Eastern Michigan Athletics

Photo by: Steven King/Steve King Studios
Volleyball Sweeps the College of Charleston in Season Opener
8/27/2021 9:51:00 PM | Volleyball
Samantha Bashman led the Eagles with 11 kills and seven digs
CHARLESTON, S.C. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team opened the 2021 season with a three-set sweep (25-20, 25-13, 25-16) over the College of Charleston tonight, Aug. 27, on the first day of the CofC Invitational. The Eagles (1-0, 0-0 MAC) boasted a .278 hitting percentage (39-12-97), while holding the Cougars (0-1, 0-0 CAA) to a .076 clip (33-25-105).
Offensively, it was sophomore Samantha Basham (Granville, Ohio-Newark Catholic) that paced Eastern Michigan as she recorded 11 kills and seven digs. Basham was aided by redshirt freshman Krista Blakely (Detroit, Mich.-University High School Academy) and redshirt sophomore Raeven Chase (Toronto, Ontario, Canada-Michael Power St. Joseph Catholic), who added nine and seven kills, respectively. Starting in their first match donning the Green and White, freshmen Annie Lockett (Mason, Ohio-Mason) and Madeline Timmerman (Crystal Lake, Ill.-Central) each had a breakout match with six kills and four kills, respectively. In all, six Eagles combined for 39 total kills.
Orchestrating the EMU offense was sophomore Jayden Otto (Crystal Lake, Ill.-Prairie Ridge), who paced the team with 33 assists. The setter also contributed a team-high four service aces, and added three blocks, two digs, and two kills.
The Eagles' defensive efforts were led by sophomore Kamryn Stilwell (Parma, Ohio-Padua Franciscan) and freshman Bella Hommes (Grand Rapids, Mich.-Forest Hills Northern), who each had nine digs. Chase and Timmerman were a force at the net, as they tallied four blocks each.
In the opening set, the Eagles and Cougars went back-and-forth, tying the set at 6-all. Then the Green and White went on a 4-0 scoring stint highlighted by a Timmerman solo block and kill. EMU built its lead to five points (12-7) after an Otto ace. However, CofC went on a 3-0 run to make it a two-point game (12-10). The intensity heightened as both teams went back-and-forth until the set was tied at 20-all. But, it was the Eagles who came out on top with a 5-0 scoring run to take the first set, 25-20.
Leading the match, 1-0, Eastern Michigan started the second set strong with a 4-2 lead, thanks to a kill by Lockett. Over the next four points, the Cougars were able to tie up the set at 5-all off a 3-1 scoring stint. The Eagles regained momentum to take a five-point lead (10-5) after a block assist from Chase and Otto. EMU's spark continued on a 10-4 run to push its lead to seven, 17-10. For the rest of the set, Eastern didn't look back as it claimed the second set, 25-13, to hold the 2-0 advantage for the match.
In the third set, the Eagles continued their momentum with a 5-3 lead after a CofC setting error. But, the Cougars produced a 7-3 scoring stint to take the two-point lead (10-8). Struggling to come back over the next few points, Eastern Michigan regained energy off a Lockett kill to go on a 9-3 run to reclaim the lead, 17-13. The Green and White's spark continued throughout the rest of the set as EMU won the set, 25-16, and the match, 3-0.
Eastern will be back in action Saturday, Aug. 28, as it closes the tournament with two matches in Charleston, S.C. The Eagles will challenge Indiana State in the first match at 12 p.m., before ending the weekend with Montana at 4:30 p.m.
For the most up-to-date information on all things EMU volleyball, visit EMUEagles.com and follow the team on social media at @EMUVolleyball.
Offensively, it was sophomore Samantha Basham (Granville, Ohio-Newark Catholic) that paced Eastern Michigan as she recorded 11 kills and seven digs. Basham was aided by redshirt freshman Krista Blakely (Detroit, Mich.-University High School Academy) and redshirt sophomore Raeven Chase (Toronto, Ontario, Canada-Michael Power St. Joseph Catholic), who added nine and seven kills, respectively. Starting in their first match donning the Green and White, freshmen Annie Lockett (Mason, Ohio-Mason) and Madeline Timmerman (Crystal Lake, Ill.-Central) each had a breakout match with six kills and four kills, respectively. In all, six Eagles combined for 39 total kills.
Orchestrating the EMU offense was sophomore Jayden Otto (Crystal Lake, Ill.-Prairie Ridge), who paced the team with 33 assists. The setter also contributed a team-high four service aces, and added three blocks, two digs, and two kills.
The Eagles' defensive efforts were led by sophomore Kamryn Stilwell (Parma, Ohio-Padua Franciscan) and freshman Bella Hommes (Grand Rapids, Mich.-Forest Hills Northern), who each had nine digs. Chase and Timmerman were a force at the net, as they tallied four blocks each.
In the opening set, the Eagles and Cougars went back-and-forth, tying the set at 6-all. Then the Green and White went on a 4-0 scoring stint highlighted by a Timmerman solo block and kill. EMU built its lead to five points (12-7) after an Otto ace. However, CofC went on a 3-0 run to make it a two-point game (12-10). The intensity heightened as both teams went back-and-forth until the set was tied at 20-all. But, it was the Eagles who came out on top with a 5-0 scoring run to take the first set, 25-20.
Leading the match, 1-0, Eastern Michigan started the second set strong with a 4-2 lead, thanks to a kill by Lockett. Over the next four points, the Cougars were able to tie up the set at 5-all off a 3-1 scoring stint. The Eagles regained momentum to take a five-point lead (10-5) after a block assist from Chase and Otto. EMU's spark continued on a 10-4 run to push its lead to seven, 17-10. For the rest of the set, Eastern didn't look back as it claimed the second set, 25-13, to hold the 2-0 advantage for the match.
In the third set, the Eagles continued their momentum with a 5-3 lead after a CofC setting error. But, the Cougars produced a 7-3 scoring stint to take the two-point lead (10-8). Struggling to come back over the next few points, Eastern Michigan regained energy off a Lockett kill to go on a 9-3 run to reclaim the lead, 17-13. The Green and White's spark continued throughout the rest of the set as EMU won the set, 25-16, and the match, 3-0.
Eastern will be back in action Saturday, Aug. 28, as it closes the tournament with two matches in Charleston, S.C. The Eagles will challenge Indiana State in the first match at 12 p.m., before ending the weekend with Montana at 4:30 p.m.
For the most up-to-date information on all things EMU volleyball, visit EMUEagles.com and follow the team on social media at @EMUVolleyball.
Team Stats
EMU
CC
Kills
39
33
Errors
12
25
Attempts
97
105
Hitting %
.278
.076
Points
55
39
Assists
35
30
Aces
7
1
Blocks
9
5
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
Volleyball Highlights vs. Kent State, Oct. 9, 2025
Friday, October 10
Ava Siefke Career-High 22-Kill Match Highlight
Sunday, October 05
Volleyball Highlights vs. Bowling Green, Oct. 3, 2025
Saturday, October 04
EMU Volleyball 2025 Team Impact Signing
Friday, October 03