Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
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Valparaiso
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Volleyball Wins Three Straight Sets to Capture Match Win Over Valparaiso
8/31/2024 4:45:00 PM | Volleyball
Eastern has now won consecutive games for the second time under Head Coach Kevin Foeman
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (EMUEagles.com) – After falling in the first set, the Eastern Michigan University Volleyball team won three consecutive sets to capture its second consecutive victory in the young 2024 season, besting Valparaiso University, 3-1, in its final game of the Hampton Inn Invitational, hosted by Indiana University-Indianapolis, Saturday, Aug. 31.
Kendal Bonney (Pioneer, Ohio/North Central) led the Eagles offensively with 12 kills and 14.5 points. She was aided by Kaili Doctor (Mars, Pa./Pine-Richland/North Carolina A&T State) who posted 11 kills off a .409 hitting percentage.
Ella Voorhees (Morgantown, W. Va., Morgantown) led with 24 assists, while Hannah Blaney (Saline, Mich./Saline/Rhode Island) and Angel Baylark (Burlington, Iowa/Burlington/Tennessee-Martin) spearheaded the defense. Blaney tabbed 22 digs and Baylark added 11 block assists with one solo block.
How it Happened
SET ONE | After getting down, 14-8, the Eagles scored six of the next seven points, narrowing the Beacons lead, 15-14. EMU battled the entire set, eventually dropping it to Valparaiso, 25-23. Freshman Anna Guard (Burlington, Ky./St. Henry District) was a bright spot, registering three kills and one ace while hitting.750.
SET TWO | Eastern flipped the score on the Beacons in the second set, winning, 25-23. After staring in a 12-6 hole, EMU rallied to tie it at 17 apiece later in the set. From there on out, it was back-and-forth with the Eagles emerging on top, 25-23.
SET THREE | The Eagles got off to a strong start with a 15-11 advantage at the media timeout. They extended their lead, 19-12, before cruising to a 25-17 win to go up, 2-1, headed into the fourth set. Doctor was key in sealing the win as she recorded kills for three of Eastern's five final points.
SET FOUR | Eastern Michigan earned a match win with a 25-13 fourth-set victory, winning their third straight set. The Eagles led from the first point on in the set to secure the victory. Eastern Michigan finished up the stanza on a strong note, claiming its biggest lead, 12 points, to finish off the set. EMU got a solid defensive performance from a front row that blocked seven Valparaiso attacks in the stanza and capitalized on 13 Valparaiso attacking errors on the way to victory.
Match Notes
» For the first time since Head Coach Kevin Foeman took over the team, the Eagles tied their opponents in kills, as both teams had 50.
» The Eagles won three consecutive sets for the fourth time under Foeman. Additionally, four of the seven wins under him have come when winning three consecutive sets.
» Eastern out-hit the Beacons, .269 to .078. This instance marks the eight time Eastern has done so under Foeman, it is now 6-2 in such games. Moreover, its .269 hitting percentage is the best under him, and marks the second time Eastern has achieved a percentage better than .250 since the start of the 2023 season. EMU last did so against Bradley, hitting .255 in a four-set loss, Aug. 26. 2023.
» EMU out-dug the Beacons, 67-57. 67 digs are a season-best through three contests. The Eagles are 2-0 in 2024 when out-digging their foe. Saturday's win marked the sixth time under Foeman where Eastern has out-dug the opponent.
» Maddie Stayer (Mentor, Ohio/Mentor/Southern Miss./Jacksonville State) totaled 16 helpers in the match, tying a career-best and marking her most as an Eagle. She has registered double-digit assists outings in all three matches this season.
» Voorhees secured her third straight double-double of the season with 24 assists and 16 digs. Her digs tie a career-best she set Friday night in a win over IU-Indy, Aug. 30.
» Blaney notched her third consecutive match with 10 or more digs. She led the Eagles in the stat in the win with 22.
» Bonney matched a career-best 12 kills. She has now collected consecutive matches with double-digit kills for the first time in her career.
» Baylark tied a career-best in block assists as she assisted on 11 in the match. They led an Eastern team that dominated at the net with 21 blocks to five.
» With 11 kills on a .409 hitting percentage, Doctor notched her second consecutive game with double-digit kills.
» Bella Demers (Maumee, Ohio/Maumee) saw her first collegiate action, playing in two sets.
Historical Notes
» With Saturday's win, Eastern now holds the all-time series edge with a 5-4 record against the Beacons.
» Closing the tournament with a 2-1 record, the Eagles posted their best record in a tournament since they also went 2-1 at the UIC Invitational, Sept. 10-11, 2021.
» With the victory, Eastern has won consecutive contests for the second time in the Foeman era, and first since it bested Kent State University in back-to-back matches, Nov. 10-11, 2023.
Up Next
Next, Eastern will face Big Ten Conference foe, the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Mich., Wednesday, Sept. 4, at 7 p.m.
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.
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