Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
4-6,0-0MAC
Duquesne
7-2,0-0Atlantic 10
Volleyball Drops Five-Set Battle with Duquesne to Close-Out Comfort Inn Invite
9/14/2024 2:06:00 PM | Volleyball
The Eagles notched 10 aces, tying for the most in the Kevin Foeman era
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MOREHEAD, Ky. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team fell in a five-set battle with the Duquesne University Dukes, 3-2, in the Eagles' final game of the Comfort Inn Invitational, hosted by Morehead State University at the Johnson Arena Friday-Saturday, Sept. 13-14.
The Eagles offense was paced by Kendal Bonney (Pioneer, Ohio/North Central/Ashland), who finished with 13 kills on the day while accumulating a hitting percentage of .458. Kaili Doctor (Mars, Pa./Pine-Richland/North Carolina A&T St.) added 12 kills while Abby Stanford (Zanesville, Ohio/Tri Valley/Ashland) chipped in with 11 as part of a balanced Eastern Michigan attack.
Defensively, Eastern got 19 digs from Hannah Blaney (Saline, Mich./Saline/Rhode Island) along with six blocks from Hatteras Welker (Sunbury, Ohio/Sunbury) and five rejections from Doctor to lead them defensively.
How it Happened
SET 1 | The Eagles took control of set one at 3-2 and never trailed, winning, 25-16. Eastern Michigan led by 10 points at 24-14 before closing out the set, totaling 16 kills. EMU got a solid defensive performance from a front row that blocked five Duquesne attacks in the stanza.
SET 2 | Eastern lost the second set, 25-21, to even the match to one set apiece. The Eagles lost set two despite a solid showing on the attacking end. Eastern registered a .313 attack percentage with 13 kills in the set loss.
SET 3 | The Green and White put the second-set loss in the rearview mirror and grabbed a 2-1 match lead with a victory in the third set. Strong serving helped the Eagles win the set, 25-21, as they notched six aces in the set. The Eagles opened up a 23-18 lead in the stanza and coasted to victory from there.
SET 4 | Eastern Michigan couldn't finish off a four-set win as the Dukes forced a fifth set with a 25-21 victory. The Eagles fell in a back-and-forth set, losing in a stanza that featured three lead changes and was tied 10 times. Neither team opened up a lead of more than four points along the way.
SET 5 | Eastern and Duquesne went back and forth all game, trading wins in the first three sets until the Dukes took the last two sets, including winning the fifth set, 15-13, and the match, 3-2. The Eagles came up short in a back-and-forth set five, losing in a stanza that featured two lead changes and was tied six times. Neither team led by more than two points in the set.
Match Notes
» Eastern tied for the most aces in the Head Coach Kevin Foeman era with 10. They also recorded 10 last season against Oakland University, Sept. 1.
» With 26 assists, Maddie Stayer (Mentor, Ohio/Mentor/Southern Miss./Jacksonville State) recorded her sixth career game with 20+ assists. Her performance in Friday's match marked the first time the setter has dished at least 20 dimes in three consecutive matches, as she tallied a career-best 28 against Evansville and 20 versus Morehead State Friday, Sept. 13.
» Blaney notched 19 digs, marking her 54th career match with at least 10 digs.
» Ella Voorhees (Morgantown, W.Va./Morgantown/Southern Miss.) captured her 13th career-match with 20 or more assists, as she distributed the ball for 22 helpers in the match.
» Bonney and Stanford each matched their respective career-highs in kills. Bonney had 13 while Stanford drilled 11. Bonney has paced the Eagles in kills in five matches this season.
» Eastern out-blocked its opponent for the 18th time under Foeman, and the sixth time this season. The Eagles are 4-2 when out-blocking their foe in 2024. EMU is first in the MAC with 107 blocks this season.
» Eastern out-hit its opponent for the 12th time under Foeman, and sixth time in 2024. The Eagles are 8-4 when out-hitting their foe since the start of the 2023 campaign. EMU also out-dug the Dukes, marking the seventh time in 2024. It is 4-3 in such matches.
» Doctor posted 12 kills. It is her eighth time this season and 19th time in her collegiate career doing so.
Historical Notes
» After today's contest, the Eagles hold a 3-2 all-time record against Duquesne.
» Blaney is up to 930 digs in her career. She is 70 away from reaching 1,000.
Up Next
Eastern will return home to the George Gervin GameAbove Center to host Big Ten Conference foe, Michigan State University Monday, Sept. 16. First serve is slated for 6 p.m.
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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.
