Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
0-4,0-0MAC
Oakland
2-2,0-0Horizon
Eagles Drop Two in Popcorn Classic
9/1/2023 11:00:00 PM | Volleyball
Minshew recorded her second season double-double; eighth of her career
Photo Galleries: vs. Oakland. vs. Valpo.
MATCH 1 | EMU 1, OAKLAND 3 (25-21,23-25,19-25,20-25)
MATCH 2 | EMU 2, VALPO 3 (25-23,19-25,25-21,14-25,6-15)
VALPARAISO, Ind. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team competed in the first day of the Popcorn Classic hosted by Valparaiso University, Sept. 1, inside the Athletics-Recreation Center in Valparaiso, Ind. The day started with the Eagles (0-4, 0-0 MAC) dropping a close four-setter to the Golden Grizzlies of Oakland University (1-2, 0-0 Horizon), Sept. 1, before falling to the host Beacons (4-2, 0-0 MVC) in a five-set thriller later in the day.
Match 1
Callie Minshew (Brandon, Miss./Brandon/Mississippi State) and Mackenzie Gross (Grand Haven, Mich./Grand Haven) both led the Green and White with 11 kills each with Gross posting a .375 hitting percentage (11-of-24). Defensively, Bella Hommes (Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Northern) led with 15 digs, while Elle McLoughlin (Zanesville, Ohio/Tri Valley/Ashland) contributed a team-leading four blocks.
Match 2
The Eagle attack was once again paced by Minshew, who finished with her second double-double of the season with 15 kills on the match, 26 on the day, accumulating a hitting percentage of .375. Defensively, the Eagles had two players reach double figures in digs, including Hommes' 23, and Minshew's 11.
Hannah Howard (Toledo, Ohio/ Saint Ursula Academy)
QUICK SERVES:
» Leading the Eagles in kills in both matches was Minshew with 11 against the Golden Grizzlies and 15 against the Beacons.
» Additionally, Minshew recorded her second double-double of the season, eighth of her career, against the host Beacons putting up 15 kills and 11 digs.
» Eight different Eagles recorded at least one block in the setback to the Beacons, while six different members recorded at least one against the Golden Grizzlies.
» Two Eagles recorded double-digit kills in a single match as both Gross and Minshew record 11 against Oakland.
» Hommes' 15 digs against Oakland and 23 versus Valparaiso led the Green and White in both matches.
» The Green and White competed in a fifth set for the second time this season.
How It Happened – Match 1
SET 1 | The Eagles opened up an early one set to none lead, winning the first set, 25-21. Eastern Michigan never trailed by more than five points and grabbed the advantage for good at 14-13 in a set that featured nine ties and six lead changes. EMU also supplemented their offense with four aces in the opening set.
SET 2 | Eastern Michigan then fell in set two 25-23 to tie the match 1-1. The Eagles lost the second set in spite of a solid showing on the attacking end. The Green and White registered a .313 attack percentage with 12 kills in the set loss.
SET 3 | Eastern Michigan fell again in set three to make it a 2-1 deficit. The Eagles dropped a tough set 25-19. EMU trailed by as many as six points as Oakland grabbed the advantage for good at 18-17 in a set that was tied up four times before the Golden Grizzlies took over in the second half of the stanza.
SET 4 | The Eagles lost set four and the match, falling 25-20. Oakland grabbed the advantage for good at 12-11 and Eastern Michigan was never able to recover in a set that was knotted up four times before the Golden Grizzlies took over the lead.
Mach Notes - Match 1
» Minshew's 11 kills along with Gross' 11 led the Eagles. This was the fourth consecutive match in which Minshew finished as a kill leader. Last season, the graduate student led the team in kills in just two appearances, versus Saint Louis University, Sept. 9, 2022 (13), and then again at Ball State University, Oct. 1, 2022 (8).
» Emma McMahon (Monroeville, Ind./Bellmont) led the Green and White with three aces in the setback. The three service aces top the sophomore's career high two set against Bowling Green State University, Oct. 22, 2022. Additionally, McMahon's three aces in a single match mark the third time this season in which an Eagle recorded three or more aces in a single match.
» Hommes 15 digs against the Golden Grizzlies attack led the Green and White. This marked the fourth consecutive match where Hommes has led in digs. Additionally, the senior has recorded double-digit team-leading digs in four consecutive matches this season.
How It Happened – Match 2
SET 1 | The Eagles grabbed control on the first point and never looked back to win the first set 25-23. Eastern Michigan led by four points at 6-2 before closing out the set.
SET 2 | Eastern Michigan fell in the second set, 25-19, to tie the match 1-1. Eastern trailed by as many as six points as Valparaiso grabbed the advantage for good at 19-18 in a set that was tied up 12 times before the Beacons took over in the second half of the stanza.
SET 3 | Eastern Michigan then got back on the winning track, emerging victorious in set three and taking two sets to one lead in the match. The Eagles took the set 25-21 propelled by a solid showing on the attacking end. Eastern Michigan put together a .333 attack percentage with 13 kills in the set win. After the lead changed hands one time, the Eagles took control for good at 14-13 and rode that advantage to victory.
SET 4 | EMU couldn't finish off a four-set win as the Beacons forced a fifth set with a 25-14 victory. The Eagles lost the first point and fought from behind the rest of the way before losing the set.
SET 5 | The Green and White and Valparaiso went back and forth all game, trading wins in the first three sets until the Beacons took the final two sets, including winning the fifth set 15-6, and the match. The Eagles fell behind on the first point and never clawed back into the lead.
Match Notes – Match 2
» Minshew led the Green and White for the fifth consecutive match this season. Additionally, the graduate student recorded her second double-double of the season, her eighth career, with 15 kills and 11 digs.
» McLoughlin led with 38 helpers in the setback. It was the third consecutive match in which the transfer assisted on 30+ attacks.
» The Eagles forced the host Beacons to a fifth set in the loss. This marked the second time this season where the Eagles have competed in a fifth set.
Up Next
The Green and White will remain in Valparaiso, Ind. for the second part of the Popcorn Classic. The Eagles are scheduled to face Western Illinois University, Saturday, Sept. 2 at 1 p.m. CT.
