The sophomore ranked third on the team with 215 total digs (3.16 dps) and collected 84 kills on the year. She tallied 11 double-figure dig performances, including a personal-high 27 digs in EMU's impressive five-set win at Kent State, Feb. 15. Jansky boasts a 3.66 gpa and is an sport management major.
Otto became a critical piece of the Eastern Michigan lineup in her second season with the team as the primary setter for the Eagles. The Crystal Lake, Ill. native started all 20 matches and tallied 800 assists for a 10.3 assists-per-set average. 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 boasts a 3.93 gpa and is a public relations major.
Stilwell, a criminology and criminal justice major, appeared in 16 matches for the Eagles during the 2020-21 spring season. The Parma, Ohio native averaged 1.56 digs per set (70 total) and notched a career-high 13 digs in a 3-0 victory over Ohio, March 8. The defensive specialist holds a 3.64 gpa.
Blakely emerged in 2020-21 as a key reserve for Eastern Michigan after redshirting in her freshman campaign. The Detroit, Mich. native played in 12 matches for the Eagles and notched 37 kills, 27 blocks, and 51.5 points in 31 sets played. The powerful outside hitter recorded a personal-best eight kills against Toledo, March 5, and collected six blocks at Akron, Feb. 18. Blakely is a media studies and journalism major with a 3.78 gpa.
After wrapping up the 2020-21 shortened season, Head Coach Darcy Dorton, along with 14 set-to-return Eagles will be back to work this summer, preparing for the 2021 fall season, while will begin in late-August.
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.
MAC Volleyball Academic All-MAC Team
Alexis Adleta, Akron, Sr., Political Science, 3.7 GPA
Jennifer Durra, Akron, Jr., Supply Chain Management, 3.7 GPA
Shelby Fulmer, Akron, Sr., Physical Therapy, 3.8 GPA
Taylor Kuruzovich, Akron, Sr., Nursing, 3.6 GPA
Lauren Latka, Akron, So., Marketing Management and Sales Management, 3.9 GPA
Teagan Ochaya, Akron, Jr., Criminal Justice and Political Science, 3.7 GPA
Taylor Sharrits, Akron, Sr., Mechanical Engineering, 3.8 GPA
Emily Weigand, Akron, Sr., Accounting, 3.5 GPA
Cailyn Bolser, Ball State, So., Elementary and Special Education, 3.617 GPA
Allison Hamaker, Ball State, Jr., Psychological Science, 3.721 GPA
Kia Holder, Ball State, Sr., Exercise Science, 3.740 GPA
Maggie Huber, Ball State, So., Elementary Education, 3.833 GPA
Natalie Mitchem, Ball State, So., Psychological Science, 3.466 GPA
Marie Plitt, Ball State, So., Psychological Science, 3.616 GPA
Chloe Rickenbach, Ball State, So., Pre-Inrerior Design, 3.602 GPA
Natalie Risi, Ball State, So., Business Analytics, 3.895 GPA
Cathryn Starck, Ball State, Jr., Speech Language Pathology, 3.729 GPA
Jacqueline Askin, Bowling Green, Sr., Marketing, 3.383 GPA
Taylor Haberland, Bowling Green, Sr., BS in Communication Disorders, 3.738 GPA
Petra Indrova, Bowling Green, So., International Business, 3.930 GPA
Nikolija Katanic, Bowling Green, Jr., Supply Chain Management, 3.614 GPA
Hanna Laube, Bowling Green, Jr., History, 4.000 GPA
Madelynn Luebcke, Bowling Green, So., Microbiology, 3.694 GPA
Katelyn Meyer, Bowling Green, Jr., Individualized Studies, 3.829 GPA
Kerstie Shaw, Bowling Green, Sr., Marketing, 3.909 GPA
Yelianiz Torres, Bowling Green, So., Psychology, 3.934 GPA
Julia Walz, Bowling Green, Jr., Health Care Administration, 3.300 GPA
Paige Beck, Buffalo, Jr., Exercise Science, 3.231 GPA
Emma Puzausky, Buffalo, So., Business Administration, 3.726 GPA
Lexi Nordmann, Buffalo, Sr., Mechanical Engineering, 3.757 GPA
