Volleyball To Conclude Season at Buffalo Friday-Saturday

Volleyball at Buffalo
Date	Friday-Saturday, Nov. 15-16 \| 4 p.m. \| 6 p.m.
Venue	George Gervin GameAbove Center \| Eastern Michigan University \| Ypsilanti, Mich.
Preview Info	EMU Notes (PDF)
Watch	Friday \| Saturday
Live Stats	Friday \| Saturday
Social Media	X: @EMUVolleyball \| @EMUAthletics \| IG: @emu_volleyball \| @emuathletics

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team will conclude its 2024 season with two matches against the Buffalo Bulls Friday-Saturday, Nov. 15-16. Friday's match will start at 6 p.m. while Saturday's will begin at 4 p.m.

Fans can follow along with the action using the watch and live stats link that can be found on the EMU volleyball schedule page here. Fans can also follow the team's social media accounts on X, Instagram, and Facebook @EMUVolleyball for live in-match updates. A post-match recap will also be posted to EMUEagles.com following Friday and Saturday's action.

ALL-TIME AGAINST BUFFALO
The Eagles and Bulls will meet for the 32nd and 33rd respective times Friday and Saturday. Overall, Eastern holds a 22-9 all-time record against Buffalo and a 10-4 mark when facing it in Western New York. The Eagles lost in the only match up last season in Buffalo, 3-0, Oct. 6. The last time the Eagles won a match against the Bulls came in the 2020 campaign when they beat them in five sets in the then-Convocation Center, Feb. 26. EMU has not beat UB on the road since the 2014 season, winning a back-and-forth five-set match, Oct. 24. Head Coach Kevin Foeman is in search of his first win over the Bulls at Eastern as the Eagles hold a 4-6 record in the series' last ten contests. Eastern started the all-time series on a dominant run, winning the first 13 match ups in the series and 18 of the first 20.

AHEAD OF SCHEDULE: 2024 WIN TOTAL
Eastern's five-set win over Ohio, Oct. 10, marked its 13th win of the season. Eastern initially surpassed its win total from the 2023 season (five) with a sweep over Saint Francis (Pa.), Sept. 21. Additionally, 13 wins is three more wins than the program earned in the 2022 and 2023 seasons combined (10). Furthermore, the Eagles are in search of their eighth and ninth conference wins of the season, which would mark the first time with eight or more wins in MAC play since the 2020 team notched eight, and the first time with nine or more since the 2018 team secured nine. Overall, Eastern is looking to notch 15 regular season wins for the first time since the 2018 squad captured 21 victories.

WELKER FRESHMAN BLOCKS RECORD
Standout freshman Hatteras Welker has 124 total blocks this season, a figure that stands as the most from a freshman all-time and the fifth-most in program history during the rally scoring era (2008-pres.). Welker needs one block to tie and two blocks take over the No. 4 spot, currently held by Megan Crawshaw (2015 - 125 TB). Former Eagle Sam Falco sits atop the single season total blocks leaderboards with her 148 rejections in the 2017 campaign.

BAYLARK: FOUR-SET MATCH BLOCKS RECORD
Angel Baylark excelled in front of the net defensively in the 3-1 win over Valparaiso, Aug. 31. The graduate student totaled 12 blocks (one solo, 11 assisted), setting an EMU four-set match record in the category while also marking a career-high.

BIG BLOCKERS
The 2024 squad has proven to be one of the best blocking teams in Eastern history. With 285. 5 total blocks (51 solo, 4469 assists), the 2024 team stands second in program history in the rally scoring era (2008-pres.). Eastern would need 39 more TB to take over the No. 2 spot currently held by the 2017 squad that totaled 320 denials. In terms of blocks per set, the 2024 squad is on pace to set the program record as they average 2.48 per set while the 2017 team posted 2.46 and the 2013 squad recorded 2.15.

FIVE-SET FRENZY
Eastern has proven to be a tough team to put away this season as the Eagles set a program record with seven five-set wins. Additionally, Eastern has competed in 10 five-set matches, marking the fifth time the Eagles have competed in 10 five-setters in a single season in program history. One more five-set match would set a single-season program record.

