Eastern Michigan Athletics
Thursday, October 16
Athens, Ohio
6 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
at
Ohio
Photo by: Joey Wolter
Volleyball Travels to Athens for Pair of Matches Against Ohio
10/14/2025 3:13:00 PM | Volleyball
Thursday's match will start at 6 p.m. and Friday's begins at 3 p.m.
| Volleyball at Ohio | |
| Dates/Times | Thursday, Oct. 16, 6 p.m. | Friday, Oct. 17, 3 p.m. |
| Venue | Convocation Center | Athens, Ohio |
| Preview Info | EMU Notes (PDF) | Media Guide |
| Watch Live | Game One | Game Two |
| Live Stats | Both Games |
| @EMUVolleyball | @EMUAthletics | |
| @emu_volleyball | @emuathletics | |
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- Winners in two of its last three matches, the Eastern Michigan University volleyball team is set to travel to Athens, Ohio, for two matches against Ohio University Thursday-Friday, Oct. 16-17, 3 p.m., 6 p.m.
Fans can follow along with the action using the live stats and watch links that can be found on the EMU volleyball schedule page at emueagles.com/volleyball/schedule. 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 the game
ALL-TIME SERIES RECORD
The Eagles and Bobcats will meet for the 61st and 62nd times in the all-time series Thursday- Friday. Overall, Eastern holds a 20-40 record when facing Ohio, and an 8-20 mark when facing it in Athens. The Eagles have not beaten Ohio on the road since the 2021 season when they topped OU in five sets in Athens, Oct. 8. The Bobcats have controlled the series in recent years as they have won six of the previous 10 matches. Head Coach Kevin Foeman holds a 1-3 record against the Bobcats in his EMU tenure. A win against the Bobcats Thursday-Friday would mark his first over Ohio on the road.
LAST TIME AGAINST OU
The Eagles and Bobcats split the season series in 2024, as OU bested Eastern in the first matchup of the season in Ypsilanti, 3-1, Oct. 25, before EMU bounced back in the second match with a 3-2 reverse sweep win, marking its 10th five-set match of the season, the most in program history.
GOING FOR THREE STRAIGHT IN THE MAC
Eastern has the opportunity to claim its third consecutive MAC win in Thursday's match against the Bobcats. The occasion would mark the first time with three consecutive MAC wins since 2018, Sept. 29-Oct. 6, when EMU beat Toledo, Northern Illinois, and Western Michigan.
The Eagles' could win four straight for the first time since 2017-18, when they won the last four MAC games of the 2017 season and first two of the 2018 campaign.
MORE OHIO THAN OHIO
42% (8/19) of Eastern's roster is from the state of Ohio while just 37.5% of the Bobcats are from the state.
Player Hometown
Hatteras Welker Sunbury, Ohio
Ella Grasson Middleburg Heights, Ohio
Wrigley Takats Perrysburg, Ohio
Ashlynn Belcher Marengo, Ohio
Ava Siefke Cincinnati, Ohio
Surabhi Srinivasan Dublin, Ohio
Kendal Bonney Pioneer, Ohio
Abby Stanford Zanesville, Ohio
MOST ACES AT HOME SINCE 2002
Eastern's 11 aces in the sweep over Kent State, Oct. 9, tie for the fifth most in George Gervin GameAbove Center history and are the most it's totaled in the building since it recorded 13 against Western Michigan, Nov. 9, 2002. Additionally, the figure is most in the MAC in a three-set match this season and ranks seventh in terms of value in the nation.
SIEFKE'S DOUBLE-DOUBLES
Ava Siefke posted her career-best eighth double-double of the season with a 14-kill, 15-dig game vs. Toledo, Oct. 4.
Siefke's eight double-doubles rank fourth in the MAC and the most in the program since Callie Minshew recorded 10 in the 2023 season.
Eastern is 5-3 this season when she records a double-double as she has recorded consecutive double-doubles twice this season (vs. Marshall/Kansas City, Aug. 29-30), (vs. Southern Illinois/at Oakland, Sept. 12-13).
