Eastern Michigan Athletics
Thursday, September 22
Ypsilanti, Mich.
6 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
vs
Toledo
EMU Volleyball Prepares to Host Toledo in Home-Opener
9/21/2022 10:25:00 AM | Volleyball
The Return of the #MACtion
| Volleyball vs. Toledo | |
| Date | Thursday, Sept. 22 at 6 p.m. | Friday, Sept. 23 at 6 p.m. |
| Venue | George Gervin GameAbove Center | Ypsilanti, Mich. |
| Preview Info | EMU Notes (PDF) |
| Watch | ESPN+ | ESPN 3 |
| Live Stats | Live Stats |
| @EMUVolleyball | @EMUAthletics | |
YPSILANTI, MICH. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team opens Mid-American Conference play in its home-opener against, the University of Toledo, Thursday, Sept. 22 inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center with the first serve beginning at 6 p.m. The Eagles will face the Rockets again the following day with a 6 p.m. serve.
Both matches will be streamed on ESPN with the first match on ESPN+ and the second on ESPN 3. Ryan Wooley (play-by-play) and Kyler Ludlow (Analyst) will have the call. Of course, you can follow the action for free all season long via live stats at EMUEagles.com/livestats.
THE WIN ON SEPT. 16: The Eagles produced a season-high .223 hitting percentage against the Highlanders of Radford University, Sept. 16, tallying 10 more kills than the Big South Conference member. This statistical mark is just the second time the Eagles have led their opponent in successful attacks in 2022, with the first coming against Virginia Tech University, Sept. 9, when Eastern earned 63 kills to Virginia Tech's 56.
Additionally, prior to the Liberty Tournament, Eastern Michigan's overall record for the 2022 season was 0-9. The last time EMU had a season-opening nine-match losing streak was in 2000. The team later ended that streak with a 3-0 sweep victory over the University of Alabama-Birmingham, Sept. 16, 2000. Exactly 22 years later, the Eagles have broken another nine-match losing streak with the same 3-0 result.
THE RETURN OF THE MAC: The Eagles will begin their conference season with a home-opener against the Rockets, Thursday, Sept. 22 in the George Gervin GameAbove Center. In the 2021 season, the Green and White was victorious in four of its 18 MAC matches. Overall, the program is just 20 league wins short of 300 with an all-time record of 280-362-1 in the Mid-American Conference. Eastern has won a MAC West Title in 2005, and a MAC Tournament Title in 2018.
CAN YOU DIG IT?: Eastern Michigan got a match-high 18 digs from freshman Emma McMahon against Radford University, Sept. 16 for her eighth-consecutive match with double-digit figures in digs. Earning a season-high 10 digs against the Highlanders was graduate student Callie Minshew with her first double-digit figure in digs of the 2022 season and 19th of her career. Additionally, both Kendall Burk and Krista Blakely matched their respective season-highs in digs. Burk tallied six digs on the match for the second time in her career, while Blakely added two for the sixth time this season.
MISS ASSIST: Over the weekend, junior Olivia Szylar produced 51 total helpers with 21 coming against Coppin State University, Sept. 16. The junior has recorded a double-digit figure in assists in 11 of the 12 matches of the 2022 season thus far for a total 306 set assists. With her 306 assists, the junior leads the Eagles in the 2022 campaign.
SOMEONE GET MCMAHON A SHOVEL: Over the weekend, freshman Emma McMahon registered a total 53 digs in three matches. The rookie continued to elevate after a great performance against Radford University, Sept. 16, chalking-up 23 digs over Coppin State right after. McMahon's 23 digs marked for a new career-high, improving from 19 against Saint Louis University, Sept. 9. Then against Liberty, the Green and White received a match-high 12 digs from McMahon for her 10th-consecutive match with double-digit figures in digs. The rookie currently leads the Eagles in digs with 187.
VEGAS ACE: Junior Olivia Szylar registered her first match as the team leader in aces (3) against Radford University, Sept. 16, recording a career-high. Szylar led the team again against Coppin State University, Sept. 16, with two. Against the Flames of Liberty University, Sept. 17, Emma McMahon had a team-high two aces in the loss. The two service aces also rank as the rookie's career-best. Also earning service aces on the match with one each was both graduate student Callie Minshew and Kendall Burk. The two hold the season-record four aces in a single match.
ONE AWAY: Seniors Smantha Basham and Raeven Chase are both just one block away from their next career milestones. Basham is just one block-assists shy from 100, while Chase is just one total block away from breaking 350. Chase is currently ranked third in the league for total blocks in a single season (45) and fifth in the MAC for blocks per set (0.98).
