Eastern Michigan Athletics
Photo by: Steven King/Steve King Studios
2020-21 Volleyball Season Recap
4/26/2021 3:51:00 PM | Volleyball
The Eagles finished the season averaging 18.2 digs per set, which led the MAC
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- Despite moving its from the fall to the spring due to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic, the Eastern Michigan University volleyball team finished its campaign on a high note with a 3-2 victory over Mid-American Conference opponent Ball State, March 27.
The final notes package includes year-end statistics, storylines, streaks, and team information from the 2021 spring season. Fans are encouraged to continue to follow the team on social media, @EMUVolleyball, and visit EMUEagles.com for the most up-to-date information on all things EMU volleyball.
THANK YOU: The Eastern Michigan volleyball team, along with the EMU athletic media relations office, would like to thank each and every student, alumnus, and fan that supported the team in this spring. Additionally, we offer our thanks to all support, medical doctors, and individuals who worked tirelessly to ensure the success of the program, especially throughout the craziness of the COVID-19 pandemic.
OVERALL: Eastern Michigan finished the 2021 spring season with a 8-12 overall and Mid-American Conference record. The Eagles finished fourth in the MAC West Division. EMU only played 20 conference matches due to the league's decision for a MAC-only schedule. The 20 matches played is the lowest for the Green and White in program history.
Season highlights include Eastern's upset road win over Kent State, Feb. 15, who was undefeated prior to entering that match. The Eagles also posted a straight sets victory over Ohio, Feb. 21, to begin a two-match win streak after a 17-match skid against the Bobcats dating back from 2002-2018.
Individually, senior Franki Strefling became the sixth EMU volleyball player to reach both 1,000 career kills and digs, and was the first since Becky Baltare (2002-05). Additionally, the outside hitter ranked second in the MAC in both points per set (4.44) and kills per set (4.09). Redshirt sophomore Raeven Chase led the conference averaging 1.45 blocks per set, which was good for 14th in the NCAA.
WHO'S RETURNING?: For the 2020-21 season, the NCAA Division I Council voted to give eligibility relief to fall and winter-sport student-athletes regardless of how many games they played during the 2020-21 academic year. They now have the opportunity to play season seasons within a six-year span rather than the typical four season in five years.
Seniors April Houston and Franki Strefling have made plans to return to the EMU roster for a fifth year in the fall.
STREFLING RACKING IN THE AWARDS: Senior Franki Strefling added two awards to her resume after her impressive season. The outside hitter was named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Midwest All-Region First Team, the organization announced, April 13, and earned First Team All-MAC, March 31.
Strefling is the fifth Eagle to earn the AVCA honor and the first EMU volleyball student-athlete to earn first team honors since Roxanne Munch made the All-North Central Region First Team in 1989 Additionally, this was the third-straight season Eastern Michigan had landed a volleyball student-athlete on the All-MAC first team with Strefling being the 19th EMU player to receive the award.
This season, Strefling ranked second in the conference in both points per set (4.44) and kills per set (4.09). The senior's 315 total kills led the Green and White and finished third in the league. Strefling also posted a 4.00 digs-per-set average, which was good for second on the team. The Niles, Mich. native tallied 13 10-plus kill performances with 13 double-doubles. Strefling also led the team in kills in 17 matches during the shortened season.
Strefling became the sixth EMU volleyball player to reach both 1,000 career kills and digs, and the first since Becky Baltare (2002-05). She reached the 1,000-plateau for digs first at Northern Illinois, Feb. 11, with 26, before tallying her 1,000th kill in the first set against Ohio, March 8. Additionally, the outside hitter notched a career-high 26 kills against Buffalo, Feb. 25, which tied for seventh in Convocation Center history.
EAGLE SMARTS: Six Eagles landed a spot on the Academic All-Mid-Amercian Conference team, the league announced, 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, redshirt sophomore Raeven Chase, sophomores Alayna Jansky, Jayden Otto and Kamryn Stilwell, and redshirt freshman Krista Blakely all earned the award.
Houston and Chase are two-time recipients of the honor, while Blakely, Jansky, Otto, Stilwell all received the award for the first time in their career, 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.