Jenna Sonnenberg, Buffalo, So., Exercise Science, 3.915 GPA
Kendall Braate, Central Michigan, Jr., Neuroscience, 3.78 GPA
Anna Erickson, Central Michigan, So., Exercise Science, 3.69 GPA
Sierra Gray, Central Michigan, Jr., History, 3.35 GPA
Lacey Juengel, Central Michigan, So., Health & Physical Education, 3.49 GPA
Lisbeth Rosario-Martinez, Central Michigan, Sr., Community Development, 3.27 GPA
Savannah Thompson, Central Michigan, Jr., Sport Management, 3.38 GPA
Hannah Warners, Central Michigan, Sr., Therapeutic Recreation, 3.61 GPA
Krista Blakely, Eastern Michigan, R-Fr., Media Studies and Journalism, 3.78 GPA
Raeven Chase, Eastern Michigan, R-So., Exercise Science-Intent, 3.45 GPA
April Houston, Eastern Michigan, Sr., Public Relations, 3.25 GPA
Alayna Jansky, Eastern Michigan, So., Sport Management, 3.66 GPA
Kamryn Stilwell, Eastern Michigan, So. Criminology and Criminal Justice, 3.64 GPA
Jayden Otto, Eastern Michigan, So., Public Relations, 3.93 GPA
Morgan Copley, Kent State, So., Nursing, 3.929 GPA
Erin Gardner, Kent State, Jr., Business Management, 3.813 GPA
Alex Haffner, Kent State, R-Jr., Master of Business Administration, 3.887 GPA
Taylor Heberle, Kent State, So., Managerial Marketing, 3.719 GPA
Melissa Kolurbasi, Kent State, Jr., Psychology, 3.691 GPA
Kaeleigh Stang, Kent State, Sr., Nutrition, 3.967 GPA
Danie Tyson, Kent State, Jr., Psychology, 3.516 GPA
Gaby Harper, Miami, Jr., Early Childhood Education, 3.61 GPA
Abigail Huser, Miami, Sr., Middle Childhood Education, 3.74 GPA
Avarie Powell, Miami, Sr., Finance, 3.35 GPA
Sophie Riemersma, Miami, Jr., Finance, 3.65 GPA
Morgan Seaman, Miami, Sr., Supply Chain & Operation Management, 3.35 GPA
Allyson Severance, Miami, So., Accountancy, 3.93 GPA
Sarah Wojick, Miami, Sr., Strategic Communications/Interactive Media Studies, 3.62 GPA
Kelsy Turskey, NIU, Jr., Health Science/Pre-Physical Therapy, 4.0 GPA
Brianna Scuric, NIU, So., Nutrition, Dietetics & Wellness, 3.913 GPA
Angie Gromos, NIU, Jr., Marketing, 3.696 GPA
Kennedy Shelley, NIU, Jr., Elementary Education-Bilingual/ESL, 3.635 GPA
Jasmine Kemp, NIU, Jr., Health Promotion, 3.453 GPA
Kennedy Wallace, NIU, Sr., Business Administration, 3.442 GPA
Grace Balensiefer, NIU, Jr., Nutrition, Dietetics & Wellness, 3.351 GPA
Samantha Juarez, NIU, So., Sociology, 3.255 GPA
Ciara Livingway, Ohio, So., Communication Studies, 3.487 GPA
Olivia Margolies, Ohio, So., Communication Studies, 3.748 GPA
Caitlin O'Farrell, Ohio, R-Fr., Nursing, 3.75 GPA
Lauren Park, Ohio, Jr., Communication Sciences & Disorders, 3.872 GPA
Macy Reihing, Ohio, Sr., Communication Studies, 3.804 GPA
Liz Beasley, Toledo, So., Nursing, 3.915 GPA
Abby Erickson, Toledo, Fr. (R), Chemical Engineering, 3.864 GPA
Rhyenne Filisi, Toledo, So., Pre-Psychology, 3.312 GPA
Ryann Jaqua, Toledo, So., Pre-Marketing, 3.313 GPA
Chloee Kleespies, Toledo, Sr., Biology, 3.496 GPA
Rhyen Neal, Toledo, Sr., Health Care Administration, 3.609 GPA
Abby Ray, Toledo, So., Pre-Nursing, 3.823 GPA
Emma Swope, Toledo, Sr., Public Health, 3.512 GPA
Olivia Vance, Toledo, So., Pre-Marketing, 3.688 GPA
Charley Andrews, Western Michigan, R-Jr., Exercise Science, 3.69 GPA
Rachel Bontrager, Western Michigan, Sr., Elementary Professional Education, 3.71 GPA
Maggie King, Western Michigan, So., Child & Family Development, 3.94 GPA
Meredith Phillips, Western Michiigan, Jr., Biomedical Science, 3.68 GPA
Cassandra Smigiel, Western Michigan, Sr., Engineering Design Technology, 3.26 GPA
Players Mentioned
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