Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, October 20
Ypsilanti, Mich.
6 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
vs
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Western Michigan
ON THE SCHEDULE: Volleyball Hosts Undefeated Western Michigan Broncos
10/18/2023 12:05:00 PM | Volleyball
Eagles set to host WMU Friday and Saturday
| Volleyball vs. Western Michigan | |
| Date | Friday, Oct. 20 at 6 p.m. | Saturday, Oct. 21 at 4 p.m. |
| Venue | George Gervin GameAbove Center | Ypsilanti, Mich. |
| Preview Info | EMU Notes |
| Watch | ESPN+ |
| Live Stats | Live Stats |
| @EMUVolleyball | @EMUAthletics | |
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team will continue Mid-American Conference play as it prepares to play host to the undefeated MAC member, Western Michigan University. The match series is slated for Friday and Saturday, Oct. 20-21, and will be played inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center with start times of 6 p.m. and 4 p.m., respectively.
The Eagles (2-19, 0-9 MAC) are in search of their first conference victory of the season after suffering two, three-set losses to the Huskies of Northern Illinois University, Oct. 12-13. The Broncos travel to Ypsilanti with a clean 9-0 record in league play after dismantling the Chippewas of Central Michigan University in three straight sets in both matches of the series, Oct. 12-13, and defeating the Huskies in three sets, Oct. 17.
Friday's match is scheduled to stream on ESPN+ at 6 p.m. with Steven MacDonald (play-by-play) and Janet Hinz (color analyst) on the call. Saturday's contest will have an earlier start as the match will begin at 4 p.m. with the duo of Ryan Wooley (play-by-play) and Janet Hinz (color analyst) back on the call. Fans can also follow along for free via live stats at EMUEagles.com/livestats.
QUICK SERVES:
» The program's 48th season began with the announcing of a new coaching staff. Head coach Kevin Foeman joined the Eagles in March and added Lainey Stephenson as his assistant coach. Additionally, the program named Remy Foeman as the Director of Volleyball Operations.
» This season, the Eagles opened their nest to four "true" freshmen and five transfers to complete their "soar of eagles".
» Sept. 2, 2023, marked the day first-year head coach Kevin Foeman earned his first win as an Eastern Michigan Eagle as he and his team overcame Western Illinois University, 3-2, in the Popcorn Classic, for the first win of the 2023 season. Since then, the Eagles earned their second win of the season in a 3-0 sweep over the Cougars of Chicago State University, Sept. 8. Additionally, that contest marked Foeman's 250th career match.
» Callie Minshew has led the Eagles in kills in 19 of the 21 total matches of the 2023 campaign, recording double-figure kills in all but one. Additionally, she recorded a career-high double-double with a team-leading 25 kills and 21 digs, Sept. 26, against the Chippewas. The 25 kills tied for fifth-most in a single match in program history.
» Additionally, Callie Minshew was the lone Eagle to record double-digit kills in both matches of the series at NIU, Oct. 12-13. The graduate student recorded her ninth and 10th 15+ kill match with 17 and 16, respectively.
» Samantha Basham currently sits 11 kills away from the 1,000 career kills milestone. Additionally, Callie Minshew needs just nine more service aces to reach the 100 career serving aces milestone, while Olivia Szylar sits nine helpers away from the 500 career assists mark.
» Eastern Michigan ranks second in the MAC in terms of digs/set (15.54) behind the University of Toledo (15.78).
GRAB A SHOVEL, WE'RE DIGGIN': As a team, the Green and White are averaging 15.54 digs per set, good for second in the MAC behind Toledo's 15.78. Leading the Eagles in the category for the 2023 season is Hannah Howard with 282 total digs, with 263 of those coming against MAC opponents and ranking the freshman ninth with 3.65 digs/set. Howard has led EMU in digs in 13 matches and has recorded double-digit digs in all 13 as well.
CONSISTENT CALLIE: Prior to the match at Toledo, Sept. 22, Callie Minshew led the Eagles in kills in 13 consecutive competitions, recording double-digit figures in all. Only one other MAC member had a player record the sort or more as the University of Akron's Faith Johnson went on a 15-match double-digit kill streak to start the season prior to facing the Green and White, Oct. 5.
In that contest, Minshew and her crew limited Johnson to just five kills in the match, ultimately stopping the senior's consecutive streak. Additionally, in a head-to-head comparison, Minshew out-hit Johnson .262 (18-of-42) to -.094 (5-of-32).
