Eastern Michigan Athletics
Volleyball Begins 2025 Season at Highlander Invitational Friday
8/28/2025 3:07:00 PM | Volleyball
The Eagles will play three matches in two days
| Volleyball at Radford, vs. Marshall, vs. Kansas City | |
| Date | Friday, Aug. 29 at 1 p.m. & 4:30 p.m. ET | Saturday, Aug. 30 at 11 a.m. |
| Venue | Carilion Court at the Dedmon Center | Radford, Va. |
| Preview Info | EMU Notes (PDF) |
| Watch | Watch at Radford | Watch vs. Marshall | Watch vs. Kansas City |
| Live Stats | Live Stats |
| @EMUVolleyball | @emu_volleyball | @EMUAthletics | |
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- After a 2024 season that featured an eight-win improvement from 2023, the Eastern Michigan University volleyball team is set to begin the 2025 campaign at the Radford University-hosted Highlander Invitational, Friday-Saturday, Aug. 29-30.
Eastern will kickoff the tournament facing the host Highlanders Friday, Aug. 29, 1 p.m., followed by a match a few hours later against Marshall University, 4:30 p.m. The Eagles will conclude the tournament Saturday, 11 a.m., against the University of Missouri-Kansas City Roos.
Fans can follow along with the action using the watch and live stats link 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 Friday and Saturday's action.
MAKING STRIDES UNDER FOEMAN
Head Coach Kevin Foeman is entering his third season at the helm of the program. After starting his EMU tenure 5-25 in 2023, the Eagles posted a 13-19 record last season, marking an eight-win improvement, the second-largest win improvement in the conference from 2023-24 and the program's largest since it also improved by eight wins from 2016-17.
The last time Eastern improved by more than eight wins came in 2010, going 24-11 after winning just five games the season prior. The 19-game improvement was the largest in program history.
HATTERAS WELKER: PRESEASON ALL-MAC
After a MAC All-Freshman season, Hatteras Welker was named Preseason All-MAC, Aug. 25. Welker led the MAC in both total blocks (135) and blocks per-set (1.27) last season. Her 135 total blocks also marked an EMU freshman record and currently stands as the second-most in a single season in the rally scoring era (2008-pres.).
WELKER 2024 HIGHLIGHTS/NOTABLES
Led the MAC in both total blocks (135) and blocks per-set (1.27).
Led an EMU team that posted 305.5 total blocks and 2.48 blocks per set. Its 2.48 blocks per set marked a program record, and its 305.5 total blocks are the second-most in program history in the rally scoring era and ranked fourth nationally in the regular season.
First MAC All-Freshman Eagle since Raeven Chase in 2019.
Named MAC Defensive Player of the Week, Sept. 23, 2024, after notching 18 blocks, averaging an even two per set as Eastern posted a 2-1 record in matches she played in that week.
HISTORIC BLOCKING SEASON
As a team, Eastern totaled 305.5 total blocks and 2.48 blocks per set in 2024, setting a program record in blocks per set and totaling the second-most total blocks in program history. Both its total blocks and per set figure ranked second in the MAC to regular season champion Bowling Green.
RETURNING BLOCKS
Eastern returns 223.5/305.5 (73%) total blocks from 2024, including four out of the top five blockers on the team in Hatteras Welker (135.0), Abby Stanford (86.0), Ava Siefke (51.0), and Kendal Bonney (49.0).
RETURNING OFFENSE
Much like the blocks, Eastern returns a majority of its offensive production, bringing back 950/1,366 (69.5%) of its kills from 2024, despite losing its kill leader in Kaili Doctor (238) to the transfer portal (North Florida). Outside of Doctor, the Eagles bring back five of the top six student-athletes in terms of kills with Ava Siefke (204), Abby Stanford (175), Kendal Bonney (161), Hatteras Welker (142), and Anna Guard (137).