TAKING LIVES LEFT AND RIGHT: Senior Krista Blakely is currently chasing a kills milestone of 400 and is just five successful attacks away. Fellow senior Samantha Basham is looking for just four for her next milestone of 700 career kills. Basham currently holds the number one spot in most kills on the team (109) and ranks 32nd in the league in kills per set (2.18).
CHASE-IN RECORDS: Senior Raeven Chase finished the 2021 season seventh all-time with 62 career solo blocks, tied with former Eagle Cassie Haut (2015-19). Just three matches into the 2022 campaign, Chase secured sole-possession of seventh all-time with 71 block-solos, trailing the No. 6 position held by Lindsay Piccolini (2003-06) who finished with 77. Chase is currently just two block-solos away from taking No. 6. Former all-region selection Roxanne Munch (1986-1989) holds the record at 140 career solo blocks.
Chase's six block solos in a single match, which came against Louisiana (Aug. 26, 2022), ties for the fifth-most single match block solos in program history. Four others have accomplished the feat. Her six block solos against the Ragin' Cajuns is also the most by any Eastern Michigan player in a single match since the 1989 season, when Roxanne Munch hit that number against the University of Notre Dame, Oct. 7.
EAGLES IN THE MAC: Eastern Michigan's 95 total team blocks ranks No. 1 in the league and is good for 96th nationally. Freshman Emma McMahon ranked eighth in the MAC prior to the Liberty Tournament. The Indiana-native is now good for fourth place ranking with a team leading 187 digs. Senior Raeven Chase holds the No. 3 spot in total blocks within the Mid-American Conference with 45 total on the year
LAST TIME VS. TOLEDO: The last meeting between the two MAC institutions came Nov. 6, 2021, when Toledo defeated the Eagles in a 3-1 match in their home court in Toledo, Ohio. Senior Samantha Basham finished with 14 kills on the day to lead the Eagles attack. Defensively, the Green and White had two players reach double figures in digs as senior Kamryn Stilwell had 16 while junior Bella Hommes added 10. From the front row, Krista Blakely contributed five blocks.
ALL-TIME VS. TOLEDO: Eastern currently holds an impressive 61-19 record over the Rockets dating back to 1976. The domination began with the first seven matches of the rivalry favoring the Eagles. Toledo managed to break what would have been a 19-year win streak, in 1983 before losing the next 11 consecutive meetings from 1984 to 1990, which included 7 sweeps and zero fifth set reaches. From 2001to 2006, EMU came out victorious in eight straight games for their second longest win streak against the Rockets. Eastern has won six of the last 10 matchups. Eastern has defeated Toledo at home 37 of 42 times and looks to do it again in September on its new court.
ON THE HORIZON: Following the matches against Toledo, the Eagles will continue the #MACtion and travel down to Muncie, Ind. to face off with the defending champs of Ball State University, Fri-Sat. Sept. 30th – Oct. 1st.
FOLLOW THE ACTION ALL SEASON LONG: Stay connected with the Eagles all season long by following @EMUVolleyball and @EMUAthletics on Twitter for all of the latest EMU volleyball updates. Be sure to also follow the Green and White on Instagram, @EMU_Volleyball.
THE RETURN OF THE MAC: The Eagles will begin their conference season with a home-opener against the Rockets, Thursday, Sept. 22 in the George Gervin GameAbove Center. In the 2021 season, the Green and White was victorious in four of its 18 MAC matches. Overall, the program is just 20 league wins short of 300 with an all-time record of 280-362-1 in the Mid-American Conference. Eastern has won a MAC West Title in 2005, and a MAC Tournament Title in 2018.
CAN YOU DIG IT?: Eastern Michigan got a match-high 18 digs from freshman Emma McMahon against Radford University, Sept. 16 for her eighth-consecutive match with double-digit figures in digs. Earning a season-high 10 digs against the Highlanders was graduate student Callie Minshew with her first double-digit figure in digs of the 2022 season and 19th of her career. Additionally, both Kendall Burk and Krista Blakely matched their respective season-highs in digs. Burk tallied six digs on the match for the second time in her career, while Blakely added two for the sixth time this season.
MISS ASSIST: Over the weekend, junior Olivia Szylar produced 51 total helpers with 21 coming against Coppin State University, Sept. 16. The junior has recorded a double-digit figure in assists in 11 of the 12 matches of the 2022 season thus far for a total 306 set assists. With her 306 assists, the junior leads the Eagles in the 2022 campaign.