AMONG THE LEADERS: Eastern Michigan finished the shortened 2020-21 season averaging 18.2 digs per set, which led the Mid-American Conference and ranked 19th in the NCAA. The Green and White averaged 38.3 attacks per set, good for third in the league and 37th among Division I programs.
Individually, senior Franki Strefling ranked second in the MAC in both kills per set (4.09, and points per set (4.44). Redshirt sophomore Raeven Chase led the MAC, averaging 1.45 blocks per set, which is good for 14th in the NCAA. Additionally, freshman Bella Hommes finished fourth with 4.91 digs per set, while sophomore Jayden Otto was fifth with 10.3 assists per set league play.
THANK YOU, CARISSA: Eastern Michigan would like to thank senior Carissa Spalt for her dedication to the EMU volleyball program for the last four years. Spalt appeared in 23 matches for the Eagles and averaged 0.77 kills per set. The Tucson, Ariz. native tallied a career-high 10 kills vs. Florida A&M, Sept. 6, 2019. Spalt will graduate from Eastern Michigan in the spring with a degree in Biochemistry and plans to attend grad school in Germany.
MOVING UP IN THE RECORD BOOKS: Senior Franki Strefling made her way into the Eastern Michigan record books as she now ranks eighth with 3,510 career attempts. She passed former EMU volleyball players Becky Baltare (2002-05 - 3,184), Erin Chase (1991-94 - 3,195), and Emily Busch (2001-04 - 3,307). Strefling needs 34 more attempts to move into 7th all-time.
The senior is on pace to crack the top-10 in two more categories as she plans on returning for one more season in the fall: career kills and career digs. Strefling currently has 1,118 career kills and 1,267 digs. She needs 84 more kills and 22 more digs to break the top-10.
MAKIN' HISTORE: Eastern Michigan marked a new milestone in it's 3-2 win over Central Michigan, March 16. The victory was EMU's 700th win in the program's 44-year history. The Eagles hold a 701-707-16 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 later 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.
STREFLING ON FIRE: Senior Franki Strefling was on fire offensively and defensively over the 20 matches during the shortened 2020-21 spring season. The outside hitter led the team with 13 double-doubles. She ended the season with 19 kills and 19 digs against Ball State, March 27.
Strefling tallied a career-high 26 kills versus the Bulls in the series opener, Feb. 25. Her 26-kill outing is tied for seventh in Convocation Center history. The senior led the Eagles in kills 18 times this year, including four 20-plus kill performances.
The Niles, Mich. native ranked first on the team in kills (315) and second in digs (308). Strefling's 4.09 kills-per-set average finished second in the Mid-American Conference.
KILLS FOR BASHAM: Sophomore Samantha Basham played a vital role as an outside hitter for Eastern Michigan during the shortened 2020-21 season. She tallied seven 10-plus kill performances, which tied for second on the team. The outside hitter finished the year with 163 total kills (2.12 kps), which ranked third on the team.
Basham notched a career-high 15 kills in EMU's five-set victory at Kent State, Feb. 15. Additionally, she posted a three-match streak, March 16-20, with double-digit kills: at Central Michigan (12), at Miami (11), at Miami (12).
ACE, ACE BABY: Sophomore Samantha Basham led the Green and White in service aces with 22 and boasted a .876 serve percentage (22-29-233). The outside hitter tallied multiple aces five time this season, including a career-best four aces EMU's five-set win over in-state Central Michigan, March 16. The Granville, Ohio native tallied at least one ace in 12 matches this season and led the team in the category nine times.
BLOCK PARTY: Redshirt sophomore Raeven Chase concluded the 2020-21 shortened spring season averaging 1.45 blocks per set (100 total), which led the Mid-American Conference. Her 1.45 blocks-per-set average ranked 14th in the nation.
The middle blocker notched a career-high 15 blocks (1-14) in EMU's 3-2 win over Ball State, March 27. Her 15 blocks set a EMU five-set record in the modern statistical era (since 2008). The previous record holder was Sam Falco, who tallied 11 blocks (0-11) at Northern Illinois, Sept. 29, 2017. Additionally, Chase tallied nine blocks (1-8) in a five-set win over Buffalo, Feb. 26. Her nine-block performance tied for fourth in Convocation Center history.
