Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, November 7
Ypsilanti, Mich.
6 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
12-17,4-12MAC
1
vs
3
Ball State
19-9,15-1MAC
1
2
3
4
F
Ball St.
25
22
25
25
3
Eastern Mich.
22
25
23
21
1
Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios
Volleyball Celebrates Senior Night Against Ball State
11/7/2025 8:31:00 PM | Volleyball
Eastern took one set over MAC champion Cardinals
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team celebrated Senior Night inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center, Friday, Nov. 7, by taking one set from the Mid-American Conference Regular Season Champions Ball State University before ultimately falling in a highly-competitive four-set match.
Eastern, which took the second set in a hard-fought match, was led by Ava Siefke (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Ursula Academy), whose 11th double-double included team-highs with 16 kills and 18 digs (equals career high), and Hatteras Welker (Sunbury, Ohio/Sunbury), who matched her career high with 14 kills to go with a career-high six digs while adding three total blocks.
The Eagles recognized six seniors following the match as Ashlynn Belcher (Marengo, Ohio/Highland/Old Dominion), Kendal Bonney (Pioneer, Ohio/North Central/Ashland), Abby Stanford (Zanesville, Ohio/Tri Valley/Ashland), Bri Struck (Broadlands, Ill./Heritage/Parkland College), and Ella Voorhees (Morgantown, W. Va./Morgantown/Southern Miss.) were honored.
How it Happened
SET ONE | With a strong performance, Eastern was able to reach 10 points first, 10-6. Maintaining control, the Eagles reached 15 points first, 15-12, allowing the score to tie once. Down by four points, Ball State answered back to tie the score again, 16-16, forcing EMU to use a timeout. Keeping the set close, the Eagles tied the score for the fourth time, 22-22, forcing the Cardinals to use a timeout. Ball State finished the set with a win, 25-22.
SET TWO | The Eagles reached 10 points first, 10-9. EMU held on to the lead as it reached 15 points first, 15-14. In a back-and-forth set, Eastern forced the Cardinals to take a timeout with a one-point lead, 20-19. No team led by more than two points throughout the set. Leading by two points, EMU forced Ball State to use its last timeout, 24-22. The Eagles finished strong to take the set win, 25-22, evening the match, 1-1.
SET THREE | For the first time in the match, the Cardinals reached 10 points first, 10-7. Maintaining control, Ball State secured 15 points first, 15-11, entering the media time out. After Ball State reached 21 points, 21-17, the Eagles were forced to use one of their timeouts. Down by one point, 24-23, the Eagles were able to force the Cardinals to use their final timeout. BSU won the set, 25-23, taking the lead back in the match, 2-1.
SET FOUR | Reaching 10 points first, 10-8, Ball State maintained control in the set with the Eagles right on its tail. With the score within one point, the Cardinals reached 15 points first, 15-14. Still up by one point, 21-20, Ball State was able to force EMU to use a timeout. The Cardinals won the final set, 25-21, securing the match, 3-1.
Match Notes
» Eastern's record shifted to 12-17 (4-12 MAC) while Ball State's improved to 19-9 (15-1 MAC).
» Eastern's best offensive set was the third, landing 19 kills off 41 swings with a .390 hitting percentage.
» Ava Siefke led the team by matching her career high with 18 digs, marking her 12th time securing 10+ digs this season. Siefke achieved 18 digs twice prior to Friday, most recently against Buffalo, Oct. 24.
» Ava Siefke secured her 11th double-double with 16 kills and 18 digs. Her 11 double-doubles mark the most in the program in one season since Callie Minshew had 10 in the 2023 season.
» With two aces in the match, Hatteras Welker has at least one ace in 23-of-29 matches this season. Welker's 23 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. Welker's two aces mark her 11th match with multiple aces this season.
» Hatteras Welker matched her career high with 14 kills, equaling her mark set at Ohio, Oct. 17. Welker's offensive production has ticked up in recent matches as all five of her double-digit kill efforts this season have come in the last eight matches.
» Hatteras Welker produced a career-high six digs.
» Bri Struck recorded the third 10+ kill match of her NCAA Division I career, landing 10 on the day off a .250 hitting percentage.
» Ella Voorhees secured her third double-double of the season with 25 assists and 10 digs. The double-double is the 12th of her career.
» Ashlynn Belcher chipped in 22 assists while also securing seven digs.
Historical Notes
» The match marked the 92nd between the Eagles and Cardinals. Overall, Eastern holds a 28-64 record facing Ball State and an 18-31 mark when facing it in Ypsilanti.
» Hatteras Welker is up to 127 blocks on the season, ranking fifth in EMU single-season annals in the modern statistical era (2008-present). She needs eight more to tie her 2024 total of 135 that ties for second. Welker is the only player in program history with multiple seasons of at least 119 total blocks.
» With 10 digs Friday, Ella Voorhees reached 500 in her career with 504 career digs.
» Ava Siefke recorded her 11th double-double ranking her fifth in the MAC and the most in the program since Callie Minshew recorded 10 in the 2023 season.
Up Next
Eastern hit the road to Oxford, Ohio, to conclude its season as the Eagles face Miami University, Nov 14-15. Fans will be able to stream both matches live on ESPN+.
