Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
9-10,1-5MAC
Kent State
7-10,2-4MAC
Volleyball Captures First MAC Win of 2025, Sweeps Kent State
10/9/2025 8:03:00 PM | Volleyball
Eastern had more kills, assists, aces, blocks, and digs than the Golden Flashes
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YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team earned its way back into the win column with a 3-0 sweep over Kent State University inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center Thursday night, Oct. 9.
Eastern had more kills, assists, aces, blocks, and digs than its opponent for the third time this season as the Eagles snapped a six-game losing streak in the victory,
Anna Guard (Burlington, Ky./St. Henry District) led the offense with a season-best 11 kills off a .375 hitting percentage. Ella Grasson (Middleburg Heights, Ohio/Padua Franciscan/High Point) landed a career-best five aces as Ashlynn Belcher (Marengo, Ohio/Highland/Old Dominion) handled the setting duties, dishing 35 assists.
Defensively, Guard, Hatteras Welker (Sunbury, Ohio/Sunbury), and Wrigley Takats (Perrysburg, Ohio/Perrysburg) each had three blocks while Surabhi Srinivasan (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Jerome) led the team with 14 digs.
How it Happened
SET ONE | The Eagles endured a back-and-forth first set to win, 25-23, in a stanza that featured six lead changes and was tied 16 times. Neither team led by more than four points in the match.
SET TWO | After its win in the first set, Eastern Michigan put themselves on the cusp of a sweep with a 25-12 victory in set number two. EMU took control of the set early on at 6-5 and held the lead the rest of the way. Eastern opened its biggest lead of the stanza, 13 points, to finish off the set. The Eastern Michigan offense got a boost from three aces in the stanza as the front row also had a solid defensive performance, blocking four KSU attacks.
SET THREE | Eastern Michigan took set three to earn a victory via the sweep. The Eagles grabbed control of the set early at 3-2 and never trailed, eventually winning the set, 25-20. Eastern ended on a strong note, opening up its biggest lead of the stanza, five points, to finish off the set, one that saw it land 15 kills and land six aces.
Match Notes
» Eastern's record improved to 9-10 (1-5 MAC) while Kent State's to 7-10 (2-4 MAC).
» Eastern out-hit its foe (.259 - .155) for the ninth time this season, producing a 9-0 record when doing so. EMU is 23-4 overall under Head Coach Kevin Foeman when out-hitting its opponent.
» Eastern hit over .250 for the fourth time this season. It produces a 5-0 record when doing so.
» Eastern dominated the stat battle as it had more kills (41-35), assists (38-33), aces (11-5), digs (49-47), and blocks (7-5) than its opponent. It marked the third time this season the team has done so, with the last occurrence coming in a sweep over Oakland, Sept. 19.
» Eastern's 11 aces are the most in the MAC in a three-set match this season and rank seventh in terms of value in the nation.
» Anna Guard's 11 kills off a .375 hitting percentage mark the most efficient match of her career when totaling over 10 kills.
» Ella Grasson landed a career-best five aces, the most in the conference in a three-set match while ranking second in single-game aces in all matches. Her five aces are the most from an Eagle since Jordan Smith landed eight against Stoney Brook, Aug. 26, 2017.
» Ashlynn Belcher's totaled 35 assists led the team, marking the 19th time she has done so this season. The performance marked her 12th with at least 30 assists this season and brought her career total up to 25 games.
» Ava Siefke (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Ursula Academy) posted eight kills, and three aces, totaling 11 points, marking her 18th time with at least 10 this season.
» Taeley Mahler (Fort Wayne, Ind./Homestead) drilled nine kills off a blistering .529 attack percentage as she posted 10 or more points for the seventh time this season and 10th in her collegiate tenure.
Historical Notes
» The match marked the 66th between the Eagles and Golden Flashes. Overall, Eastern holds a 42-23-1 mark against the Golden Flashes and a 23-10-1 mark when facing them at home.
» Eastern's 11 aces tie for the fifth most in George Gervin GameAbove Center history and are the most its' totaled in the building since it recorded 13 against Western Michigan, Nov. 9, 2002.
» Grasson's five aces are the most from an Eagle since Jordan Smith landed eight against Stoney Brook, Aug. 26, 2017.
Up Next
Eastern faces Kent State once more tomorrow, Oct. 10, 4 p.m. Admission is free at the George Gervin GameAbove Center and fans can stream the game live on ESPN+.
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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