MORE ON MINSHEW: Callie Minshew's attacking performance against the Huskies, Oct. 12-13, marked the ninth and 10th contest this season in which the graduate student has recorded 15 kills or more. Additionally, the two double-digit performances (17, Oct. 12; 16, Oct. 13) go down as her 17th and 18th double-digit outcome of the season and the 36th and 37th of her career. Minshew was the lone Eagle to record double-figure kills in both matches over the series at NIU. It marked the 10th and 11th time this season in which she has reached the double-digit kill mark solo with the last match of the series marking the fourth consecutive.
YUP, STILL TALKIN' ABOUT MINSHEW: Callie Minshew sits just nine service aces away from hitting her career-milestone mark of 100 serving aces. The graduate student has registered a single service ace in 14-of-21 matches played this season and leads the team with 21 total aces.
SEASON-SETTING SURABHI: Surabhi Srinivasan marked a career-high four kills in the loss to the Huskies, Oct. 12, topping her one kill in three different occasions. Additionally, she recorded a season-high 27 attempts in the match as well as seven digs and 4.5 points.
ASSISTED (LIV)'IN: Senior Olivia Szylar helped on 21 kills in the loss, Oct. 12, for a season-high, topping her previous 10 which she recorded in two different contests (vs. Chicago State, Sept. 8; at Buffalo, Oct. 6). Additionally, the 21 assists marked the second consecutive match in which the senior recorded double-digit assists after collecting 10 against the Bulls the match before. The streak stretched to three when she helped on 15 assists in the second match of the series at NIU, Oct. 13.
Szylar has recorded four double-digit assists performances this season and 15 in her career. The senior sits just 10 assists away from hitting the 500 helpers mark.
SHE ACED IT: Olivia Szylar registered a team-leading two aces in the loss, Oct. 13, for a season-high, topping her one previously recorded against Chicago State University, Sept. 8. It marked just the second time this season in which the senior has earned a single ace.
EVEN-KEELED: The Green and White battled on an even playing surface as both the Eagles and the Huskies recorded an equal amount of serving aces (2), serving errors (7), and assists (49), Oct. 12. It marked just the third time this season in which the Eagles have tied in serving aces with its opponent and just the third time with the same amount of assists.
SWIFLY-SIEFKE: Ava Siefke hit for a career-high .400 hitting percentage in the loss at NIU, Oct. 12. The rookie went 7-for-15 to top her previous career-high hitting percentage of .333 which she achieved on two separate occasions. It marked the ninth contest this season where the freshman has contributed seven or more kills in a single match.
SMASHIN' BASHAM: A five-year member of the volleyball program, Samantha Basham is approaching the 1,000 career kills milestone as she currently sits just 11 away with 989 total career kills. The fifth-year is averaging 1.85 kills per set in the 2023 season and ranks third on the team behind Ava Siefke and Callie Minshew.
WORKING TOGETHER: Seven Eagles contributed a kill in the match, Oct. 13. In the 2023 season, the Eagles have had seven or more players record a single kill in all but three matches (18). Last season, EMU had seven or more Eagles contribute a single kill in just 16 matches.
HUNGRY HOWIE: Hannah Howard led the team in digs in both matches over the weekend with her 24 on Thursday marking the rookie's fifth contest with 20+ digs. Additionally, it was the freshman's 12th double-digit dig performance. Howard's 3.67 digs per set ranks her ninth in the conference.
Howard is one of only two underclassmen to be listed in the top-10 rankings for digs/set joining Akron's Vanessa Del Real who ranks eighth with 3.84 digs/set.
EAGLES IN THE MAC: Callie Minshew's 3.71 kills per set ranks her fourth in the MAC while her 4.31 points per set is good for second behind Kent State's Mackenzie McGuire. Additionally, Elle McLoughlin leads EMU with 582 helpers on the season, which is good for 8.10 assists per set, ranking her seventh in the conference. Lastly, Hannah Howard ranks ninth in the league in terms of digs per set with 3.65.
ALL-TIME VS. THE BRONCOS: The Eagles defeated the Broncos in their very first meeting back in 1976 in just two sets as the matches were best of three at the time. EMU is currently 24-71 against Western Michigan, with its last victory over its in-state-rival coming Oct. 6, 2018. The last time the Eagles faced the Broncos EMU fell in three-straight as Raeven Chase finished with six kills on the day to lead the Eagles offense. Additionally, the Green and White registered 17 digs from Bella Hommes to lead them defensively.
EMU AGAINST MAC-LEADING TEAMS: Last season, the Eagles took down the then-league-leader, Bowling Green State University, in a five-set thriller inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center, Friday, Oct. 21, in what was to be considered the biggest upset of the 2022 MAC season. The Falcons entered the series with an 8-1 MAC record before falling at the hands of the Green and White.
This season, the league-leading Broncos enter the series with a clean 9-0 record in conference matches.