The Toronto, Ontario native led the Eagles in blocks 16 times this season. Chase has 169 career blocks (26-146).
OTTO-MATIC: This season, sophomore Jayden Otto took over as the "quarterback" of the Eastern Michigan offense. The setter tallied 40-plus assists in 11 matches, and 50-or-more assists in four contests. Otto led the team in assists in every match this year.
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 ties for the second-most in the conference this season.
Otto led the team averaging 10.3 assists per set, which finished fifth in the Mid-American Conference.
CAN YOU DIG IT?: Freshman Bella Hommes proved herself to be Eastern Michigan's starting libero in the shortened 2020-21 spring season. Hommes started as a defensive specialist in the first match of the season against Western Michigan, Feb. 4, but then claimed the libero spot for the remaining 19 matches.
The freshman notched a career-high 32 digs in EMU's 3-1 loss at Akron, Feb. 18. In the second match against the Zips, Feb. 19, Hommes tallied another 30-plus dig performance, finishing with 31. The defensive specialist recorded double-figure digs in 17 matches, including two matches with 30+. Hommes led the team in digs 13 times this season and ranked first the team with 383 digs total, averaging 49.1 dps. Her digs-per-set average ranked fourth in the conference.
ACE OUT: Eastern Michigan posted a season-high 13 service aces against an opponents in a two-match series at Miami, March 19-20. The Eagles tied a season-best seven aces in the series opener against the RedHawks, then tallied six the following day.
Sophomore Samantha Basham led the Green and White in the first match against MU with three aces, while senior Franki Strefling notched three in the series finale. Basham led EMU in service aces nine times this season.
FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING: Eastern Michigan trailed Central Michigan 2-0 after the first two sets, March 16, but the Eagles were able to complete the comeback with a five-set victory. This was the first match during the 2021 spring season the Eagles recorded the win after losing the first two games. Additionally, it was the first time under Head Coach Darcy Dorton the Green and White posted the comeback after falling behind 2-0.
KILLS ON KILLS: Eastern Michigan posted 40 kills in its 3-0 win over Ohio, March 8. The 40 kills tied for the most in a three-set match this season. The Eagles also recorded 40 kills in a three-set sweep over Toledo, March 5.
EMU went undefeated (6-0) this year when tallying more kills than their opponents. Under Head Coach Darcy Dorton, the Green and White are 17-4 when holding the kills advantage.
WINNING EARLY: When taking the first two sets, Eastern Michigan has better luck in the win column. The Eagles went 5-0 when they win the first two games of the match. In the Darcy Dorton era (2019-present), the Green and White is 14-0 when claiming the first two sets.
FIRST SWEEP: Eastern Michigan notched its first sweep of the 2021 spring season in the series opener against Toledo, March 5. The Eagles tallied 40 kills and boasted a .248 attack percentage (17-6-38) in the third set. EMU held the Rockets to 24 kills, which was a season low for a three-set match.
Four Eagles posted six-or-more kills and were led by senior Franki Strefling, who recorded 10. Fellow senior April Houston and redshirt freshman Krista Blakely each added eight, while redshirt sophomore Raeven Chase tallied six.
ALL-TIME VERSUS THE MAC: The Green and White holds a 276-348-1 program mark against Mid-American Conference teams. Eastern has played Western Michigan the most (93 times), while facing Central Michigan 91 times, and Ball State 80 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 an 13-22 MAC record.
ELITE GROUP: Senior Franki Strefling joined an elite group in EMU's 3-0 win over Ohio, March 8. The outside hitter's first kill of the match was the 1,000th of her career. She also surpassed 1,000 career digs in a 3-1 victory at Northern Illinois, Feb. 11. Strefling is the sixth EMU volleyball player to reach both 1,000 digs and kills in her career, and the first since Becky Baltare (2002-05).
ON THE HORIZON: Eastern Michigan will begin a break and make plans to begin offseason workouts to prepare for the 2021 fall season. To stay up-to-date with all things EMU Volleyball, visit EMUEagles.com and follow the team on social media.
