Eastern Michigan Athletics
Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios
Volleyball Travels to CMU Tuesday, Hosts Kent State Thursday-Friday
10/6/2025 3:02:00 PM | Volleyball
Eastern is in search of its first MAC win of the season
| Volleyball at Central Michigan | vs. Kent State | |
| Dates/Times/Opponents | Tuesday, Oct. 7, at Central Michigan, 6 p.m. | Thursday, Oct. 9, vs. Kent State 6 p.m. | Friday, Oct. 10, vs. Kent State, 4 p.m. |
| Venue | McGuirk Arena | Mt. Pleasant, Mich. | George Gervin GameAbove Center | Ypsilanti, Mich. |
| Preview Info | EMU Notes (PDF) | Media Guide |
| Watch Live | at CMU | vs. Kent State Game 1 | vs. Kent State Game 2 |
| Live Stats | at CMU | vs. Kent State |
| @EMUVolleyball | @EMUAthletics | |
| @emu_volleyball | @emuathletics | |
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- In search of its first Mid-American Conference win of the season, the Eastern Michigan University volleyball team will travel north for a rivalry match against Central Michigan University Tuesday, Oct. 7, at McGuirk Arena, 6 p.m., before welcoming the Golden Flashes of Kent State University to the George Gervin GameAbove Center for two matches Thursday-Friday, Oct. 9-10, 6 p.m., 4 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 RECORDS
Central Michigan: The Eagles and Chippewas will meet for the 102nd time in the all-time series and the first time this season Tuesday. Overall, Eastern holds a 31-70 record against Central Michigan and a 15-29 mark when facing it in Mt. Pleasant. Eastern has not beaten Central since the 2020 season when it edged the Chippewas in five sets in Mt. Pleasant, March 16, 2021, as CMU has won the previous nine games in the series, the longest streak since it won the first 23 games in the series, 1976-85.
Kent State: Eastern and Kent State will meet for the 66th and 67th time, Thursday-Friday. Overall, the Eagles hold a 41-23-1 record when facing the Golden Flashes, and a 22-10-1 mark when facing them at home. The two institutions first met on the volleyball court, Oct. 16, 1976, a match that saw the Eagles win in three sets, 2-1. Eastern has had the edge in the series as of late, as it holds a 7-3 record in the previous 10 matches. The Eagles took both matches against KSU to open MAC play last season, Sept. 26-27. EMU has won four straight in the series, the longest streak since it took six consecutive from 2001-06. Moreover, Head Coach Kevin Foeman holds a clean 4-0 record against KSU as the Eastern head coach. Along with Miami University (3-0), Kent State is one of two MAC schools Foeman holds a perfect record against.
SAME STARTS
Both the Eagles and Chippewas enter the match 0-4 in MAC play as they have lost to the same teams in Western Michigan, Northern Illinois, Bowling Green, and Toledo.
Eastern Michigan
Opp. Date Result
at Western Mich. Sept. 25 L, 3-1
at Northern Ill. Sept. 26 L, 3-0
vs. Bowling Green Oct. 3 L, 3-2
vs. Toledo Oct. 4 L, 3-1
Central Michigan
Opp. Date Result
at Northern Ill. Sept. 25 L, 3-2
at Western Mich. Sept. 26 L, 3-2
vs. Toledo Oct. 3 L, 3-2
vs. Bowling Green Oct. 4 L, 3-0
MICHIGAN VS. MICHIGAN
Despite both EMU and CMU being located in Michigan, under 35% of each roster hails from the Mitten State as the Eagles have four Michiganders on the roster while the Chippewas total five.
Eastern Michigan
Player Hometown
Layna Waselewsky Ada, Mich.
Aubriegh Oswald Lowell, Mich.
Kaylin Schroeder Temperance, Mich.
Taylor Smith Pewamo, Mich.
Central Michigan
Player Hometown
Izzy Swiercz Hudsonville, Mich.
Abby Olin Coopersville, Mich.
Alina Anderson Rockford, Mich.
Maddy Gebhardt Montrose, Mich.
Brooklyn Conner Ada, Mich.
Waselewsky and Conner each hail from Ada, Mich., and attended rival high schools as Waselewsky went to Forest Hills Eastern and Conner graduated from Forest Hills Central.
LAST TIME AGAINST CMU/KSU
Central Michigan: Eastern was swept in the first match of the season on the road against CMU, Oct. 1. The Eagles fell in a 3-1 contest at home later in the campaign, Nov. 5. The match marked just the second time in EMU volleyball's 48-year history that the team played on a presidential election night.
Kent State: Eastern's five-set win over the Golden Flashes to open MAC play last season, Sept. 26, marked its first win in a conference opener since 2018 and first reverse sweep since the 2021 season. It also marked the program's first five-set win in a MAC opener since the 2016 campaign.
Eastern followed up that performance with a 3-0 sweep the next day, marking its first 2-0 start in MAC play since 2018.