ON THE HORIZON: Following the home series with WMU, the Green and White prepare to play host twice more, this time to the Falcons of BGSU, Thursday, Oct. 26, and the RedHawks of Miami University, Friday, Oct. 27, inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center. Both matches are scheduled to stream on ESPN+ with Thursday's match beginning at 6 p.m. and Friday's at 4 p.m.
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 Eagles (2-19, 0-9 MAC) are in search of their first conference victory of the season after suffering two, three-set losses to the Huskies of Northern Illinois University, Oct. 12-13. The Broncos travel to Ypsilanti with a clean 9-0 record in league play after dismantling the Chippewas of Central Michigan University in three straight sets in both matches of the series, Oct. 12-13, and defeating the Huskies in three sets, Oct. 17.
Friday's match is scheduled to stream on ESPN+ at 6 p.m. with Steven MacDonald (play-by-play) and Janet Hinz (color analyst) on the call. Saturday's contest will have an earlier start as the match will begin at 4 p.m. with the duo of Ryan Wooley (play-by-play) and Janet Hinz (color analyst) back on the call. Fans can also follow along for free via live stats at EMUEagles.com/livestats.
QUICK SERVES:
» The program's 48th season began with the announcing of a new coaching staff. Head coach Kevin Foeman joined the Eagles in March and added Lainey Stephenson as his assistant coach. Additionally, the program named Remy Foeman as the Director of Volleyball Operations.
» This season, the Eagles opened their nest to four "true" freshmen and five transfers to complete their "soar of eagles".
» Sept. 2, 2023, marked the day first-year head coach Kevin Foeman earned his first win as an Eastern Michigan Eagle as he and his team overcame Western Illinois University, 3-2, in the Popcorn Classic, for the first win of the 2023 season. Since then, the Eagles earned their second win of the season in a 3-0 sweep over the Cougars of Chicago State University, Sept. 8. Additionally, that contest marked Foeman's 250th career match.
» Callie Minshew has led the Eagles in kills in 19 of the 21 total matches of the 2023 campaign, recording double-figure kills in all but one. Additionally, she recorded a career-high double-double with a team-leading 25 kills and 21 digs, Sept. 26, against the Chippewas. The 25 kills tied for fifth-most in a single match in program history.
» Additionally, Callie Minshew was the lone Eagle to record double-digit kills in both matches of the series at NIU, Oct. 12-13. The graduate student recorded her ninth and 10th 15+ kill match with 17 and 16, respectively.
» Samantha Basham currently sits 11 kills away from the 1,000 career kills milestone. Additionally, Callie Minshew needs just nine more service aces to reach the 100 career serving aces milestone, while Olivia Szylar sits nine helpers away from the 500 career assists mark.
» Eastern Michigan ranks second in the MAC in terms of digs/set (15.54) behind the University of Toledo (15.78).
GRAB A SHOVEL, WE'RE DIGGIN': As a team, the Green and White are averaging 15.54 digs per set, good for second in the MAC behind Toledo's 15.78. Leading the Eagles in the category for the 2023 season is Hannah Howard with 282 total digs, with 263 of those coming against MAC opponents and ranking the freshman ninth with 3.65 digs/set. Howard has led EMU in digs in 13 matches and has recorded double-digit digs in all 13 as well.
CONSISTENT CALLIE: Prior to the match at Toledo, Sept. 22, Callie Minshew led the Eagles in kills in 13 consecutive competitions, recording double-digit figures in all. Only one other MAC member had a player record the sort or more as the University of Akron's Faith Johnson went on a 15-match double-digit kill streak to start the season prior to facing the Green and White, Oct. 5.
In that contest, Minshew and her crew limited Johnson to just five kills in the match, ultimately stopping the senior's consecutive streak. Additionally, in a head-to-head comparison, Minshew out-hit Johnson .262 (18-of-42) to -.094 (5-of-32).
MORE ON MINSHEW: Callie Minshew's attacking performance against the Huskies, Oct. 12-13, marked the ninth and 10th contest this season in which the graduate student has recorded 15 kills or more. Additionally, the two double-digit performances (17, Oct. 12; 16, Oct. 13) go down as her 17th and 18th double-digit outcome of the season and the 36th and 37th of her career. Minshew was the lone Eagle to record double-figure kills in both matches over the series at NIU. It marked the 10th and 11th time this season in which she has reached the double-digit kill mark solo with the last match of the series marking the fourth consecutive.
YUP, STILL TALKIN' ABOUT MINSHEW: Callie Minshew sits just nine service aces away from hitting her career-milestone mark of 100 serving aces. The graduate student has registered a single service ace in 14-of-21 matches played this season and leads the team with 21 total aces.
