Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
10-9,4-1MAC
Miami
6-9,0-4MAC
Volleyball Completes Reverse Sweep Over Miami
10/5/2024 8:27:00 PM | Volleyball
The Eagles are off to their first 4-1 start in conference play since 2018, and have completed multiple reverse sweeps for the first time since 2014
Photo Gallery | Cinematic Recap
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team mounted a furious comeback, besting the Miami University RedHawks in reverse sweep fashion, while eclipsing its 2023 conference win total just five matches into conference play.
The victory improved the Eagles' record to 10-9 overall and 4-1 in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) this season.
The Eagles were led by four double-doubles for the first time since the 2017 season. Ava Siefke (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Ursula Academy), had 10 kills and 13 digs, Abby Stanford (Zanesville, Ohio/Tri Valley/Ashland), drilled 14 kills and swatted 10 blocks, Taylor Smith (Pewamo, Mich./Pewamo-Westphalia) dished 21 assists with 12 digs, and Ella Voorhees (Morgantown, W. Va./Morgantown/Southern Miss.) had 26 dimes to go with 12 digs.
Anna Guard (Burlington, Ky./St. Henry District) also added 12 kills to help the offense.
On the defensive end, Hannah Blaney (Saline, Mich./Saline/Rhode Island) chipped in with 22 digs to go with nine blocks from Hatteras Welker (Sunbury, Ohio/Sunbury).
How it Happened
SET 1 | The Eagles found themselves in an early hole, dropping the first set, 25-20. Eastern Michigan trailed by as many as eight points as Miami never surrendered the lead in a set that was knotted up just once before the RedHawks took control.
SET 2 | Eastern Michigan then lost set two, 25-22, to fall behind in the match, 2-0. The Eagles couldn't hang on in a back-and-forth set, losing in a stanza that featured three lead changes and was tied nine times. Neither team led by more than four points along the way.
SET 3 | Eastern fought back to pull within 2-1 in the match, winning their first set of the match in the third stanza, 25-20. EMU took the lead for good at 19-18 in a set that had just one lead change before the Eagles took over in the second half of the stanza. Eastern Michigan's front row had a solid defensive performance, blocking four Miami attacks in the stanza.
SET 4 | The Eagles continued their comeback, winning the fourth set, 25-22, bringing the match level at two sets apiece. Eastern survived a back-and-forth set to win in a stanza that featured 10 lead changes and was tied 13 times. Neither team was able to grab a lead larger than four points along the way. Eastern Michigan blocked seven Miami attacks in the stanza and capitalized on 12 RedHawks attacking errors on the way to victory.
SET 5 | Eastern Michigan completed the reverse sweep, culminating in a 15-7 fifth-set victory. The Eagles led from the opening point on in set five to earn the victory. Eastern ended on a high note, opening its biggest lead of the stanza, eight points, to close out the set.
Match Notes
» Eastern had more kills, assists, blocks, and digs than its opponent, marking the second consecutive time it has done so, as it also accomplished the feat against the RedHawks on Friday. This marks the second occurrence of doing so in consecutive matches this season. The Eagles previously did it against the University of Evansville and Morehead State University on the same day, Sept. 13.
» With 10 wins on the season, Eastern doubled its win total from the 2023 campaign just 19 matches into the 2024 slate.
» Siefke recorded her second double-double of the season with 10 kills and 13 digs. Her 10 kills marked her fifth game with double figures in the stat in 2024, while her 13 digs went down as her eighth time doing so. Siefke also tied a career-best with five blocks.
» Smith tied a career-best, as she dished 21 assists while adding a career-high 12 digs, marking her first career double-double.
» Guard drilled 12 kills, marking her second time with double figure kills in her career.
» Stanford led the team and set career-bests with 14 kills and 10 blocks. The double-double marked the first on Stanford's career. Stanford joined teammates Welker and Angel Baylark (Burlington, Iowa/Burlington/Tennessee-Martin) as Eagles to record double digit blocks this season.
» Blaney led the team with 22 digs in the match, marking her 14th time leading the Eagles in the stat. The match also served as Blaney's 16th this season with double figures in digs, and her eight with more than 20.
» Voorhees recorded 26 assists, marking her 17th time with 10 or more in a match this season, and ninth time with more than 20. Voorhees also added 12 digs for her fifth double-double of the season and seventh of her career. She paces the team in double-doubles this season.
Historical Notes
» The contest marked the 64th all-time meeting between Eastern Michigan and Miami. After the win, the Eagles improved their record in the all-time series, as they post a 21-43 all-time record, and hold a 13-22 mark when facing them at home.
» Saturday's win marked the fourth conference win of the season for the Eagles, eclipsing their 2023 MAC win total just five matches into conference play.
» The win brought Eastern's conference record to 4-1, marking the first time the program has started 4-1 since the 2018 season. The Eagles won the MAC Tournament that season, their lone conference title in program history, and advanced to the NCAA tournament, where they faced No. 3 Illinois.
» Saturday's match marked the second reverse sweep of the season for the Eagles after they swept Kent State University in reverse fashion, Sept. 26. Eastern now has multiple reverse sweeps in a single season for the first time since 2014, when it did so three times. That year, the Eagles accomplished the feat against Marshall University, Aug. 29, UIC, Aug. 30, and the University at Buffalo, Oct. 24.
» Four Eagles posted double-doubles for the first time since the 2017 season, when former Eagles Jordan Smith (12 kills, 22 digs), Franki Strefling (15 kills, 13 digs), Mallory Rajewski (28 assists, 32 digs), and Riley Taylor (26 assists, 10 digs) did so in a five-set match against Ohio University, Oct. 7.
» Head Coach Kevin Foeman is undefeated against Miami during his Eastern tenure, as his Eagles' post a clean 3-0 record against the RedHawks.
Up Next
The Eagles are back Thursday, Oct. 10, for a road match at Bowling Green State University. First serve is set for 6 p.m. on ESPN+.
Follow Us
Stay connected with the Eagles all season long by following @EMUVolleyball and @EMUAthletics on X for all of the latest EMU volleyball updates. Be sure to also follow the Green and White on Instagram, @EMU_Volleyball and @emuathletics
