Volleyball Travels to the Windy City for the UIC Invitational

Volleyball at UIC Invitational
Date	Friday, Sept. 10 at 11 a.m. & 8 p.m. \| Saturday, Sept. 11 at 1 p.m.
Venue	Flames Athletic Center, Chicago, Ill.
Preview Info	EMU Notes
Watch	ESPN+ - vs. UIC
Live Stats	Live Stats
Twitter	@EMUVolleyball \| @EMUAthletics

CHICAGO, Ill. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team hits the road to the Windy City as the Eagles are set to compete in the UIC Invitational, Sept. 10-11.
   The Green and White will open the weekend against Chicago State University Friday, Sept. 10 at 11 a.m. EDT, before taking on the host the University of Illinois-Chicago at 8 p.m. EDT. EMU will finish the weekend against Belmont Saturday, Sept. 11 at 1 p.m. EDT.
   Fans can catch the match against UIC on ESPN+. The matches against Chicago State and Belmont will not be televised but will be available via live stats at EMUEagles.com/livestats. As always, fans can follow along on EMUEagles.com or on Twitter by following @EMUVolleyball.

AMONG THE LEADERS: Eastern Michigan ranks second in the Mid-American Conference averaging 1.7 service aces per set, behind Toledo's 2.4. The Eagles' 1.7 aces-per-set average is good for 85th in the NCAA.
   Individually, freshman Madeline Timmerman leads the conference in aces per set at 0.61, which is good for 33rd among Division I volleyball student-athletes. Additionally, sophomore Jayden Otto and freshman Annie Lockett rank sixth and 10th with 0.44 and 0.33 aces per set, respectively. Otto also averaged 10.0 assists per set, which ranks sixth in the MAC. Redshirt sophomore Raeven Chase ranks second with a 1.1 blocks-per-set average, while classmate Kamryn Stilwell is fifth in digs (4.3 dps).

RAKING IN THE AWARDS: Redshirt sophomore Raeven Chase and freshman Annie Lockett were named to the All-Tournament Team after their play at the Golden Grizzlies Invitational, Sept. 4-5.
   Chase posted 16 kills over the two-match tournament and boasted a .243 hitting percentage (16-7-37). Lockett finished the weekend with 15 kills (2.50 kps) and 12 digs (2.00 dps).
   Chase leads the team with 19 total blocks with a 1.1 blocks-per-set average, while Lockett ranks first on the squad with 50 total kills (2.78 kps).

A-C-E! ACE!: Freshman Madeline Timmerman leads the Mid-American Conference with a 0.61 aces-per-set average, which is also good for 33rd in the NCAA. The Crystal Lake, Ill. native led the team with five aces in two matches at the Golden Grizzlies Invitational, Sept. 4-5. The middle blocker tied a career-high three aces at Oakland, Sept. 5.
   Timmerman leads EMU with 11 total aces and is one of three MAC players to have double-digit aces this season.

LOCKED IN: Freshman Annie Lockett continues to start her Eastern Michigan career with a spark. Lockett posted 15 kills in two matches at the Golden Grizzlies Invitational, Sept. 4-5. The outside hitter averaged 2.50 kills per set, including an 11-kill performance against Bradley, Sept. 4.
   Lockett posted a career-high 17 kills against Montana, Aug. 28, in her first weekend donning the Green and White.
   The Mason, Ohio native leads the team with 50 total kills on the season (2.78 kps) and has recorded three matches with 10-of-more kills.

CAN YOU DIG IT?: Sophomore Kamryn Stilwell started the 2021 campaign as Eastern's primary libero in the first five matches of the season. The defensive specialist has tallied a team-high 77 digs with a 4.3 digs-per-set average. Her digs-per-set average ranks fifth in the Mid-American Conference.
   Stilwell has recorded four straight matches with double-figure digs, with her most recent performance with a career-high 17 at Oakland, Sept. 5.

BLOCK PARTY: Redshirt sophomore Raeven Chase continues to be a strong force at the net for Eastern Michigan. She leads the team with 19 total blocks (4-15) for a 1.1 blocks-per-set average. That average ranks second in the Mid-American Conference.
   Chase posted a season-high six blocks (1-5) in a 3-1 loss to Indiana State, Aug. 28. Additionally, she added four blocks against both Bradley, Sept. 4, and the College of Charleston, Aug. 27.
   The middle blocker has tallied 188 career blocks (30-158). She needs 95 more block assists to break into the top-10 of the EMU record book.