BLOCKING AND EFFICIENCY: ABBY STANFORD
Abby Stanford enters her senior season after leading the Eagles in hitting percentage (.310). Stanford had a stretch of three games in which she finished with double-digit kills and a hitting percentage above .430:
Miami (10/4): 11 K, .611 %
Miami (10/5): 14 K, .500 %
At Bowling Green (10/10): 15 K, .433 %
Stanford's presence was also felt on defense, finishing second on the team in blocks (86) in a season where Eastern finished second in MAC play in total blocks (305.5) and second in program history.
HIGHLY TOUTED TRANSFER: ASHLYNN BELCHER
Predicted to do a bulk of the setting for Eastern this season, Ashlynn Belcher joins the squad after a breakout 2024 season at Old Dominion.
BELCHER NOTABLES FROM 2024
Ranked fifth in the Sun Belt Conference in assists (896) and assists per set (8.22).
Recorded 13 assists/digs double-doubles.
Five games with 50+ assists.
Career high of 62 assists at James Madison (11/07).
.968 serving percentage with 20 service aces, helping Old Dominion rank second in the Sun Belt Conference in aces per set (1.68).
All-Tournament team: Quest for the Crown, Villanova Classic, and Mason Invitational.
PROMISING START: MICHIGAN STATE EXHIBITION
Eastern Michigan got off to a strong start to the 2025 season, taking Michigan State to five sets in the 3-2 exhibition loss. Eastern started the match strong, winning the first two sets.
Three Eagles finished with double-digit kills (AshleeKay Christensen (15), Abby Stanford (12), and Ava Siefke (14), and Stanford led the team with a .458 attacking percentage. Siefke with 10 digs finished with a double-double. Surabhi Srinivasan led the team in digs with 20, which would have set her career-high.
Old Dominion transfer Ashlynn Belcher finished with 44 assists, and Christensen led the team in points with 17.5 in her collegiate exhibition debut.
SHORT HISTORY ON FOEMAN
Head Coach Kevin Foeman is entering his third season at the helm of the program and his 11th year as a head coach. Overall, he holds a 171-133 career record. His previous stops include Division II Ashland University (2018-22), where he won four division titles and the 2022 GMAC Regular Season Championship. Foeman also coached at Lake Erie College (2015-17), where he led the program to their first postseason appearance in its history in 2016.
DUAL SPORT COACH?
Kevin Foeman had a prolific playing career in baseball. He was one of the best baseball players to come out of the University of Mary Washington, as he was named All-American during the 2003-04 season. An All-Region player, Foeman garnered three first-team all-conference honors and was named regional pitcher of the year twice. Foeman holds numerous records, as he has the most career wins (33), strikeouts (360), and complete games (22) at Mary Washington. He also holds records for wins in a season, strikeouts in a season, and complete games. Foeman led the Eagles to three NCAA tournament appearances as they were nominated for the D3Baseball.com team of the decade. He was inducted into the Mary Washington Athletics Hall of Fame in 2018. After his time at Mary Washington, Foeman played for numerous minor league teams, starting in the San Francisco Giants organization, from 2006-12.
RETURNERS
Eastern returns two-thirds of its 2024 roster, bringing back 14/21 players. The returners include Hatteras Welker, Anna Guard, Aubriegh Oswald, Ella Grasson, Bri Struck, Wrigley Takats, Taylor Smith, Ella Voorhees, Ava Siefke, Surabhi Srinivasan, Taeley Mahler, Kendal Bonney, and Abby Stanford.
NEWCOMERS
EMU welcomes six newcomers to the roster, including one transfer and six freshmen. Ashlynn Belcher (Old Dominion) is the lone transfer while the freshmen entail Layna Waselewsky (L/DS), Madelyn Sipe (DS/L), Kaylin Schroeder (S/DS), Arynn Randle El (OH/RS), and AshleeKay Christensen (OH).