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 tie for the second most 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 sixth 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, tying Ball State's Carson Tyler for the most in the MAC this 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 (3.74), hitting percentage (.193), aces per set (0.35), digs per set (2.57), blocks per set (0.58), and points per set (4.42).
Siefke in 2024
Kills/Set Pts/Set Hitt%
1.73 2.24 .090
Siefke in 2025
Kills/Set Pts/Set Hitt%
3.74 4.42 .193
Siefke currently ranks fourth in the MAC in points per set (4.42) and fifth in kills per set (3.74) while leading the Eagles in both categories.
1/1: ASHLYNN BELCHER
Senior setter Ashlynn Belcher is the only player in the nation with 550+ assists, 10+ aces, and three or fewer service errors.
1/1: HATTERAS WELKER
Sophomore middle blocker Hatteras Welker is the only player in the nation to post more than 80 blocks and 20 aces as she currently totals 84 blocks and 22 aces.
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 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.
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 freshman 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.
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 1.46 2.31
Welker in 2025
Blocks/Set Kills/Set Pts/Set
1.33 1.73 2.84
Welker's 1.33 blocks per set rank second in the MAC and 38th nationally as her career-best 11 blocks against Valparaiso, Sept. 5, slot second in the MAC.
CONSISTENT TRENDS
Eastern is 8-0 this season when hitting better than its opponent and 22-4 under Foeman when doing so. EMU has out-killed its foe in 9-of-17 games this season, producing an 8-1 record in 2025 and 18-3 overall mark in three seasons under Foeman.
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.
HITTING BETTER THAN FOES
EMU has out-hit its opponent in 8-of-17 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 8-0 this season when out-hitting their opponent and 22-4 in the Foeman era.
RECENT CAREER-HIGHS
Ava Siefke recently matched a career best with 22 kills against Bowling Green, Oct. 3. Along with Siefke, Freshman Layna Waselewsky grabbed a career-best 21 digs and five assists against the Falcons, and Wrigley Takats drilled a career-best six kills.
Against Toledo, Oct. 4, Waselewsky recorded her second consecutive career-high in assists, this time dishing six, Taeley Mahler recorded a career-best six digs, and Siefke tied a career-best with six blocks.
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 15.25 2nd
Attacks/set 36.62 2nd
Kills/set 12.69 3rd
Assists/set 11.72 3rd
Opp Blocks/set 1.97 3rd
Points/set 16.52 4th
Blocks/set 2.29 4th
Eastern ranks 33rd in the country in attacks per set (36.62). By volume, it ranks 18th in the county in total attacks (2,380), 26th in the nation in total kills (825), total assists (762), and total blocks (149.0). It also slots 27th in the nation in total digs with 991.
Additional MAC/National stats rankings can be found on page eight.
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 three in nine 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 2nd n/a
Hit% .424 2nd n/a
Three-Set Digs 58 2nd n/a
Four-Set Kills 66 3rd 9th
Three-Set Blocks 11 3rd n/a
Aces 12 3rd n/a
HIGH IN MAC/NAT'L RANKINGS- INDIVIDUAL
Eastern Michigan has four players that rank inside the conference top five in various per-set categories.
Name Stat Figure MAC
H. Welker Blks/Set 1.33 2nd
S. Srinivasan Dig/Set 3.68 4th
A. Siefke Pts/Set 4.42 4th
A. Siefke Kills/Set 3.74 5th
In the national standings, Hatteras Welker slots 38th in blocks per set (1.33) and ninth in total blocks (84). Ava Siefke ranks 17th in total points (287.0) and total attacks (680), while slotting 28th in total kills (243). Additionally, Ashlynn Belcher stands 32nd in the nation with 557 total assists.
Additional MAC/National stats rankings can be found on page eight.
HIGH IN MAC/NAT'L RANKINGS - SINGLE GAME INDIV.
Name Stat Figure MAC
A. Belcher 3-set Ast 41 1st
K. Bonney Hit% .688 2nd
H. Welker Blocks 11 2nd
A. Stanford Hit% .667 3rd
S. Srinivasan 4-set Dig 27 3rd
E. Grasson Aces 4 3rd
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 and Welker's four aces tie for seventh in four 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 is 41 digs from reaching the 500 mark as she has 459 in her career.
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.
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.
SRINIVASAN CONSISTENCY
Junior libero Surabhi Srinivasan has tallied 10+ digs in 13-of-17 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.
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.
MAHLER HEATING UP
Sophomore outside hitter Taeley Mahler has played well as of late. In her last 12 games, Mahler has tied her career-best total of 10 kills three times, while recording at least nine kills seven times, and hit above .250 nine times.
Mahler has also found consistency defensively, posting at least four blocks in four straight games for the first time in her career, Sept. 13-20. She recently set a career best in digs with six against Toledo, Oct. 4.
UP NEXT
Eastern travels to Athens, Ohio, for two matches against Ohio University Thursday-Friday, Oct. 16-17.
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.
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