COLLEGIATE DEBUT: After missing the 2021 spring season due to injury, freshman Olivia Szylar made her collegiate debut in the Green and White at Oakland, Sept. 5. The setter recorded an assist against the Golden Grizzlies.
   Additionally, "true" freshmen Mackenzie Gross, Annie Lockett, and Madeline Timmerman all made their collegiate debuts at the College of Charleston Invitational, Aug. 27-28. Both Lockett and Timmerman started all three matches, while Gross saw action against Indiana State and Montana.
   Lockett leads the team with 50 total kills with a 2.78 kills-per-set average. Timmerman leads the Mid-American Conference averaging 0.61 service aces per set, while Gross has tallied seven kills and three digs.

ACE, ACE BABY: Eastern Michigan has tallied 31 service aces in the first five matches of the 2021 season. The 31 aces equals to 38.3% of EMU's total from last spring when the Eagles tallied 81.
   The Green and White average 1.7 aces per set, which ranks second in the Mid-American Conference. EMU recorded a season-high 10 aces in a 3-2 win over Montana, Aug. 28.
   Leading the Eagles in aces is freshman Madeline Timmerman, who has 11 total aces. She leads the MAC with a 0.66 aces-per-set average. Additionally, sophomore Jayden Otto and freshman Annie Lockett have recorded eight and six each, respectively.

SCOUTING CHICAGO STATE: Led by second-year Head Coach Tony Trifonov, Chicago State enters the weekend with a 4-2 overall record. The Cougars fell 3-1 Charlotte, Sept. 5, in its own Windy City Classic.
   The Cougars lead the Western Athletic Conference in both kills per set (14.0) and assists per set (12.91). Their 14.0 kills-per-set average ranks 22nd in the NCAA. Additionally, CSU boasts a .229 hitting percentage (308-121-818), which is good for second in the conference. Defensively, Chicago State averages 16.1 digs per set and 1.9 blocks per set.
    Leading CSU is Yanlis Feliz, who is averaging 4.82 kills per set (106 total) and 5.48 points per set. Her kills-per-set average and points-per-set average both lead the WAC and are good for 10th and 11th in the NCAA, respectively. Quarterbacking the Cougar offense is Jaclyn Inclan, who averages 10.77 assists per set. Her average also leads the conference and ranks 27th in the nation.

LAST TIME VERSUS THE COUGARS: Eastern Michigan opened the Chicago State Tournament falling to the host Cougars in five sets (22-25, 25-22, 25-18, 18-25, 13-15), Sept. 15, 2017.
   Former Eagle Mallory Rajewski added 35 assists, where she climbed into the Eagles' Top 10 all-time list, passing Sandy Burke for 10th all-time. Franki Strefling set a new career-high in kills with 18, leading the Eagles in the second match. Cassie Haut added 11 of her own for a second straight 10+ kill game, and Kelly Ferguson also added 11 kills.

ALL-TIME VERSUS CHICAGO STATE: Friday's match will be the sixth meeting between the Eagles and Cougars. EMU holds the 4-1 advantage in the all-time series.
   The Green and White were on a four-match win streak before CSU posted a 3-2 victory during the 2017 season.

ALL-TIME VERSUS THE WAC: Eastern Michigan holds a 5-3 all-time record against Western Athletic Conference teams. EMU holds winning records against Chicago State (4-1), and Sam Houston State (1-0).

SCOUTING UIC: Led by fifth-year Head Coach Justin Ingram, UIC comes into the weekend with a 2-4 overall record. The Flames defeated Mid-American Conference opponent Ohio, 3-0, Sept. 4, to close the Red and White Invitational hosted by Illinois State University.
   UIC averages 12.9 kills per set, which ranks second in the Horizon League. The Flames give up 14.3 kills per set by their opposition. Defensively, UIC ranks third in the HL with 16.9 digs per set and is adding 1.7 blocks per set.
    The Flames are led by Paola Santiago, who leads the conference with a .365 hitting percentage (79-35-236). She leads the team averaging 3.43 kills per set and 4.11 points per set. Setting up the Flames' offense is Morgan Kull with 6.04 assists per set, while Sohila Wafeek is adding 3.82. Defensively, Santiago also leads the team with 3.78 digs per set, while Becca Oldendorf is posting 0.83 blocks per set.