The final notes package includes year-end statistics, storylines, streaks, and team information from the 2021 spring season. Fans are encouraged to continue to follow the team on social media, @EMUVolleyball, and visit EMUEagles.com for the most up-to-date information on all things EMU volleyball.
THANK YOU: The Eastern Michigan volleyball team, along with the EMU athletic media relations office, would like to thank each and every student, alumnus, and fan that supported the team in this spring. Additionally, we offer our thanks to all support, medical doctors, and individuals who worked tirelessly to ensure the success of the program, especially throughout the craziness of the COVID-19 pandemic.
OVERALL: Eastern Michigan finished the 2021 spring season with a 8-12 overall and Mid-American Conference record. The Eagles finished fourth in the MAC West Division. EMU only played 20 conference matches due to the league's decision for a MAC-only schedule. The 20 matches played is the lowest for the Green and White in program history.
Season highlights include Eastern's upset road win over Kent State, Feb. 15, who was undefeated prior to entering that match. The Eagles also posted a straight sets victory over Ohio, Feb. 21, to begin a two-match win streak after a 17-match skid against the Bobcats dating back from 2002-2018.
Individually, senior Franki Strefling became the sixth EMU volleyball player to reach both 1,000 career kills and digs, and was the first since Becky Baltare (2002-05). Additionally, the outside hitter ranked second in the MAC in both points per set (4.44) and kills per set (4.09). Redshirt sophomore Raeven Chase led the conference averaging 1.45 blocks per set, which was good for 14th in the NCAA.
WHO'S RETURNING?: For the 2020-21 season, the NCAA Division I Council voted to give eligibility relief to fall and winter-sport student-athletes regardless of how many games they played during the 2020-21 academic year. They now have the opportunity to play season seasons within a six-year span rather than the typical four season in five years.
Seniors April Houston and Franki Strefling have made plans to return to the EMU roster for a fifth year in the fall.
STREFLING RACKING IN THE AWARDS: Senior Franki Strefling added two awards to her resume after her impressive season. The outside hitter was named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Midwest All-Region First Team, the organization announced, April 13, and earned First Team All-MAC, March 31.
Strefling is the fifth Eagle to earn the AVCA honor and the first EMU volleyball student-athlete to earn first team honors since Roxanne Munch made the All-North Central Region First Team in 1989 Additionally, this was the third-straight season Eastern Michigan had landed a volleyball student-athlete on the All-MAC first team with Strefling being the 19th EMU player to receive the award.
This season, Strefling ranked second in the conference in both points per set (4.44) and kills per set (4.09). The senior's 315 total kills led the Green and White and finished third in the league. Strefling also posted a 4.00 digs-per-set average, which was good for second on the team. The Niles, Mich. native tallied 13 10-plus kill performances with 13 double-doubles. Strefling also led the team in kills in 17 matches during the shortened season.
Strefling became the sixth EMU volleyball player to reach both 1,000 career kills and digs, and the first since Becky Baltare (2002-05). She reached the 1,000-plateau for digs first at Northern Illinois, Feb. 11, with 26, before tallying her 1,000th kill in the first set against Ohio, March 8. Additionally, the outside hitter notched a career-high 26 kills against Buffalo, Feb. 25, which tied for seventh in Convocation Center history.
EAGLE SMARTS: Six Eagles landed a spot on the Academic All-Mid-Amercian Conference team, the league announced, 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, redshirt sophomore Raeven Chase, sophomores Alayna Jansky, Jayden Otto and Kamryn Stilwell, and redshirt freshman Krista Blakely all earned the award.
Houston and Chase are two-time recipients of the honor, while Blakely, Jansky, Otto, Stilwell all received the award for the first time in their career, 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.
AMONG THE LEADERS: Eastern Michigan finished the shortened 2020-21 season averaging 18.2 digs per set, which led the Mid-American Conference and ranked 19th in the NCAA. The Green and White averaged 38.3 attacks per set, good for third in the league and 37th among Division I programs.
