Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
2-11,0-1MAC
Toledo
3-9,1-0MAC
Siefke and Minshew Both Register Double-Doubles in Eagles 3-2 Loss to Toledo
9/21/2023 8:25:00 PM | Volleyball
Eagles scheduled to face Rockets once more, Friday, Sept. 22
TOLEDO, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team opened Mid-American Conference play at the University of Toledo as the Eagles fell in a five-set thriller to the Rockets, Thursday, Sept. 21, inside the Savage Arena in Toledo, Ohio.
The Eagles were led by double-doubles from both Ava Siefke (Cincinnati, Ohio/Saint Ursula Academy), who registered 12 kills and 11 digs, and Callie Minshew (Brandon, Miss./Brandon/Mississippi State), who led the team with 23 kills and 17 digs. Sabrina Gremm (North Royalton, Ohio/Gilmour Academy) added six kills to help the attack while Hannah Howard (Toledo, Ohio/Saint Ursula Academy) chipped in defensively with 25 digs to go with four blocks from Abigail Stanford (Zanesville, Ohio/Tri-Valley/Ashland).
How It Happened
SET 1 | The Eagles found themselves in an early hole, dropping a tough first set 25-13. Eastern Michigan trailed by as many as 12 points as Toledo grabbed the advantage for good at 7-6 in a set that was knotted up three times before the Rockets took control.
SET 2 | EMU fired back from a first-set loss to take the second set 25-23, tying the match at 1-1. The Eagles persevered in a back-and-forth set to win in a stanza that featured two lead changes and was tied eight times. Neither team led by more than three points along the way.
SET 3 | Eastern built on that second-set success with a victory in set number three to open up a lead at two sets to one. The Eagles took a 1-0 lead and never looked back in the set to earn a 25-20 victory. Eastern Michigan opened up as much as an eight-point lead at 21-13 before finishing off the set. The Eastern offense also got a boost with five aces in the stanza.
SET 4 | The Green and White couldn't keep the win streak alive, as the Rockets forced a fifth set with a 25-20 fourth-set win. Toledo grabbed the advantage for good at 18-17 and Eastern Michigan was never able to recover in a set that was knotted up seven times before the Rockets took over in the second half of the stanza.
SET 5 | Eastern Michigan opened a lead of two sets to one before losing the final two sets, including a 15-9 loss in the fifth set. The Eagles fell behind by as many as six points before dropping the fifth set.
Match Notes
» Four Eagles registered double-digit digs in a single match for the second time this season since EMU defeated Western Illinois University, Sept. 2, in a five-set thriller. Last season, EMU managed to record four Eagles all with double-digit digs in the same match just one time, the 3-2 upset over Bowling Green State University, Oct. 21, 2022.
» Two Eagles recorded double-doubles in the same match in Siefke and Minshew. It marked the fourth time this season in which two Eagles accomplished the double-double feat in the same match. Last season, the double-double mark was reached a total of eight times by three different Eagles (Gremm (4), Kendall Burk (3), Raeven Chase (1)). This season, the mark has been exceeded as four different Eagles (Siefke (1), Hannah Kivett (1), Elle McLoughlin (3), Callie Minshew (7)) have combined for 12 double-double performances on the season.
» Siefke's double-double marked the first of the rookie's career with her 12 kills topping her previous career-high eight, earned on three different occasions, and her 11 digs were a significant improvement from her previous two set in two other matches.
» Howard led the team in digs with 25 which topped her previous career-high 23 set against Gardner-Webb University, Sept. 16. Additionally, it was the rookie's seventh double-digit dig performance and the third consecutive with 20 or more.
Historical Notes
» The 2023 season marks the seventh time in program history EMU has opened MAC play against the Toledo Rockets and the fifth on UT's home court. Including tonight's loss, EMU stands 3-4 when opening MAC play in the Savage Arena.
Up Next
The Green and White return to Savage Arena Friday, Sept. 22, for the final match of the series against the Rockets. The match is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN+.