DOUBLE-DOUBLE x4
Four Eagles recorded a double-double in the match against Miami, Oct. 5. Abby Stanford drilled 14 kills with 10 total blocks, Ava Siefke posted 10 kills and 13 digs, Taylor Smith dished 21 assists and 12 digs, and Ella Voorhees distributed 26 dimes and grabbed 12 digs. This marked the first occurrence of four Eagles notching a double-double in a single match since 2017, 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, Oct. 7.

CONSISTENT FRESHMAN
Freshman setter and reigning Michigan Miss Volleyball Taylor Smith is off to a strong start in her collegiate career. Smith is the only freshman on the roster with a double-double, as she has posted three this season. She has also dished double-digit assists in 16 of her 19 matches played in 2024. Smith recently dished out a career-high 24 assists against Central Michigan, Nov. 5. Additionally, Smith has the third-most assists (267) of all MAC freshmen. Ohio's Bryn Janke has the most with 574, followed by NIU's Ella Strausberger with 557.

'SLAMMIN STANFORD
Junior middle blocker Abby Stanford recently notched 10+ kills in three straight matches for the first time in her career, Oct. 4-10. She set what was a then-career-high 14 kills and 10 total blocks for her first career double-double against Miami, Oct. 5. Stanford went on to top her 14-kill PR by drilling 15 in the next match against Bowling Green, Oct. 10. That PR didn't hold for long as Stanford led the team with a career-best 18 kills against NIU, Oct. 17, becoming the third Eagle this season to eclipse the 15-kill mark. Stanford has done this efficiently, as she has hit north of .300 in five of her previous 10 matches. She stands eighth in the MAC with a .323 hitting percentage on the season.

HIGH IN THE NATIONAL STANDINGS
Eastern ranks in the top-50 in the national standings in four statistical categories, including standing third in the nation (first in the MAC) in total blocks with 285.5.

Category                     Rank          Figure
Total Blocks                3rd             285.5
Total Attacks              18th           3,921
Team Digs                   30th           1,658
Team Assists              49th           1,216

HIGH IN THE MAC STANDINGS
Eastern ranks in the top four in the MAC standings in six statistical categories, including slotting first in total blocks (270.5) and second in blocks per set (2.48).

Category                     Rank          Figure
Total Blocks                1st              285.5
Blocks Per Set            2nd            2.48
Team Digs                   2nd            1,658
Total Attacks              3rd             3,921
Opp. Blocks Per Set 3rd             1.99

REVERSE SWEEPS
After losing the first two sets to the Golden Flashes, Sept. 26, the Eagles went on to win the next three frames, marking the programs first reverse sweep under Foeman and first since it did so against Montana in the final match of the 2021 College of Charleston Invitational, Aug. 28. Eastern pulled off its third reverse sweep of the season against NIU, Oct. 17, marking the first occurrence of three reverse sweeps in a season since the 2014 campaign, when it also accomplished the feat three times. That year, the Eagles completed a reverse sweep against Marshall, Aug. 29, UIC, Aug. 30, and Buffalo, Oct. 24. One more reverse sweep this season would mark the first time in the rally scoring era (2008-pres.) that the Eagles have recorded four reverse sweeps.

ALL THE SWEEPS
After sweeping Miami, Oct. 4, and pulling off the reverse sweep against the RedHawks the next day, Oct. 5, Eastern swept an opponent immediately followed by completing a reverse sweep for the first time since the 2017 campaign, when it swept Northern Illinois, Nov. 4, before completing the reverse sweep over Central Michigan, Nov. 9. The Eagles did the inverse earlier this season, reverse sweeping Kent State before sweeping it in straight sets in the next match, Sept. 26-27.

