Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
8-8,2-0MAC
Kent State
1-11,0-2MAC
Volleyball Sweeps Kent State, Moves to 2-0 in MAC Play
9/27/2024 8:32:00 PM | Volleyball
The Eagles are 2-0 to start conference play for the first time since the 2018 season
KENT, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team swept Kent State University, 3-0, at the Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center Friday, Sept. 27. The win improved the Eagles' Mid-American Conference (MAC) record to 2-0 (8-8 overall) for the first time since the 2018 season.
Abby Stanford (Zanesville, Ohio/Tri Valley/Ashland) finished with 10 kills to lead the Eagles' offense while posting a hitting percentage of .381. Defensively, Eastern had two players reach double figures in digs as Hannah Blaney (Saline, Mich./Saline/Rhode Island) had a MAC three-set match high 23, while Ava Siefke (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Ursula Academy) had 10.
How it Happened
SET 1 | The Eagles jumped out to an early lead, winning the first set handily, 25-15. Eastern Michigan never trailed by more than five points and grabbed the advantage for good at 11-10 in a set that showcased three lead changes before the Eagles took over the lead. EMU got a solid defensive performance from a front row that blocked four Kent State attacks in the stanza and capitalized on 12 Golden Flashes' attacking errors on the way to victory.
SET 2 | Eastern took set two, 25-22, to quickly take a 2-0 lead. The Eagles grabbed control of the set lead early on at 4-3 and never looked back. Eastern Michigan led by as many as six points at 23-17 before finishing off the set.
SET 3 | The Eagles finished off the match in a 3-0 sweep after grabbing the third set. Eastern scored first and never trailed in the set to earn a 25-18 victory. Eastern Michigan opened up as much as an 11 point lead at 23-12 before finishing off the set, collecting 16 kills in the process. The Eagles' offense also got a boost from the serve line with five aces in the stanza.
Match Notes
» The Eagles were out-blocked by the Golden Flashes, 10-6. Friday's win is Eastern's first this season when being out-blocked by its opponent. Additionally, it is just the second win under Head Coach Kevin Foeman where the Eagles were out-blocked.
» Eastern out-hit Kent State in the win, .176-.085. EMU is now 7-2 this season when hitting better than the other team, and 11-4 under Foeman.
» EMU did work from the service line, landing seven aces to KSU's two. The Green and White are 4-1 this season when totaling more aces that its opponent. Eastern was led in the category by Siefke, who stuck three, marking her seventh time leading Eastern in the category this season. Siefke has already totaled 13 more aces than her total last season (12). Furthermore, her 25 aces tie for the most in the conference.
» After totaling more aces than the Flashes in Thursday and Friday's matches, the Eagles have recorded more aces than their opponent in four of their previous five matches. They are 4-1 in that span.
» Blaney led the team in digs for the 11th time this season with 23. Her 23 digs went down as her sixth time with 20+ this season, and 51st of her career with double-digits. Blaney's 23 digs are the most in the MAC in a three-set match this season, and tie for the third-most in any match in the conference. The senior holds the MAC's individual single-match high in the category with 27 against the Golden Flashes, Sept. 26. Blaney also leads the conference in total digs with 258, a figure that ranks her 10th in the nation
» Taylor Smith (Pewamo, Mich./Pewamo-Westphalia) dished a career-best 21 assists for her fourth double-digit dimes match of her career, and first time eclipsing 20 in the category. Smith has now done so in consecutive matches for the second time in her career, as she served up 17 in the win Thursday evening. Her 21 helpers led the team, marking her second time doing so.
» Siefke grabbed 10 digs, her fifth time doing so in the 2024 campaign and 11th of her collegiate career.
» Stanford led the team in kills for the first time this season and was the only Eagle to register double-digit figures in the stat with 10. The middle blocker's 10 kills mark her second time with 10 or more in a match this season, and fourth of her career. Stanford also led the squad in blocks with three for the sixth time this season.
» Along with Stanford, Aubriegh Oswald (Lowell, Mich./Lowell) also led the squad with three rejections. She posted five kills, a season-high for the sophomore.
Historical Notes
» Friday's win improved the Eagles' record to 2-0 in MAC play. The program has not started 2-0 in conference play since 2018, when it bested Central Michigan University, Sept. 20, and Kent State, Sept. 22, to open the conference portion of the schedule. 2018 is also the last time the Eagles hoisted a MAC trophy, as they won the tournament championship that season.
» Friday evening's match marked the 65th all-time between Eastern and Kent State. The Eagles remain in the series lead after the result with a 38-23-1 all-time record when facing the Golden Flashes, and a 18-12 mark when facing them in Kent.
» After pulling off the reverse sweep against KSU Thursday, 3-2, and sweeping it in straight sets Friday, 3-0. The Eagles have pulled off a reverse sweep, followed by a sweep in straight sets for the first time since 2014. That season, the Eagles executed the reverse sweep against the University at Buffalo, Oct. 24, before sweeping the University of Akron the next day, Oct. 25.
» Foeman is now 4-0 against Kent State in his Eastern tenure after his Eagles beat the Golden Flashes in consecutive matches, Sept. 26-27. Kent State is the only MAC opponent Foeman holds a perfect winning percentage against.
Up Next
The Eagles continue conference play on the road, as they will visit the Chippewas of Central Michigan University for one match Tuesday, Oct. 1. First serve is set for 6 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, and stay up-to-date on all things Eastern athletics at EMUEagles.com.
