Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
8-8,0-3MAC
Bowling Green
9-6,3-0MAC
Siefke Tallies 22 Kills in Five-Set Thriller Against Bowling Green
10/3/2025 9:31:00 PM | Volleyball
Eastern took a 2-1 match lead into the fourth set before falling, 3-2
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YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Eastern Michigan University volleyball student-athlete Ava Siefke landed a career-best 22 kills as the Eagles lost a five-set thriller to the Bowling Green State University Falcons, 3-2, in the Mid-American Conference home opener at the George Gervin GameAbove Center Friday, Oct. 3.
Eastern took a 2-1 match lead into the fourth set before BGSU took sets four and five to win the match, 3-2.
Siefke (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Ursula Academy) landed her 22 kills off a .212 hitting percentage while adding four digs, one assist, and one block. Freshman defensive specialist Layna Waselewsky (Ada, Mich./Forest Hills Eastern) paced the EMU defense with a career-high 21 digs, while Wrigley Takats (Perrysburg, Ohio/Perrysburg) tied a career high with six blocks.
Ashlynn Belcher (Marengo, Ohio/Highland/Old Dominion) handled a bulk of the setting duties, leading the team for the 16th time this season as she dished 23.
How it Happened
SET ONE | The Eagles found themselves in an early deficit, dropping a tough first set, 25-18. Eastern Michigan trailed by as many as seven points as Bowling Green grabbed the advantage for good at 8-7 in a set that was knotted up five times before the Falcons took control.
SET TWO | Eastern responded to pick up a 25-20 victory in the second set, evening the match at one set apiece. The Eagles came back from down five points and grabbed the advantage for good at 14-13 in a set that had just one lead change before the Eagles took over in the second half of the stanza.
SET THREE | Eastern Michigan built on it's second-set success with a 25-20 victory in the third set, opening up a 2-1 match lead. EMU took the lead for good at 13-12 in a set that showcased four lead changes before the Eagles took over. The Eastern offense also got a boost from four aces in the stanza.
SET FOUR | Eastern Michigan couldn't end the match as the Falcons forced a fifth set with a 25-15 fourth-set win. The Eagles lost the first point and never took the lead before losing the set.
SET FIVE | Eastern Michigan dropped the final set, 15-13, after holding an early 5-4 lead before Bowling Green took over.
Match Notes
» Eastern's record shifted to 8-7 (0-3 MAC) while Bowling Green's improved to 9-6 (3-0 MAC).
» Siefke's career-high 22 kills led the team and the match, marking her 13th time doing so this season as she posted her fifth performance with 15+ kills and 15th with at least 10. Her 15 double-digit kill games are the most in the MAC this season. Additionally, Siefke's two games with 20+ kills tie for the third most in the MAC.
» Waselewsky notched her third career game with double figures in digs as she grabbed a career-best 21. Her 21 digs are the most from an EMU freshman since Hannah Howard grabbed 25 at Toledo, Sept, 21, 2023. She also added a career-best five assists.
» Belcher led the team with 23 assists as she has posted at least 20 in 14-of-16 matches this season. She added eight digs and one kill.
» Takats drilled a career-best six kills while tying a career best with six blocks. She previously blocked six at Western Michigan University, Sept. 25.
Historical Notes
» The match marked the 68th between the Eagles and Falcons. Overall, Eastern holds a 27-41 mark against BGSU and a 14-22 mark when facing it at home.
Up Next
Eastern hosts the University of Toledo Saturday, Oct. 4, 4 p.m. Admission is free and the game can be streamed live on ESPN+.
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