SOMEONE GET MCMAHON A SHOVEL: Over the weekend, freshman Emma McMahon registered a total 53 digs in three matches. The rookie continued to elevate after a great performance against Radford University, Sept. 16, chalking-up 23 digs over Coppin State right after. McMahon's 23 digs marked for a new career-high, improving from 19 against Saint Louis University, Sept. 9. Then against Liberty, the Green and White received a match-high 12 digs from McMahon for her 10th-consecutive match with double-digit figures in digs. The rookie currently leads the Eagles in digs with 187.
VEGAS ACE: Junior Olivia Szylar registered her first match as the team leader in aces (3) against Radford University, Sept. 16, recording a career-high. Szylar led the team again against Coppin State University, Sept. 16, with two. Against the Flames of Liberty University, Sept. 17, Emma McMahon had a team-high two aces in the loss. The two service aces also rank as the rookie's career-best. Also earning service aces on the match with one each was both graduate student Callie Minshew and Kendall Burk. The two hold the season-record four aces in a single match.
ONE AWAY: Seniors Smantha Basham and Raeven Chase are both just one block away from their next career milestones. Basham is just one block-assists shy from 100, while Chase is just one total block away from breaking 350. Chase is currently ranked third in the league for total blocks in a single season (45) and fifth in the MAC for blocks per set (0.98).
TAKING LIVES LEFT AND RIGHT: Senior Krista Blakely is currently chasing a kills milestone of 400 and is just five successful attacks away. Fellow senior Samantha Basham is looking for just four for her next milestone of 700 career kills. Basham currently holds the number one spot in most kills on the team (109) and ranks 32nd in the league in kills per set (2.18).
CHASE-IN RECORDS: Senior Raeven Chase finished the 2021 season seventh all-time with 62 career solo blocks, tied with former Eagle Cassie Haut (2015-19). Just three matches into the 2022 campaign, Chase secured sole-possession of seventh all-time with 71 block-solos, trailing the No. 6 position held by Lindsay Piccolini (2003-06) who finished with 77. Chase is currently just two block-solos away from taking No. 6. Former all-region selection Roxanne Munch (1986-1989) holds the record at 140 career solo blocks.
Chase's six block solos in a single match, which came against Louisiana (Aug. 26, 2022), ties for the fifth-most single match block solos in program history. Four others have accomplished the feat. Her six block solos against the Ragin' Cajuns is also the most by any Eastern Michigan player in a single match since the 1989 season, when Roxanne Munch hit that number against the University of Notre Dame, Oct. 7.
EAGLES IN THE MAC: Eastern Michigan's 95 total team blocks ranks No. 1 in the league and is good for 96th nationally. Freshman Emma McMahon ranked eighth in the MAC prior to the Liberty Tournament. The Indiana-native is now good for fourth place ranking with a team leading 187 digs. Senior Raeven Chase holds the No. 3 spot in total blocks within the Mid-American Conference with 45 total on the year
LAST TIME VS. TOLEDO: The last meeting between the two MAC institutions came Nov. 6, 2021, when Toledo defeated the Eagles in a 3-1 match in their home court in Toledo, Ohio. Senior Samantha Basham finished with 14 kills on the day to lead the Eagles attack. Defensively, the Green and White had two players reach double figures in digs as senior Kamryn Stilwell had 16 while junior Bella Hommes added 10. From the front row, Krista Blakely contributed five blocks.
ALL-TIME VS. TOLEDO: Eastern currently holds an impressive 61-19 record over the Rockets dating back to 1976. The domination began with the first seven matches of the rivalry favoring the Eagles. Toledo managed to break what would have been a 19-year win streak, in 1983 before losing the next 11 consecutive meetings from 1984 to 1990, which included 7 sweeps and zero fifth set reaches. From 2001to 2006, EMU came out victorious in eight straight games for their second longest win streak against the Rockets. Eastern has won six of the last 10 matchups. Eastern has defeated Toledo at home 37 of 42 times and looks to do it again in September on its new court.
ON THE HORIZON: Following the matches against Toledo, the Eagles will continue the #MACtion and travel down to Muncie, Ind. to face off with the defending champs of Ball State University, Fri-Sat. Sept. 30th – Oct. 1st.
FOLLOW THE ACTION ALL SEASON LONG: Stay connected with the Eagles all season long by following @EMUVolleyball and @EMUAthletics on Twitter for all of the latest EMU volleyball updates. Be sure to also follow the Green and White on Instagram, @EMU_Volleyball.
Players Mentioned
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OH/RS
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MB
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DS
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OH
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