Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
Buffalo
Struck Powers Volleyball to Reverse Sweep Victory Over Buffalo
10/24/2025 9:35:00 PM | Volleyball
Senior tallied career-high 16 kills
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Senior outside hitter Bri Struck put together a career-best 16-kill performance to power the Eastern Michigan University volleyball team to a reverse sweep victory against the University at Buffalo Friday, Oct. 24, at the George Gervin GameAbove Center.
Struck (Broadlands, Ill./Heritage), who had just 13 career kills entering the match, made just her second career start while hitting a robust .351 to lead Eastern's attack.
Junior outside hitter Ava Siefke (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Ursula Academy) posted her ninth double-double of the season behind a 12-kill, 18-dig showing. Her 18 digs led the team while senior defensive specialist Ella Grasson (Middleburg Heights, Ohio/Padua Franciscan) added 11 digs.
Sophomore middle blocker Wrigley Takats also had a standout effort, recording a career-high 10 blocks.
Eastern also received an 11-kill, six-block performance from sophomore middle hitter Hatteras Welker (Sunbury, Ohio/Big Walnut) and a 10-kill, five-dig, and five-block showing from sophomore outside hitter Anna Guard (Burlington, Ky./St. Henry District).
How it Happened
SET 1 | The Eagles came back from a seven-point 21-14 deficit to even the match at 24-24, but Buffalo held on to win the first set despite EMU fighting off five set points.
SET 2 | Buffalo took control early again, being the first to reach 10 points within the second set, 10-4. Eastern lost the second set, 25-18, to fall behind in the match, 2-0. The Eagles did tie the set, 15-15, but weren't able to keep the momentum.
SET 3 | EMU took control in the third set, reaching 10 points first, 10-6. With strong momentum, Eastern maintained control going into the media timeout, 15-9. EMU forced Buffalo to take a time out at 18-10. EMU won the third set, 25-13, to make it a 2-1 match. Eastern hit .455 in the set.
SET 4 | Eastern Michigan then kept the comeback train rolling, winning the fourth set, 25-20, to bring the match level at two sets apiece. The Eagles took the lead for good at 10-9 in a set that had just one lead change before the EMU took over the lead.
SET 5 | Eastern Michigan lost the first two sets, but mounted an epic comeback to win the last three sets, culminating in a 15-12 fifth-set victory, and take the match 3-2. The Eagles grabbed the fifth set propelled by a solid showing on the attacking side. Eastern Michigan put together a .375 attack percentage with eight kills in the set win. EMU opened up a 14-8 lead in the stanza and coasted to victory from there.
Match Notes
» Eastern's record improved to 11-13 (3-8 MAC) while Buffalo's shifted to 7-13 (4-7 MAC).
» The reverse sweep marks Eastern's second of the season with the other coming against UMKC, Aug. 30.
» Eastern outhit Buffalo, .182-.129, improving to 11-0 on the season when outhitting its foe. EMU is 25-4 when doing so in the Kevin Foeman era.
» EMU held a 17.0-14.0 advantage in blocks, improving to 8-2 when tallying more blocks than its opponent this season.
» The Eagles' 17.0 total blocks match the team's season high, set against Valparaiso, Sept. 5. The 17 blocks equal the highest mark in one match among MAC teams this season. Eastern is one of 19 schools in the nation, and the only school in the MAC, to have multiple matches with at least 17 blocks this season.
» Bri Struck's 16 kills are 13 more than her previous career high of three, set in her first match as an Eagle, Aug. 30, 2024, against SIUE. Struck also recorded her first career block, tallying five total blocks for the match. Additionally, Struck equaled her career high of three digs, set against Akron, Nov. 8, 2024.
» Ava Siefke's 18 digs are her 11th match with double-figure digs this season and her 30th time doing so in her career. Her 12 kills mark her 19th match reaching 10 kills this season and 29th time for her career.
» Freshman setter Kaylin Schroeder (Temperance, Mich./Bedford) made just her second appearance of the season, setting career highs in assists (13), kills (2), and digs (2).
» Anna Guard's five total blocks are a career high.
» Ella Voorhees (Morgantown, W. Va./Morgantown/Southern Miss.) led the team in assists with 19, making it her fifth match securing over 10 assists this season.
» Hatteras Welker added one service ace, marking her sixth-straight match with at least one ace. Welker has at least one ace in 19-of-23 matches this season. Welker's 19 matches with at least one ace are tied for the second-highest mark in the nation, are the most in the MAC, and are the most of any middle in the country.
Historical Notes
» The match marked the 36th between the Eagles and Bulls. Overall, Eastern holds a 23-12 mark when facing Buffalo and an 11-6 clip when facing it in Ypsilanti.
Up Next
Eastern hosts Central Michigan University Tuesday, Oct. 28, 6 p.m. at George Gervin GameAbove Center. Admission is free and the game can be streamed live on ESPN+.
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