HISTORIC HITTING PERCENTAGES
Eastern hit .424 (41-5-85) in the sweep over Purdue Fort Wayne, Sept. 4. The clip ranks second in the MAC and sixth in program history. The Eagles followed that up with a .381 hitting percentage in the three-set win over Oakland, Sept. 19, a mark that stands ninth in program history and seventh in the MAC.
The 2025 season is the second in program history where the Eagles have recorded multiple program top-10 hitting percentages. It previously recorded four program top-10 marks in the 1999 campaign, including the second-best mark in program annals, a .594 clip against Chicago State, Sept. 3.
SIEFKE 10+ KILLS STREAK
Ava Siefke recorded 10+ kills in the first 14 matches this season, the longest stretch in her career and longest from the program since all-time kills leader Rachel Iaquaniello ended her collegiate career with 19-straight matches of 10+ kills, Sept. 14-Nov. 16, 2012, in a year where she set the program record in single-season kills (554).
AVA SIEFKE 10+ KILLS GAMES: MAC LEADER
Ava Siefke is up to 16 double-digit kill outings, ranking second in the MAC this season. The figure stands as the most in the program since Callie Minshew notched 23 in the 2023 season.
BREAKOUT SEASON: AVA SIEFKE
Junior outside hitter Ava Siefke has seen a significant increase in production this season as she is currently averaging career highs in kills per set (3.57), attacks per set (10.48), aces per set (0.28), digs per set (2.51), blocks per set (0.59), and points per set (4.27).
Siefke in 2024
Kills/Set Pts/Set Hitt& Attacks/set
1.73 2.24 .090 6.46
Siefke in 2025
Kills/Set Pts/Set Hitt% Attacks/set
3.57 4.27 .169 10.48
Siefke currently ranks fourth in the MAC in points per set (4.27), fifth in kills per set (3.74), and ties for seventh by value with 0.36 aces per set. while leading the Eagles in both categories. She leads the Eagles in all categories.
1/1: ASHLYNN BELCHER
Senior setter Ashlynn Belcher is the only player in the nation with 645+ assists, 12+ aces, and three or fewer service errors.
BELCHER ASSIST DEBUT
Ashlynn Belcher dished 48 assists against Radford, Aug. 29, and UMKC, Aug. 30, the most from an Eagle in their EMU debut since at least 2011. Her 48 dimes are the most from an Eagle overall since Elle McLoughlin dished 49 against Bradley University, Aug. 26, 2023. Her assists total is also the highest from an Eagle in the first game of the season since Kate Sulewski recorded 60 in a five-set win over Charlotte University, Aug. 24, 2007.
Belcher currently stands sixth in the MAC with a career-best 8.61 assists per set.
1/1: HATTERAS WELKER
Sophomore middle blocker Hatteras Welker is the only player in the nation to post more than 90 blocks and 25 aces as she currently totals 94 blocks and 26 aces.
WELKER 11 BLOCKS PROGRAM STANDING
Hatteras Welker's 11 blocks against Valparaiso rank second in EMU program history in four-set matches while standing second in the MAC, first in a four-set match, and fifth in the nation in four stanzas. Additionally, she is the only player in the MAC to record 10+ blocks in multiple matches this season as she also did so with 11 at Butler, Sept. 20.
WELKER WALL YEAR 2
After a MAC All-Freshmen team nod in 2024, Hatteras Welker earned Preseason All-MAC honors ahead of the 2025 season as she has substantially improved in key areas, averaging career bests in blocks per set (1.33), service aces per set (0.35), kills per set (1.73), and points per set (2.84).
Welker in 2024
Blocks/Set Kills/Set Pts/Set
1.27 1.34 2.22
Welker in 2025
Blocks/Set Kills/Set Pts/Set
1.29 1.74 2.86
Welker's 1.29 blocks per set rank second in the MAC and 49th nationally as her career-best 11 blocks against Valparaiso, Sept. 5, slot second in the MAC.
AKC FRESHMAN 10+ KILL MATCHES
Freshman outside hitter AshleeKay Christensen recorded her ninth 10+ kill match with 11 against Toledo, Oct. 4. Her nine double-digit kill matches are the second most among MAC freshmen.