COMPLETE GAMES
The Eagles tallied more kills, assists, digs, and blocks than Evansville, Sept. 13, marking the first time they have done so in the Foeman era and first time since the 2022 season. EMU would accomplish the feat again later that day against Morehead State, marking the first time the program has done so in consecutive games since it did it against Norfolk State University and Savannah State University, at the William & Mary Colonial Classic, Sept. 7-8, 2018. Eastern did so yet again in consecutive matches against Miami, Oct. 4-5. Overall, Eastern has dominated its opponent in the stats book with more kills, assists, blocks and digs four times this season, it is 4-0 in such games.

BLANEY DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Eastern secured its second consecutive MAC Defensive Player of the Week award, Sept. 30, as Hannah Blaney earned the honor a week after Hatteras Welker did so, Sept. 23. In a 2-0 week against Kent State, the senior registered 50 digs, averaging 6.25 per set. Blaney set a career-best with 27 digs against the Golden Flashes in Friday's reverse sweep. Her 27 digs that night elevated her over the 1,000 mark as she currently totals 1,253 in her four-year tenure. She went on to grab 23 in the sweep over Kent State the next day, which stands as the third most in a three-set match from an individual in the MAC in 2024.

WELKER DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Freshman Hatteras Welker was named MAC Defensive Player of the Week, Sept. 23. Welker was a beast up front for the Eagles in three matches, Sept. 16-21. Welker stands first in the conference in total blocks (23rd in the nation - 124), and blocks per set (45th in the nation - 1.27), Welker notched 18 of them, averaging an even two per set as Eastern posted a 2-1 record in matches she played in. The freshman also showcased efficient offense, smacking 14 kills off 25 swings for a .520 hitting percentage. She notched nine kills and a career-best .692 percentage against Indiana State. She also did work from behind the serve line, landing four aces. Overall, Welker scored 27.0 points for EMU, averaging three per set. The honor marked the first for the Eagles this season, as well as the first of Welker's career.

BACK-TO-BACK PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
The Eagles earned consecutive MAC Player of the Week awards with Hatteras Welker and Hannah Blaney earning the defensive accolade, Sept. 23, Sept. 30, respectively. This marked the programs' first time earning consecutive player of the week awards since former Eagles Cassie Haut and Riley Taylor did so in the 2019 season, Oct. 14, Oct. 21.

NATIONALLY RANKED: HATTERAS WELKER BLOCKS
Leading the Eagles' defense up front is Hatteras Welker. Welker is ranked 23rd in the country in total blocks and second in the MAC with 124 denials in 2024. Welker also ranks high in blocks per set, standing 45th nationally and second in the MAC (1.27). She set a career-best with 11 rejections against IU-Indy, Aug. 30. Welker recently swatted four against Akron, Nov. 9.

NATIONALLY RANKED: HANNAH BLANEY DIGS
Senior Hannah Blaney ranks 28th in the nation and first in the MAC in total digs with 474 on the season. She set a career-best with 27 against Kent State, Sept. 26, and posted 23 in the sweep over the Golden Flashes, Sept. 27, the third most in a three-set contest in the MAC in 2024. Blaney recently totaled 21 against Akron, Nov. 9.

BLANEY 1K DIGS
With 27 digs in the win over Kent State, Sept. 26, Hannah Blaney reached the 1,000 career digs mark. She currently has 1,253 digs in her four-year career, and stands 28th in the country and first in the conference with 474 digs this season.

BLANEY: 10+ DIGS IN 61% OF CAREER MATCHES
Hannah Blaney has notched double digit digs in 63-of-103 career matches (61%). This season, the libero has done so in 25-of-30 contests.

MAC SINGLE-MATCH HIGH IN BLOCKS
Eastern tabbed 21 total blocks to Valparaiso's five in the 3-1 victory, Aug. 31, the most in a single game in the MAC this season and the fourth-most in program history. The Eagles also hold the second highest block total in the league having recorded 19 against Miami, Oct. 5.

IMPROBABLE VICTORY
The Eagles win over the Falcons, Oct. 10 marked their first when posting less kills, aces, blocks, assists, and digs than its opponent since they did so in a four-set victory over Akron in the COVID-adjusted 2020 season, Feb. 19, 2021. The victory also went down as the first occurrence of consecutive five-set wins since the 2021 campaign, when they topped Northern Illinois, Oct. 2, and Ohio, Oct. 8.