SENIOR LED/TEAM BREAKDOWN BY CLASS
By class, the team is led by six seniors in Abby Stanford (MB/OPP), Kendal Bonney (PH/MB), Ella Voorhees (S/DS), Ashlynn Belcher (S), Bri Struck (OH/OPP), and Ella Grasson (DS).
The juniors include Surabhi Srinivasan (L/DS), Ava Siefke (OH/OPP), and Aubriegh Oswald (MB)
The sophomores feature Hatteras Welker (MB), Anna Guard (MB/PH), Wrigley Takats (MB/PH), Taylor Smith (S), and Taeley Mahler (OH/OPP).
Freshman wise, Eastern brings in Layna Waselewsky (L/DS), Madelyn Sipe (DS/L), Kaylin Schroeder (S/DS), Arynn Randle El (OH/RS), and AshleeKay Christensen (OH).
2024 HIGHLIGHT: STRONG START IN MAC PLAY
Eastern got off to a 7-4 start in MAC play for the first time since the 2011 season.
2024 HIGHLIGHT: GOOD STRETCH OF BALL
The Eagles won 7-of-10 matches, Sept. 20-Oct. 11. The stretch marks the first time the program has won 7-of-10 contests since it captured wins in seven of its final 10 matches of the 2018 season, a campaign that ended with Eastern hoisting its only MAC Tournament Championship Trophy.
2024 HIGHLIGHT: THREE STRAIGHT
Eastern won consecutive matches against Miami (Oct. 4-5), and Bowling Green (Oct. 10), marking the program's first three-match winning streak since the 2018 season, when it topped Buffalo, Bowling Green, and Miami on its way to winning the program's lone MAC Tournament Championship.
ASSISTANT TIES
Sophie Dahn and Sidney Clarke return to the Eagles as assistant coaches. Dahn joins Foeman after playing under his guidance at Ashland University for four years as a defensive specialist/libero. During her time at Ashland, she was named to the GLIAC All-Academic Excellence, GMAC All-Academic Excellence, and was a three-time Division Champion. Clarke played and coached under Foeman, as she played on Foeman's Lake Erie College teams, being appointed to two all-conference teams. She also served with him as an assistant at Ashland for three seasons.
COACHES LOVE COACHES
Much like Kevin Foeman and Remy Foeman are married, first year assistant Sidney Clarke is married to the Eagles' Head Soccer Coach, Taylor Clarke. Together, they have a son, Porter.
50 YEARS OF VOLLEYBALL
Eastern Michigan is playing its 50th competitive season and sports a 733-796-16 overall record, while standing 294-402-1 in MAC play. Dating back to the start of the EMU volleyball program in 1975, the team has earned one MAC West Division title (2005), one MAC Tournament crown (2018), and has had one appearance in the NCAA Tournament (2018).
A LOOK AHEAD
EMU is set for 31 regular season matches, 12 of which will take place at the George Gervin GameAbove Center in Ypsilanti, and 19 of which will be played on the road. Eastern will venture outside of MAC play often, as they will face 13 institutions outside of the MAC from eight difference conferences. Postseason action will begin, Nov. 21, with the MAC Tournament.
ALL TIME RECORDS:
Radford: The Eagles are 1-0 all-time against the Radford Highlanders; the only contest between the two teams in 2022 resulted in a 3-0 Eastern sweep.
Marshall: Despite leading the series 10-4, Eastern will look to get payback against the Marshall Thundering Herd who won its last contest in 2024, 3-2. Marshall set the George Gervin GameAbove Center record for total aces in the match with 15. Eastern has won eight out of the last ten meetings.
Kansas City: Eastern and Kansas City are tied in the all-time record 1-1. Their first contest in 1996 ended in a 3-0 Eastern victory, with the Roos taking the second match 3-0 in 2023.
UP NEXT
The Eagles are up next against the Wolverines of the University of Michigan, Sept. 2, 7 p.m. The game can be streamed on Big Ten Plus.
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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