SEASON-SETTING SURABHI: Surabhi Srinivasan marked a career-high four kills in the loss to the Huskies, Oct. 12, topping her one kill in three different occasions. Additionally, she recorded a season-high 27 attempts in the match as well as seven digs and 4.5 points.
ASSISTED (LIV)'IN: Senior Olivia Szylar helped on 21 kills in the loss, Oct. 12, for a season-high, topping her previous 10 which she recorded in two different contests (vs. Chicago State, Sept. 8; at Buffalo, Oct. 6). Additionally, the 21 assists marked the second consecutive match in which the senior recorded double-digit assists after collecting 10 against the Bulls the match before. The streak stretched to three when she helped on 15 assists in the second match of the series at NIU, Oct. 13.
Szylar has recorded four double-digit assists performances this season and 15 in her career. The senior sits just 10 assists away from hitting the 500 helpers mark.
SHE ACED IT: Olivia Szylar registered a team-leading two aces in the loss, Oct. 13, for a season-high, topping her one previously recorded against Chicago State University, Sept. 8. It marked just the second time this season in which the senior has earned a single ace.
EVEN-KEELED: The Green and White battled on an even playing surface as both the Eagles and the Huskies recorded an equal amount of serving aces (2), serving errors (7), and assists (49), Oct. 12. It marked just the third time this season in which the Eagles have tied in serving aces with its opponent and just the third time with the same amount of assists.
SWIFLY-SIEFKE: Ava Siefke hit for a career-high .400 hitting percentage in the loss at NIU, Oct. 12. The rookie went 7-for-15 to top her previous career-high hitting percentage of .333 which she achieved on two separate occasions. It marked the ninth contest this season where the freshman has contributed seven or more kills in a single match.
SMASHIN' BASHAM: A five-year member of the volleyball program, Samantha Basham is approaching the 1,000 career kills milestone as she currently sits just 11 away with 989 total career kills. The fifth-year is averaging 1.85 kills per set in the 2023 season and ranks third on the team behind Ava Siefke and Callie Minshew.
WORKING TOGETHER: Seven Eagles contributed a kill in the match, Oct. 13. In the 2023 season, the Eagles have had seven or more players record a single kill in all but three matches (18). Last season, EMU had seven or more Eagles contribute a single kill in just 16 matches.
HUNGRY HOWIE: Hannah Howard led the team in digs in both matches over the weekend with her 24 on Thursday marking the rookie's fifth contest with 20+ digs. Additionally, it was the freshman's 12th double-digit dig performance. Howard's 3.67 digs per set ranks her ninth in the conference.
Howard is one of only two underclassmen to be listed in the top-10 rankings for digs/set joining Akron's Vanessa Del Real who ranks eighth with 3.84 digs/set.
EAGLES IN THE MAC: Callie Minshew's 3.71 kills per set ranks her fourth in the MAC while her 4.31 points per set is good for second behind Kent State's Mackenzie McGuire. Additionally, Elle McLoughlin leads EMU with 582 helpers on the season, which is good for 8.10 assists per set, ranking her seventh in the conference. Lastly, Hannah Howard ranks ninth in the league in terms of digs per set with 3.65.
ALL-TIME VS. THE BRONCOS: The Eagles defeated the Broncos in their very first meeting back in 1976 in just two sets as the matches were best of three at the time. EMU is currently 24-71 against Western Michigan, with its last victory over its in-state-rival coming Oct. 6, 2018. The last time the Eagles faced the Broncos EMU fell in three-straight as Raeven Chase finished with six kills on the day to lead the Eagles offense. Additionally, the Green and White registered 17 digs from Bella Hommes to lead them defensively.
EMU AGAINST MAC-LEADING TEAMS: Last season, the Eagles took down the then-league-leader, Bowling Green State University, in a five-set thriller inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center, Friday, Oct. 21, in what was to be considered the biggest upset of the 2022 MAC season. The Falcons entered the series with an 8-1 MAC record before falling at the hands of the Green and White.
This season, the league-leading Broncos enter the series with a clean 9-0 record in conference matches.
ON THE HORIZON: Following the home series with WMU, the Green and White prepare to play host twice more, this time to the Falcons of BGSU, Thursday, Oct. 26, and the RedHawks of Miami University, Friday, Oct. 27, inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center. Both matches are scheduled to stream on ESPN+ with Thursday's match beginning at 6 p.m. and Friday's at 4 p.m.
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.
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Players Mentioned
OH/RS
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
DS
/ Volleyball
DS
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
OH/DS
/ Volleyball
S
/ VolleyballStatement win😤👊
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