Individually, senior Franki Strefling ranked second in the MAC in both kills per set (4.09, and points per set (4.44). Redshirt sophomore Raeven Chase led the MAC, averaging 1.45 blocks per set, which is good for 14th in the NCAA. Additionally, freshman Bella Hommes finished fourth with 4.91 digs per set, while sophomore Jayden Otto was fifth with 10.3 assists per set league play.
THANK YOU, CARISSA: Eastern Michigan would like to thank senior Carissa Spalt for her dedication to the EMU volleyball program for the last four years. Spalt appeared in 23 matches for the Eagles and averaged 0.77 kills per set. The Tucson, Ariz. native tallied a career-high 10 kills vs. Florida A&M, Sept. 6, 2019. Spalt will graduate from Eastern Michigan in the spring with a degree in Biochemistry and plans to attend grad school in Germany.
MOVING UP IN THE RECORD BOOKS: Senior Franki Strefling made her way into the Eastern Michigan record books as she now ranks eighth with 3,510 career attempts. She passed former EMU volleyball players Becky Baltare (2002-05 - 3,184), Erin Chase (1991-94 - 3,195), and Emily Busch (2001-04 - 3,307). Strefling needs 34 more attempts to move into 7th all-time.
The senior is on pace to crack the top-10 in two more categories as she plans on returning for one more season in the fall: career kills and career digs. Strefling currently has 1,118 career kills and 1,267 digs. She needs 84 more kills and 22 more digs to break the top-10.
MAKIN' HISTORE: Eastern Michigan marked a new milestone in it's 3-2 win over Central Michigan, March 16. The victory was EMU's 700th win in the program's 44-year history. The Eagles hold a 701-707-16 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 later 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.
STREFLING ON FIRE: Senior Franki Strefling was on fire offensively and defensively over the 20 matches during the shortened 2020-21 spring season. The outside hitter led the team with 13 double-doubles. She ended the season with 19 kills and 19 digs against Ball State, March 27.
Strefling tallied a career-high 26 kills versus the Bulls in the series opener, Feb. 25. Her 26-kill outing is tied for seventh in Convocation Center history. The senior led the Eagles in kills 18 times this year, including four 20-plus kill performances.
The Niles, Mich. native ranked first on the team in kills (315) and second in digs (308). Strefling's 4.09 kills-per-set average finished second in the Mid-American Conference.
KILLS FOR BASHAM: Sophomore Samantha Basham played a vital role as an outside hitter for Eastern Michigan during the shortened 2020-21 season. She tallied seven 10-plus kill performances, which tied for second on the team. The outside hitter finished the year with 163 total kills (2.12 kps), which ranked third on the team.
Basham notched a career-high 15 kills in EMU's five-set victory at Kent State, Feb. 15. Additionally, she posted a three-match streak, March 16-20, with double-digit kills: at Central Michigan (12), at Miami (11), at Miami (12).
ACE, ACE BABY: Sophomore Samantha Basham led the Green and White in service aces with 22 and boasted a .876 serve percentage (22-29-233). The outside hitter tallied multiple aces five time this season, including a career-best four aces EMU's five-set win over in-state Central Michigan, March 16. The Granville, Ohio native tallied at least one ace in 12 matches this season and led the team in the category nine times.
BLOCK PARTY: Redshirt sophomore Raeven Chase concluded the 2020-21 shortened spring season averaging 1.45 blocks per set (100 total), which led the Mid-American Conference. Her 1.45 blocks-per-set average ranked 14th in the nation.
The middle blocker notched a career-high 15 blocks (1-14) in EMU's 3-2 win over Ball State, March 27. Her 15 blocks set a EMU five-set record in the modern statistical era (since 2008). The previous record holder was Sam Falco, who tallied 11 blocks (0-11) at Northern Illinois, Sept. 29, 2017. Additionally, Chase tallied nine blocks (1-8) in a five-set win over Buffalo, Feb. 26. Her nine-block performance tied for fourth in Convocation Center history.
The Toronto, Ontario native led the Eagles in blocks 16 times this season. Chase has 169 career blocks (26-146).
OTTO-MATIC: This season, sophomore Jayden Otto took over as the "quarterback" of the Eastern Michigan offense. The setter tallied 40-plus assists in 11 matches, and 50-or-more assists in four contests. Otto led the team in assists in every match this year.