The figure is the most from an EMU freshman since redshirt freshman Krista Blakely recorded 17 10+ kill matches in 2022 and the most from a true freshman since Annie Lockett had 10 in 2021. The last time a true freshman had more than 10 came in 2017 when Franki Strefling posted 12.
AK FIRING ON ALL CYLINDERS
Freshman outside hitter AshleeKay Christensen had a career outing against Southern Illinois University, Sept. 12. The freshman recorded career bests with 20 kills off a .326 hitting percentage while adding five digs. Her 20+ kills while hitting over .300 are the first time an EMU player has done so since current overseas professional Raeven Chase landed 20 kills off a .536 clip in a match against Ohio University, Oct. 7, 2022. She is the only freshman in the MAC to post at least 20 kills while hitting .326 or better.
Christensen is just the third EMU freshman in the modern statistical era (1999-present) to accomplish the feat and the second outside hitter. Melissa Bartlett drilled 20 kills while hitting .500 as a freshman against Oakland University, Sept. 11.
AK FRESHMAN SINGLE-GAME KILLS
AshleeKay Christensen's 20 kills against SIU, Sept. 12, are the third most from a freshman in the MAC this season and most from an EMU freshman since Rachel Irbe landed 21 against the University at Buffalo, Oct. 22, 2016. Buffalo's Emerson Matthews recorded a MAC freshman-high 25 against Ohio, Oct. 4, after Ohio's Bailey Blair had a 23-kill outing against Furman, Sept. 20, ranking second in the MAC among freshmen.
CHRISTENSEN'S HISTORIC DEBUT
Freshman outside hitter AshleeKay Christensen's 18 kills in her NCAA debut against Radford, Aug. 29, are the most in program history in the modern statistical era for a collegiate debut. Christensen's 15+ kill debut marked the fourth time an Eagles has done so in that time frame. The other three - Rachel Iaquaniello, Jordan Smith, and Cassie Haut all rank inside the program top-10 for career kills as Iaquaniello is the all-time leader with 1,949 from 2009-12.
SRINIVASAN CONSISTENCY
Junior libero Surabhi Srinivasan has tallied 10+ digs in 15-of-20 matches this season, the most productive stretch in her career. Her 24 digs in the season opener against Radford, Aug. 29 were previously a career high and the most from an Eagle in a season opener since Sierra Reed tallied 26 in a 3-2 win over the University of Hartford, Aug. 30, 2013. Srinivasan set a career-best with 27 digs in the win over Valparaiso, Sept. 5, bettering her previous personal-best (24) by three and marking the most from an Eagle since Kamryn Stilwell recorded 30 against Western Michigan, Sept. 23, 2021. She has gone over 20 digs three times this season, as EMU is 3-0 when she does so.
Srinivasan previously posted seven consecutive games with double-digit digs, Sept. 12-26, the longest streak of her tenure as she ranks fourth in the conference averaging a career-best 3.68 digs per set.
TAELEY'S TURNING IT UP
Sophomore outside hitter Taeley Mahler hit .407 in three matches this past week as she led the Eastern offense to a 2-1 week, including two wins over Kent State, Oct. 9-10. In 10 sets, Mahler totaled 28 kills (2.80 per set) and recorded just four errors off 59 total swings.
Mahler posted nine kills off 17 swings with zero errors in a 3-0 sweep of the Golden Flashes, Oct. 9, before landing a career-best 15 kills off 27 attacks with just two errors (.481 hitting percentages) in the Eagles' win over KSU, Oct. 10. Her .481 clip is the best in her career when totaling at least 10 kills. She also tied a career high with five blocks in the win.
MAHLER'S EFFICIENT HITTING
Sophomore outside hitter Taeley Mahler has seen a significant increase in her hitting percentage from her freshman to sophomore season as she hit .182 last season and is currently hitting .253, a number that ranks second on the team as she is taking on a increased workload, posting 5.31 attacks per set this season compared to 4.33 in 2024.
Through 20 matches, Mahler has posted four double-digit kill performances, besting the one she had last season (against Bowling Green, Oct. 10). She has also hit .250 or better in 13-of-20 (65%) matches this season after doing so in 6-of-18 (33%) in 2024.