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
Eastern, which took the second set in a hard-fought match, was led by Ava Siefke (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Ursula Academy), whose 11th double-double included team-highs with 16 kills and 18 digs (equals career high), and Hatteras Welker (Sunbury, Ohio/Sunbury), who matched her career high with 14 kills to go with a career-high six digs while adding three total blocks.
The Eagles recognized six seniors following the match as Ashlynn Belcher (Marengo, Ohio/Highland/Old Dominion), Kendal Bonney (Pioneer, Ohio/North Central/Ashland), Abby Stanford (Zanesville, Ohio/Tri Valley/Ashland), Bri Struck (Broadlands, Ill./Heritage/Parkland College), and Ella Voorhees (Morgantown, W. Va./Morgantown/Southern Miss.) were honored.
How it Happened
SET ONE | With a strong performance, Eastern was able to reach 10 points first, 10-6. Maintaining control, the Eagles reached 15 points first, 15-12, allowing the score to tie once. Down by four points, Ball State answered back to tie the score again, 16-16, forcing EMU to use a timeout. Keeping the set close, the Eagles tied the score for the fourth time, 22-22, forcing the Cardinals to use a timeout. Ball State finished the set with a win, 25-22.
SET TWO | The Eagles reached 10 points first, 10-9. EMU held on to the lead as it reached 15 points first, 15-14. In a back-and-forth set, Eastern forced the Cardinals to take a timeout with a one-point lead, 20-19. No team led by more than two points throughout the set. Leading by two points, EMU forced Ball State to use its last timeout, 24-22. The Eagles finished strong to take the set win, 25-22, evening the match, 1-1.
SET THREE | For the first time in the match, the Cardinals reached 10 points first, 10-7. Maintaining control, Ball State secured 15 points first, 15-11, entering the media time out. After Ball State reached 21 points, 21-17, the Eagles were forced to use one of their timeouts. Down by one point, 24-23, the Eagles were able to force the Cardinals to use their final timeout. BSU won the set, 25-23, taking the lead back in the match, 2-1.
SET FOUR | Reaching 10 points first, 10-8, Ball State maintained control in the set with the Eagles right on its tail. With the score within one point, the Cardinals reached 15 points first, 15-14. Still up by one point, 21-20, Ball State was able to force EMU to use a timeout. The Cardinals won the final set, 25-21, securing the match, 3-1.
Match Notes
» Eastern's record shifted to 12-17 (4-12 MAC) while Ball State's improved to 19-9 (15-1 MAC).
» Eastern's best offensive set was the third, landing 19 kills off 41 swings with a .390 hitting percentage.
» Ava Siefke led the team by matching her career high with 18 digs, marking her 12th time securing 10+ digs this season. Siefke achieved 18 digs twice prior to Friday, most recently against Buffalo, Oct. 24.
» Ava Siefke secured her 11th double-double with 16 kills and 18 digs. Her 11 double-doubles mark the most in the program in one season since Callie Minshew had 10 in the 2023 season.
» With two aces in the match, Hatteras Welker has at least one ace in 23-of-29 matches this season. Welker's 23 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. Welker's two aces mark her 11th match with multiple aces this season.
» Hatteras Welker matched her career high with 14 kills, equaling her mark set at Ohio, Oct. 17. Welker's offensive production has ticked up in recent matches as all five of her double-digit kill efforts this season have come in the last eight matches.
» Hatteras Welker produced a career-high six digs.
» Bri Struck recorded the third 10+ kill match of her NCAA Division I career, landing 10 on the day off a .250 hitting percentage.
» Ella Voorhees secured her third double-double of the season with 25 assists and 10 digs. The double-double is the 12th of her career.
» Ashlynn Belcher chipped in 22 assists while also securing seven digs.
Historical Notes
» The match marked the 92nd between the Eagles and Cardinals. Overall, Eastern holds a 28-64 record facing Ball State and an 18-31 mark when facing it in Ypsilanti.
» Hatteras Welker is up to 127 blocks on the season, ranking fifth in EMU single-season annals in the modern statistical era (2008-present). She needs eight more to tie her 2024 total of 135 that ties for second. Welker is the only player in program history with multiple seasons of at least 119 total blocks.
» With 10 digs Friday, Ella Voorhees reached 500 in her career with 504 career digs.
» Ava Siefke recorded her 11th double-double ranking her fifth in the MAC and the most in the program since Callie Minshew recorded 10 in the 2023 season.
Up Next
Eastern hit the road to Oxford, Ohio, to conclude its season as the Eagles face Miami University, Nov 14-15. Fans will be able to stream both matches live on ESPN+.
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
Team Stats
BSU
EMU
Kills
60
63
Errors
17
27
Attempts
161
160
Hitting %
.267
.225
Points
77.0
69.0
Assists
53
55
Aces
5
3
Blocks
12
3
Game Leaders
Kills
16
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
14
Aces
2
Blocks
3
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Players Mentioned
S
/ VolleyballPH/MB
/ VolleyballOH/OPP
/ Volleyball
MB/OPP
/ VolleyballOH/OPP
/ Volleyball
S/DS
/ VolleyballMB
/ VolleyballAshlynn’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
It’s Bri’s turn!🙌
Wednesday, November 05
Kicking off EMU Volleyball Senior Week Honors with Abby!🥳
Wednesday, November 05