Eastern Michigan Athletics
Thursday, November 6
Ypsilanti, Mich.
6 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
vs
Ball State
Photo by: Evan Higgins
Volleyball Set to Host Ball State in Pivotal MAC Matches
11/5/2025 4:26:00 PM | Volleyball
Both matches will start at 6 p.m., Thursday-Friday as EMU will honor its 2025 senior class Friday
| Volleyball vs. Ball State | |
| Dates/Times | Thursday-Friday | Nov. 6-7 |
| Venue | George Gervin GameAbove Center, Ypsilanti, Mich. |
| Preview Info | EMU Notes (PDF) | Media Guide |
| Watch Live | Thursday Friday |
| Live Stats | Sidearm Live Stats |
| @EMUVolleyball | @EMUAthletics | |
| @emu_volleyball | @emuathletics | |
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team welcomes Ball State University to the George Gervin GameAbove Center Thursday-Friday, Nov. 6-7, for a pivotal pair of matches as just four contests remain in the 2025 regular season. Eastern will celebrate its 2025 senior class in a post-game ceremony Friday, honoring Ashlynn Belcher, Kendal Bonney, Ella Grasson, Abby Stanford, Bri Struck, and Ella Voorhees.
Admission is free and 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 AGAINST BALL STATE
The Eagles and Cardinals will meet for the 91st and 92nd respective times on the volleyball court Thursday-Friday. Overall, Eastern holds a 28-62 record when facing Ball State, and a 18-29 mark when facing it in Ypsilanti. Eastern has not beaten Ball State since the 2020 season when it topped the Cardinals in five sets in Ypsilanti. The Cardinals hold the advantage in the series' last ten matches as they hold a 10-0 record, including a sweep in the last five match ups. Head Coach Kevin Foeman is in search of his first win over the Cardinals as the EMU head coach as his Eagles were swept in both matches at Ball State last season, Nov. 1-2.
NOTABLES LAST TIME AGAINST BALL STATE
Hatteras Welker set the rally-scoring era single-season freshman blocks record as she totaled 110 after the first match between EMU and BSU last season, Nov. 1. She would finish the season with 135 TB, tying for second in the single-season program leaderboards. EMU also increased its team block total to 264.5 after the matches as the squad concluded the year with 305.5, slotting third the rally-scoring era in program annals.
LAST TIME OUT
Eastern is coming off a 1-2 week, beginning with a rivalry sweep of Central Michigan, Oct. 28, snapping a 10-match losing streak to the Chippewas and marking the first home win over CMU since 2015. The Eagles then traveled to Akron for a pair of matches, Oct. 31-Nov. 1, falling in both as the Green and White threatened a reverse sweep Friday, winning the third and fourth set, before falling in the fifth. The Eagles were swept in Saturday's match.
HONORING SENIORS
Eastern is set to honor six seniors - Ashlynn Belcher, Kendal Bonney, Ella Grasson, Abby Stanford, Bri Struck, and Ella Voorhees in a post-game ceremony Friday.
Ashlynn Belcher joined the squad this season as a transfer from Old Dominion and total 1,894 assists in her career, averaging 5.38 per set. She currently ranks inside the MAC top 10 in assists per set (8.11).
Named to the Academic All-MAC team and CSC Academic All-District teams in 2024, Kendal Bonney came over with Head Coach Kevin Foeman in the 2023 season. She has the best single-game hitting percentage on the team this season, hitting .688 with 12 kills and just one error against Marshall, Aug. 29, a figure that ranks fifth in the MAC.
Ella Grasson arrived via the transfer portal from High Point prior to the 2024 season, she has set a career-best 1.58 digs per set with 20 aces, including a five ace performance against Kent State, Oct. 9, the second-most in the conference this season.
Abby Stanford also joined Foeman when he took the EMU gig prior to the 2023 campaign. Stanford is averaging a career-best 1.78 kills per set this season and was named to the Academic All-MAC and CSC Academic All-District teams in 2024.
Bri Struck came to Ypsilanti in 2024. She is a former junior college All-American, conference player of the year, and region player of the year in two seasons at Parkland College. She set NCAA Division I career highs with 16 kills and five total blocks against Buffalo, Oct. 24. Her 16-kill showing featured just three errors off 37 attacks, totaling a .351 hitting percentage.
Ella Voorhees first donned the Block E in 2024 as she came to EMU after two seasons with Southern Miss. She is averaging a career-best 2.34 digs per set and she recently posted the 11th double-double of her career with 20 assists and 14 digs at Akron, Oct. 31.
HATTIE'S HEATING UP
Sophomore middle blocker Hatteras Welker is coming off a strong offensive weekend at Akron, Oct. 31-Nov. 1. Welker recorded 10+ kills (10,11) for the second time in her career as she hit over .425 (.429/.476) in consecutive matches for the first time in her career. The weekend continued her offensive progress as she has landed 10 or more kills in 4-of-6 games for the first time in her NCAA tenure. Additionally, her .476 clip against the Zips, Nov. 1, is her best hitting percentage when posting over 20 attacks as she was set 21 times with just one error in both matches against UA.