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 ties for the second-most in the conference this season.
Otto led the team averaging 10.3 assists per set, which finished fifth in the Mid-American Conference.
CAN YOU DIG IT?: Freshman Bella Hommes proved herself to be Eastern Michigan's starting libero in the shortened 2020-21 spring season. Hommes started as a defensive specialist in the first match of the season against Western Michigan, Feb. 4, but then claimed the libero spot for the remaining 19 matches.
The freshman notched a career-high 32 digs in EMU's 3-1 loss at Akron, Feb. 18. In the second match against the Zips, Feb. 19, Hommes tallied another 30-plus dig performance, finishing with 31. The defensive specialist recorded double-figure digs in 17 matches, including two matches with 30+. Hommes led the team in digs 13 times this season and ranked first the team with 383 digs total, averaging 49.1 dps. Her digs-per-set average ranked fourth in the conference.
ACE OUT: Eastern Michigan posted a season-high 13 service aces against an opponents in a two-match series at Miami, March 19-20. The Eagles tied a season-best seven aces in the series opener against the RedHawks, then tallied six the following day.
Sophomore Samantha Basham led the Green and White in the first match against MU with three aces, while senior Franki Strefling notched three in the series finale. Basham led EMU in service aces nine times this season.
FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING: Eastern Michigan trailed Central Michigan 2-0 after the first two sets, March 16, but the Eagles were able to complete the comeback with a five-set victory. This was the first match during the 2021 spring season the Eagles recorded the win after losing the first two games. Additionally, it was the first time under Head Coach Darcy Dorton the Green and White posted the comeback after falling behind 2-0.
KILLS ON KILLS: Eastern Michigan posted 40 kills in its 3-0 win over Ohio, March 8. The 40 kills tied for the most in a three-set match this season. The Eagles also recorded 40 kills in a three-set sweep over Toledo, March 5.
EMU went undefeated (6-0) this year when tallying more kills than their opponents. Under Head Coach Darcy Dorton, the Green and White are 17-4 when holding the kills advantage.
WINNING EARLY: When taking the first two sets, Eastern Michigan has better luck in the win column. The Eagles went 5-0 when they win the first two games of the match. In the Darcy Dorton era (2019-present), the Green and White is 14-0 when claiming the first two sets.
FIRST SWEEP: Eastern Michigan notched its first sweep of the 2021 spring season in the series opener against Toledo, March 5. The Eagles tallied 40 kills and boasted a .248 attack percentage (17-6-38) in the third set. EMU held the Rockets to 24 kills, which was a season low for a three-set match.
Four Eagles posted six-or-more kills and were led by senior Franki Strefling, who recorded 10. Fellow senior April Houston and redshirt freshman Krista Blakely each added eight, while redshirt sophomore Raeven Chase tallied six.
ALL-TIME VERSUS THE MAC: The Green and White holds a 276-348-1 program mark against Mid-American Conference teams. Eastern has played Western Michigan the most (93 times), while facing Central Michigan 91 times, and Ball State 80 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 an 13-22 MAC record.
ELITE GROUP: Senior Franki Strefling joined an elite group in EMU's 3-0 win over Ohio, March 8. The outside hitter's first kill of the match was the 1,000th of her career. She also surpassed 1,000 career digs in a 3-1 victory at Northern Illinois, Feb. 11. Strefling is the sixth EMU volleyball player to reach both 1,000 digs and kills in her career, and the first since Becky Baltare (2002-05).
ON THE HORIZON: Eastern Michigan will begin a break and make plans to begin offseason workouts to prepare for the 2021 fall season. To stay up-to-date with all things EMU Volleyball, visit EMUEagles.com and follow the team on social media.
Players Mentioned
OH/RS
/ Volleyball
OH/RS
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
DS
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
DS
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball2025 EMU Volleyball Tournament Highlights
Monday, September 08
Volleyball Highlights vs. Valparaiso
Saturday, September 06
Volleyball Highlights vs. Purdue Fort Wayne
Friday, September 05
Script Eastern Volleyball Jerseys Reveal
Thursday, September 04