MOST ACES UNDER FOEMAN
Eastern tabbed 11 aces against Kent State, Sept. 26, marking the most under Foeman. Prior to the match against the Golden Flashes, EMU last had 11 or more aces against Ball State (12) in the 2021 season, Nov. 12. The Eagles have reached 10+ aces three times this season, marking the most matches with double figures in the stat since the 2012 squad also did it three times. One more match with 10+ aces will mark the first time the Eagle have accomplished the feat in four separate matches since it did so five times in the 2002 season.

SEASON-LONG CAREER-HIGHS
Eastern has nine players that have already set season-long career-highs through 27 matches this season.

Name                            Stat            Figure       Prior Best
M. Stayer                     Assists      342             67 (2023)
M. Stayer                     SA               12               7 (2023)
M. Stayer                     Digs           152             104 (2023)
M. Stayer                     TB               55               42 (2023)
E. Voorhees                 Digs           192             104 (2023)
E. Voorhees                 Assists      425             254 (2023)
E. Voorhees                 SA               10               9 (2023)
A. Siefke                       SA               31               12 (2023)
A. Siefke                       TB               44               23 (2023)
A. Siefke                       Digs           234             144 (2023)
A. Siefke                       Assists      21               13 (2023)
A. Siefke                       Points        247.0          204 (2023)
A. Siefke                       Kills            191             180 (2023)
K. Bonney                     Kills            158             34 (2023)
K. Bonney                     Digs           53               32 (2023)
K. Bonney                   TB               47               18 (2023)
K. Bonney                     Points        184.0          111 (2023)
K. Bonney                     Assists      3                  1 (2023)
H. Blaney                     Kills            6                  1 (2023)
H. Blaney                     TB               1                  0 (2022-24)
H. Blaney                     Assists      105             90 (2023)
H. Blaney                     Digs           474             319 (2023)
E. Grasson                   SA               5                  4 (2023)
E. Grasson                   Points        5                  4 (2023)
S. Srinivasan               SA               9                  1 (2023)
S. Srinivasan               Assists      19               11 (2023)
S. Srinivasan               Points        13.0            7.5 (2023)
S. Srinivasan               Digs           122             88 (2023)
A. Oswald                    TB               15               11 (2023)
A. Stanford                 Kills            164             114 (2023)
A. Stanford                 Points        211.5          189 (2022)
K. Doctor                     TB               41               30 (2023)

VOORHEES' DOUBLE-DOUBLES
Ella Voorhees recorded consecutive double-doubles for the first time in her career with 29 assists and 14 digs against IU-Indy, Aug. 30, and 24 assists and 16 digs versus Valparaiso, Aug. 31. Voorhees has tabbed a double-double in seven of her 24 matches this season. Her seven double-doubles in 2024 and nine in her career lead the team. She most recently notched her seventh of the season with 30 assists (individual team high in 2024), and 10 digs against NIU, Oct. 17.

DOUBLE-DIGIT DOCTOR
First-year Eagle Kaili Doctor stands first on the team in kills with 216 on the season. Doctor has reached double-digit figures in the category in 13 of her 21 matches this season. She has the most games of double-digit kills of any Eagle thus far. Last season with North Carolina A&T, Doctor posted 11 games with 10+ kills on her way to winning CAA Rookie of the Year. She killed a career-best 23 against Evansville, Sept. 13.

MORE DIGS + MORE BLOCKS = MORE DUBS
Eight of EMU'S 13 wins this season have come when out-digging and out-blocking its opponent. Eastern went against the grain as it recorded its first two wins of the season without both out-digging and out-blocking its opponent. EMU was out-dug and out-blocked in its win over Bowling Green, Oct. 10.

UP NEXT
The matches against Buffalo mark the end of the 2024 season for the Eagles.

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

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Players Mentioned

Angel Baylark

Hannah Blaney

Kaili Doctor

Ava Siefke

Taylor Smith

Abby Stanford

Ella Voorhees

Hatteras Welker

Eastern Michigan Athletics