EMU BLOCK PARTY
The Eagles' 17.0 total blocks In the win over Buffalo, Oct. 24, 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 20 schools in the nation, and the only school in the MAC, to have multiple matches with at least 17 blocks this season.
AVA SIEFKE 10+ KILLS GAMES
Ava Siefke is up to 20 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.
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).
SIEFKE 20+ KILLS
Ava Siefke recently notched her third 20+ kill game of the season at Ohio, Oct. 16, ranking third in the MAC. She drilled 20 kills off a .238 hitting percentage against the Bobcats, the best hitting percentage in her career when totaling 60+ attacks as she matched a career-best with 63 attacks, the most from an Eagle in a single game in 2025.
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 (3.35), attacks per set (10.21), aces per set (0.34), digs per set (2.54), blocks per set (0.48), and points per set (3.96).
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
3.35 3.96 .159 10.21
Siefke currently ranks fifth in the MAC in points per set (3.96) and kills per set (3.35), and slots ninth by value with 0.34 aces per set while leading the Eagles in both point per set and kills per set.
SIEFKE'S DOUBLE-DOUBLES
Ava Siefke's 10 double-doubles rank fifth in the MAC and the most in the program since Callie Minshew recorded 10 in the 2023 season.
She has recorded consecutive double-doubles twice this season (vs. Marshall/Kansas City, Aug. 29-30), (vs. Southern Illinois/at Oakland, Sept. 12-13). She most recently posted a double-double with 11 kills and 16 digs in a five-set loss to Akron, Oct. 31.
HISTORIC HITTING PERCENTAGES
Eastern hit .424 (41-5-85) in the sweep over Purdue Fort Wayne, Sept. 4. The clip ranks third 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 eighth 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.
1/1: ASHLYNN BELCHER
Senior setter Ashlynn Belcher is the only player in the nation with 757+ assists, 15+ aces, and four or fewer service errors. She currently posts 795 assists, 15 aces, and just five service errors. Belcher is just the fourth NCAA player in the last six years to post that stat line or better since 2019.
BELCHER'S DOUBLE-DOUBLES
Ashlynn Belcher recently recorded her eighth double-double of the season with 31 assists and 10 digs at Ohio, Oct. 17. Her eight double-doubles are the seventh-most in the conference as she notched three consecutive double-doubles for the third time in her career, Oct. 16-23.
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 seventh in the MAC with 8.11 assists per set. Her 795 assists and 8.11 per set average are both the highest from an Eastern setter since Jayden Otto dished 1,092, posting 9.93 per set in the 2021 season.
1/1: HATTERAS WELKER
Sophomore middle blocker Hatteras Welker is the only player in the nation to post more than 123 blocks and 36 aces as she currently totals 124 blocks and 37 aces.
WELKER SINGLE-SEASON BLOCKS RECORDS
Hatteras Welker is approaching her 2024 block total of 135, which ties for second in program history in the rally scoring era (2008-present). Welker currently posts 124 total blocks, a figure that slots sixth in program annals as she needs 11 more to tie her 2024 total and 12 more to break it and hold sole possession of the second spot.
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 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 service aces per set (0.37), kills per set (1.89), points per set (2.99), and hitting percentage (.231).
Welker in 2024
Kills/Set Pts/Set Hitt%
1.34 2.22 .208
Welker in 2025
Kills/Set Pts/Set Hitt%
1.89 2.99 .231
Welker's 1.23 blocks per set rank second in the MAC and 67th nationally as her career-best 11 blocks against Valparaiso, Sept. 5, slot second in the MAC.
WELKER FROM THE SERVE LINE
Hatteras Welker has at least one ace in 21-of-27 matches this season. Her 21 matches with at least one ace are tied for the fourth-highest mark in the nation, are the most in the MAC, and are the most of any middle in the country. Welker ranks first on the team averaging 0.37 aces per set, an improvement from her 0.18 per set average in 2024.
She recently landed three aces against Akron, Oct. 31, marking the third time she has recorded at least three aces this season as she has done so in back-to-back matches for the first time in 2025 and second in her career with four aces against CMU, and three against the Zips.
STAR STRUCK
Senior outside hitter Bri Struck erupted for a career-best 16 kills in the second start of her NCAA Division I career. Struck entered the match with just 13 career kills as she bested her previous single-game career-high of three by 13. She also recorded the first block of her career, swatting five, and matched a career best with three digs.
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 fourth-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 one of two freshman in the MAC to post at least 20 kills while hitting .326 or better as CMU's Molly Creech recorded 24 kills off a .333 clip against Bowling Green, Oct. 31.
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 fourth-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.
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 ranks seventh in the conference averaging a career-best 3.72 digs per set as she has tallied 10+ digs in 19-of-27 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 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 four times this season, as EMU is 3-1 when she does so.
