Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
2-13,0-3MAC
Central Michigan
7-8,1-2MAC
Three Eagles Secure Double-Doubles in 3-2 Loss to Central Michigan
9/26/2023 8:56:00 PM | Volleyball
EMU opened the 2023 home schedule with CMU
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YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team opened the 2023 home season with a five-set loss to in-state rival Central Michigan University Tuesday, Sept. 26, inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center. The Mid-American Conference setback moved the Eagles' overall record to 2-13 and 0-3 in MAC play.
The Eagles were led by the double-doubles from Ava Siefke (Cincinnati, Ohio/Saint Ursula Academy), who had 16 kills and 16 digs, Callie Minshew (Brandon, Miss./Brandon/Mississippi State), who had 25 kills and 21 digs, and Elle McLoughlin (Zanesville, Ohio/Tri-Valley/Ashland), who had 44 assists and 14 digs. Samantha Basham (Granville, Ohio/Newark Catholic) added 11 kills to help the offense. On the defensive end, Hannah Howard (Toledo, Ohio/Saint Ursula Academy) chipped in with 20 digs to go with five blocks from Abigail Stanford (Zanesville, Ohio/Tri-Valley/Ashland).
How It Happened
SET 1 | The Eagles fell behind early, dropping a tough first set 25-15. Eastern Michigan trailed by as many as 10 points as Central Michigan grabbed the advantage for good at 12-11 in a set that was knotted up seven times before the Chippewas took control.
SET 2 | Eastern Michigan responded to pick up a 26-24 victory in the second set, evening the match at one set apiece. The Eagles survived a back-and-forth set to win in a stanza that featured three lead changes and was tied seven times. Neither team led by more than four points along the way. The Eagles racked up 19 kills throughout the set.
SET 3 | Eastern Michigan 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 the third set 25-22. The Green and White took the lead for good at 23-22 in a set that showcased three lead changes before the Eagles took over in the second half of the stanza. The Eagles racked up 17 kills over the course of the set.
SET 4 | Eastern couldn't keep the win streak alive, as the Chippewas forced a fifth set with a 25-21 fourth-set win. Central Michigan grabbed the advantage for good at 7-6 and Eastern Michigan was never able to recover in a set that was tied up five times before the Chippewas took over the lead.
SET 5 | EMU took a lead of two sets to one before falling in the final two sets, including an 18-16 loss in the fifth set. The Eagles lost the fifth set despite a solid showing on the attacking side. Eastern Michigan put together a .323 attack percentage with 13 kills in the set loss.
Match Notes
» Three Eagles contributed double-double performances throughout the five-set loss to Central Michigan. It marked the fourth time EMU has recorded two Eagles with double-doubles in the same match and the second with three this season. The last time three Eagles registered double-doubles in the same match was in the 3-2 loss to the University of Toledo, Sept. 21, which also featured McLoughlin, Siefke, and Minshew.
» Four Eagles registered double-digit digs in a single match for the third time this season and the second consecutive after doing so against Toledo, Sept. 22. 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. Additionally, it was the seventh time this season in which three different members of the team recorded double-digit digs in a single match.
» Siefke's double-double performance marked just the second of the rookie's career with her 16 kills topping her previous career-high 12, earned in the loss to Toledo, Sept. 22, and her 16 digs were an improvement from her previous 11. Additionally, the freshman recorded double-digit kills and digs in consecutive matches for the second time in her career.
» Minshew has led the Eagles in kills in 13 of the last 14 matches, recording double-digit figures in all. Additionally, her 25 kills in the match marked a career high for the graduate student topping her 23 against Toledo on Sept. 21.
» Last season, the double-double mark was reached a total of eight times by three different Eagles (Sabrina Gremm (4), Kendall Burk (3), Raeven Chase (1)). This season, the mark has been exceeded as four different Eagles (Ava Siefke (2), Hannah Kivett (1), Elle McLoughlin (5), Callie Minshew (8)) have combined for 16 double-double performances on the season.
» The Eagles defeated the Chippewas in the dig battle, 92-87. It marked just the second time this season the Eagles have recorded more digs than its opponent after doing so against IUPUI, Aug. 25, 67-61. Additionally, the 92 team digs in the loss marked a new team high, topping the 79 that were recorded on two different occasions.
» Minshew (21) and Howard (20) each had 20-plus digs, the first time two Eagles have each had 20 digs in a match this season.
» Kendal Bonney (Pioneer, Ohio/North Central/Ashland) was efficient in attacking situations in the match, accumulating eight kills while hitting .500. Her eight kills in the match topped the sophomore's career-high of three against Chicago State University, Sept. 8.
Historical Notes
» Starting in 1976, Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan have competed against one another now just two matches short of 100, with the Chippewas leading 67-31 with Tuesday's result. Oct. 7, 1986, marked the Eagles first program victory over Central, interrupting a 23-year win streak in just three sets.
» Minshew (25 kills, 21 digs) is the first Eagle since Franki Strefling (25 kills and 25 digs at Kent State University on Feb. 15, 2021) to record at least 25 kills and at least 20 digs in a match. Minshew and Strefling are the only Eagles to tally 25-plus kills and 20-plus digs in a match in the modern statistical era (since 2008).
» Minshew's 25 kills ranks as the fifth most in a single match in EMU program history.
Up Next
Following the midweek match with the Chippewas, the Eagles are slated to host the Cardinals of Ball State University, Friday-Saturday, Sept. 29-30. Friday's match is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. with Saturday's starting at 4 p.m. Both matches can be watched via ESPN+.