LAST TIME VERSUS THE FLAMES: Eastern Michigan closed the Thunder Invitational hosted by the University of Virginia with a five-set victory (18-25, 22-25, 25-19, 25-21, 15-8) over UIC, Aug. 30, 2014.
   Jill Briner paced the Eagles, posting her first triple-double of the 2014 campaign. The Oak Park, Ill. native hit .529 with 10 kills while picking up 10 digs and a team-best 33 assists. In addition to Briner's success, Megan Crawshaw recorded her best offensive performance of the season with 14 kills and a .344 attack percentage, while Katie Krasowski notched 13 kills and Stacey Perinar posted 11. The Eagles were strong from the baseline, recording seven service aces. Natalie Folk tied a career-best with four of them, while Alyssa Davis served up two of her own.
    Defensively, the Green and White were led by libero Corynne Smith who picked up 19 digs in the Eagles' second win of the season, while Briner posted 10 and Perinar added 12 of her own for a double-double.

ALL-TIME VERSUS UIC: Friday's match will be the 10th meeting between EMU and UIC in program history. The series between the two programs dates back to the 1980 season, where Eastern won 2-1, Oct. 4.
   The Green and White holds the all-time series advantage with a 5-4 record, and have won the last two contests.

ALL-TIME VERSUS THE HORIZON LEAGUE: Eastern Michigan will play two opponents from the Horizon League, Oakland (Sept. 5) and Illinois-Chicago (Sept. 10), during the 2021 season. The Eagles hold a 66-43 record (.606%) against HL teams.
   EMU has the advantage in the all-time series against five institutions: Oakland (25-6), Youngstown State (5-0), Illinois-Chicago (5-4), Robert Morris (4-2), and IUPUI (3-1).

SCOUTING BELMONT: Led by third-year Head Coach Katelyn Harrison, Belmont enters the tournament with a 2-1 overall record. Most recently, the Bruins fell 3-1 to Indiana State, Sept. 4.
   Belmont ranks second in the Southern Conference with a .216 hitting percentage (141-55-399) while holding its opponents to a .167 clip (132-65-402). The Bruins average 12.8 kills per set and 1.82 aces per set, which is good for third in the league. Defensively, BU ranks third in the SoCon with 2.45 blocks per set.
   BU is led by Laura Shoopman, who is averaging 3.55 kills per set (39 total). Additionally, she leads the conference with 0.64 aces per set. Shoopman is aided by Taylor Floyd who is adding 2.82. Orchestrating the Bruin offense is Carly Mason, who is tallying 6.82 assists per set. Defensively, Rachel McBride leads with 5.38 digs per set, while Kailee Bass is recording 1.36 blocks per set.

ALL-TIME VERSUS BELMONT: Saturday's match will be the first meeting between Eastern Michigan and Belmont in program history.
   Eastern Michigan holds a 14-9 overall record (.609%) against Ohio Valley Conference teams. EMU has the advantage in the all-time series against three institutions: Morehead State (5-0), Southeast Missouri (2-0), and Austin Peay (1-0).

STARTING OFF WITH A WIN: Eastern Michigan opened the 2021 season with a three-set sweep over the College of Charleston, Aug. 27. The Eagles have started the year with a victory in three of the last four seasons. The last time the Green and White began a campaign with a sweep, prior to 2021, was in 2018 when the Eagles defeated Fordham, Aug. 24.

OPENING WEEKEND: Eastern recorded a winning opening weekend at the College of Charleston Invitational, Aug. 27-28, with a 2-1 record. The Eagles opened the weekend with a three-set sweep over the host Cougars, Aug. 27, before going 1-1 the following day against Indiana State (L, 3-1) and Montana (W, 3-2).
   The last time the Eagles opened the season with a 2-1 record was in 2016 when EMU played in the Maryland Invite, Aug. 26-27. Eastern fell to Maryland, 3-0, before defeating Sacred Heart, 3-1, and Delaware State, 3-0, respectively.

ON THE HORIZON: Eastern Michigan returns to the Great Lakes State to participate in the Michigan Challenge, Sept. 17-18. The Eagles will travel 10 miles north to the University of Michigan to take on the Wolverines Friday, Sept. 17 at 12 p.m. before challenging Dayton at 5 p.m. The Green and White will close the tournament inside the Convocation Center when it hosts Boston College Saturday, Sept. 18 at 1 p.m.

Volleyball Travels to the Windy City for the UIC Invitational

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Players Mentioned

Raeven Chase

Mackenzie Gross

Annie Lockett

Jayden Otto

Kamryn Stilwell

Franki Strefling

Olivia Szylar

Madeline Timmerman

Eastern Michigan Athletics