Srinivasan previously posted seven consecutive games with double-digit digs, Sept. 12-26, the longest streak of her tenure.
MAHLER'S EFFICIENT HITTING
Sophomore outside hitter Taeley Mahler has seen an increase in her hitting percentage from her freshman to sophomore season as she hit .188 last season and is currently hitting .211, a number that ranks second on the team for players with at least 475 attacks as she is taking on a increased workload, posting 5.27 attacks per set this season compared to 4.33 in 2024.
Through 27 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-27 (48.1%) 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 true freshmen as Miami freshman Molly Creech previously posted 24. Waselewsky hit her stride, recording the first occurrence of consecutive double-digit digs games with 21 against BGSU, Oct. 3, before notching 18 the next day against Toledo, Oct. 4. The freshman has four games with over 15 digs, a figure that stands fourth in the MAC among freshman. She recently notched her fourth 15+ dig game with 16 against the Zips, Nov. 1.
GUARD GEARING UP
Sophomore outside hitter Anna Guard has hit her stride as of late as she has recorded 8+ kills in five of her last nine games, including a season-high 12 kills against Ohio, Oct. 16. Guard also landed 11 kills off a .375 hitting percentage in a win over Kent State, Oct. 9. She most recently drilled nine in a win over Central Michigan, Oct. 28.
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 third 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 12-0 this season when hitting better than its opponent and 26-4 under Foeman when doing so. EMU has out-killed its foe in 13-of-27 games this season, producing a 12-1 record in 2025 and 22-3 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 12-of-27 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 12-0 this season when out-hitting their opponent and 26-4 in the Foeman era. They most recently out-hit Central Michigan, .238-.086, in a sweep, Oct. 28.
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
Wrigley Takats drilled a career-best seven kills off a .429 hitting percentage, the best in her career when posting at least 14 attacks against Central Michigan, Oct. 28. Hatteras Welker tied a career best with four aces in the same match. Anna Guard's nine kills off 20 attacks against CMU is the best hitting percentage of her career when posting at least 20 attacks. She had zero errors for the first time in her career when totaling at least 15 attacks. Welker also set a career-best .476 hitting percentage when totaling 20+ attacks as she put down 11 kills off 21 attacks with just one error against Akron, Nov. 1.
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 four categories.
Stat Figure MAC
Digs/set 15.41 2nd
Attacks/set 36.48 3rd
Blocks/set 2.27 3rd
Opp Hit% .192 4th
Eastern ranks 45th in the country in attacks per set (36.48). By volume, it ranks fifth in the county in total attacks (3,757), 10th in the nation in team digs (1,587), 20th in team total blocks (234.0), 25th in team kills (1,261), 33rd in team assists (1,160), and 41st in team service aces (161).
HIGH IN MAC/NAT'L RANKINGS - TEAM SINGLE GAME
Eastern ranks first in the MAC in one team single-game category, and inside the top four in 10 total.
Stat Figure MAC NAT'L
Blocks 17 1st 7th (In four sets)
Three-Set Aces 11 2nd 7th (In three sets)
Three-Set Assists 50 2nd 8th
Hit% .424 3rd n/a
Four-Set Digs 91 2nd 5th
Four-Set Hit% .336 3rd n/a
Four-Set Kills 66 3rd 9th
Three-Set Aces 11 2nd 7th
Three-Set Kills 51 4th n/a
Three-Set Blocks 11 4th n/a
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 1.23 2nd
A. Siefke Kills/Set 3.35 5th
A. Siefke Pts/Set 3.96 5th
In the national standings, Hatteras Welker slots eighth in total blocks (124). Ava Siefke slots 14th in total attacks (1,052), 28th in total points (407.5), and 44th in total kills (345).
HIGH IN MAC/NAT'L RANKINGS - SINGLE GAME INDIV.
Name Stat Figure MAC
E. Grasson 3-set Ace 5 1st
H. Welker Blocks 11 2nd
E. Grasson Aces 5 2nd
A. Belcher 3-set Ast 41 3rd
S. Srinivasan 4-set Dig 27 4th
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 11th most. Grasson's five aces tie for fifth in three-set matches.
MILESTONES
Ashlynn Belcher is 157 assists away from 2,000 in her career as she totals 1,843. Ella Voorhees sits 16 digs from 500, and 166 assists from 1,000. Ava Siefke is 21 aces away from the century mark.
UP NEXT
Eastern travels to Oxford, Ohio, where it will close out the 2025 regular season against the Miami RedHawks Friday-Saturday, Nov. 14-15. Friday's match starts at 6:30 p.m. while Saturday's first serve will take place at 4 p.m.
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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/ VolleyballConcluding our senior spotlights with Ella Voorhees!🤩
Saturday, November 08
Volleyball Senior Highlights vs Ball State, Nov. 7, 2025
Saturday, November 08
Ashlynn’s set for senior night!👏
Thursday, November 06
Our spark plug on and off the court⚡️🦅 Excited to honor Ella Grasson on senior night this Friday!
Thursday, November 06