GRASSON MOST ACES FROM EAGLE SINCE 2017
Senior Ella Grasson's career-best five aces in the sweep over Kent State, Oct. 9, are the most from an Eagle since Jordan Smith landed eight against Stoney Brook, Aug. 26, 2017. The total stands as the most in the conference in a three-set match while ranking second in single-game aces in all matches.
WASELEWSKY EMERGENCE
Freshman libero/defensive specialist Layna Waselewksy recorded a career-best 21 digs against Bowling Green, Oct. 3, the second most in the MAC among freshmen as Miami freshman Molly Creech previously posted 24. Waselewsky has hit her stride as of late, recording the first occurrence of consecutive double-digit digs games with 21 against BGSU, before notching 18 the next day against Toledo, Oct. 4.
BELCHER: MAC SETTER OF THE WEEK
Ashlynn Belcher was named Mid-American Conference Setter of the Week, Sept. 8.
Belcher dished a total of 137 assists (10.54/set) and heavily contributed to the team's .254 hitting percentage throughout the week. The setter contributed defensively with 42 digs (3.23/set), and eight blocks (0.62/set). Belcher posted two assists/digs double-doubles, dishing 46 assists and recording 16 digs in the win over Valparaiso, Sept. 5, before notching 41 assists and 15 digs in a sweep against Niagara University, Sept. 6.
Belcher was particularly sharp against Purdue Fort Wayne, Sept. 4, as she set EMU to hit .424 as a team in the sweep over the Mastodons, a clip that ranks second in the MAC and sixth in program history.
WELKER: MAC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Hatteras Welker was named MAC Defensive Player of the Week, Sept. 8. Welker was on a tear defensively as she recorded 26 total blocks, averaging two per set in the Eagles' perfect 3-0 weekend at the EMU Tournament, Sept. 4-6, and 3-1 week overall. On top of her blocks, Welker contributed with 28 kills (2.15 per set) and four aces (0.31/set), equaling 47.5 points (3.65 per set).
She particularly shined in the 3-1 win over Valparaiso University, Sept. 5, as she led the match with 11 blocks, the second-most in the MAC by an individual this season, most in a four-set contest, second-most in EMU history in a four-set game, and fifth most in the nation in four sets by volume.
MULTIPLE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Ashlynn Belcher and Hatteras Welker's respective MAC Player of the Week nods, Sept. 8, mark the programs first time earning multiple conference player of the week accolades in the same week since at least 2009.
CONSISTENT TRENDS
Eastern is 10-0 this season when hitting better than its opponent and 24-4 under Foeman when doing so. EMU has out-killed its foe in 11-of-20 games this season, producing a 10-1 record in 2025 and 20-3 overall mark in three seasons under Foeman. EMU is also a perfect 5-0 when hitting .250 or better this season, most recently doing so in a sweep of Kent State, Oct. 9, as Eastern hit .259.
HITTING BETTER THAN FOES
EMU has out-hit its opponent in 10-of-20 matches this season and did so in 7-of-10 (Aug. 29-Sept. 13) games for the first time since the 2018 season, Oct. 25-Nov. 18. That season, the Eagles out-hit their opponent in 27-of-35 games en route to a MAC Tournament Championship and NCAA Tournament berth.
Overall, the Eagles are 10-0 this season when out-hitting their opponent and 24-4 in the Foeman era.
GOING TO EXTRAS
Both Eastern and Western Michigan scored into the 30s in the second set in the MAC opener, Sept. 25, as Western won a tight third set, 33-31. The occurrence marked the first time EMU and its opponent scored into the 30s in the same set since it scored into the 30s again against Western Michigan in the 2021 MAC opener, as EMU won the first set, 32-30, Sept. 23.
RECENT CAREER-HIGHS
Ella Grasson landed a career-high five aces, the most in the MAC in a three-set match against the Golden Flashes, Oct. 9. Taeley Mahler landed a career-best 15 kills against Kent State, Oct. 10, off a .481 hitting percentage, the best in her career when posting at least 10 kills. Wrigley Takats also posted a career best in the same game with eight blocks. Ashlynn Belcher dumped a career-best five kills in the 3-1 win over the Golden Flashes, Oct. 10.
MOST ACES UNDER FOEMAN
Eastern landed 12 aces in the win over UMKC, Aug. 30, marking the most in the Foeman era (2023-present) and the most in a single game since it recorded 15 against Buffalo, Oct. 27, 2006. The total stands fourth in the program's all-time single-game leaderboards.
HIGH IN MAC/NAT'L RANKINGS - TEAM
Eastern ranks in the top four in the MAC in seven categories.
Stat Figure MAC
Digs/set 15.49 2nd
Attacks/set 36.62 2nd
Opp Hit% .189 3rd
Blocks/set 2.36 3rd
Kills/set 12.56 4th
Eastern ranks 32nd in the country in attacks per set (36.59) and 50th in digs per set (15.49). By volume, it ranks 11th in the county in total attacks (2,744), 13th in the nation in team total blocks (177.0), 15th in the nation in team digs (1,162), 22nd in team assists (870), 23rd in team kills (942), and 37th in team service aces (122).
HIGH IN MAC/NAT'L RANKINGS - TEAM SINGLE GAME
Eastern ranks first in the MAC in three team single-game categories, and inside the top four in 10 total.
Stat Figure MAC NAT'L
Blocks 17 1st 6th (In four sets)
Three-Set Assists 50 1st 8th
Three-Set Kills 51 1st 9th
Four-Set Hit% .336 3rd n/a
Hit% .424 2nd n/a
Four-Set Digs 91 2nd 5th (In four sets)
Four-Set Kills 66 3rd 9th
Three-Set Blocks 11 4th n/a
Aces 12 4th 6th (In five sets)
Three-Set Aces 11 4th 7th (In three sets)
HIGH IN MAC/NAT'L RANKINGS- INDIVIDUAL
Eastern Michigan has three players that rank inside the conference top five in various per-set categories.
Name Stat Figure MAC
H. Welker Blks/Set 1.29 2nd
S. Srinivasan Dig/Set 3.80 4th
A. Siefke Pts/Set 4.27 4th
A. Siefke Kills/Set 3.57 5th
In the national standings, Hatteras Welker slots 49th in blocks per set (1.29) and eighth in total blocks (94). Ava Siefke ranks 14th in total attacks (786), 18th in total points (320.0), and 32nd in total kills (268). Additionally, Ashlynn Belcher stands 23rd in the nation with 646 total assists.
HIGH IN MAC/NAT'L RANKINGS - SINGLE GAME INDIV.
Name Stat Figure MAC
A. Belcher 3-set Ast 41 2nd
K. Bonney Hit% .688 4th
H. Welker Blocks 11 2nd
A. Stanford 3-setHit% .667 2nd
S. Srinivasan 4-set Dig 27 3rd
E. Grasson Aces 5 2nd
E. Grasson 3-set Ace 5 1st
H. Welker Aces 4 3rd
In the national standings by volume, Welker's 11 blocks in a four-set match slot fifth, while Belcher's 41 dimes in a three-set match are the ninth most. Grasson's five aces tie for fifth in three-set matches.
MILESTONES
Ava Siefke reached the 500 mark with her 17 kills in the win over SIU, Sept. 12. Ashlynn Belcher reached the 500 digs mark with nine against Oakland, Sept. 19, she now has 550 in her four-year NCAA tenure. Abby Stanford reached 500 kills with her four at IU Indy, Sept. 18 as she totals 511 in her collegiate career. Surabhi Srinivasan reached the 500 digs mark with 24 against Kent State, Oct. 10.
UP NEXT
Eastern returns home for two matches against Buffalo Thursday-Friday, Oct. 23-24. Admission is free at the George Gervin Game Above Center and fans can stream both games live 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.
Players Mentioned
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/ VolleyballElite bench squad😤
Monday, October 13
Volleyball Highlights vs. Kent State, Oct. 9, 2025
Friday, October 10
Ava Siefke Career-High 22-Kill Match Highlight
Sunday, October 05
Volleyball Highlights vs. Bowling Green, Oct. 3, 2025
Saturday, October 04