Eastern Michigan Athletics
Photo by: Kaye Rich
Volleyball Preps for Non-Conference Finale at Butler Invitational
9/16/2025 3:23:00 PM | Volleyball
The Eagles will face IU Indy, Oakland, and Butler at the invitational
| Volleyball at Butler Invitational | |
| Dates/Times/Opponents | Thursday, Sept. 18, at IU Indy, 7 p.m. | Friday, Sept. 19, vs. Oakland, 4 p.m. | Saturday, Sept. 20, vs. Butler, 5 p.m. |
| Venue | The Jungle | Indianapolis, Ind | Fishers Event Center | Fishers, Ind. |
| Preview Info | EMU Notes (PDF) | Media Guide |
| Live Stats | at IU Indy | vs. Oakland/Butler |
| @EMUVolleyball | @EMUAthletics | |
| @emu_volleyball | @emuathletics | |
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- Off to its first 7-3 start since 2018, the Eastern Michigan volleyball program aims to keep the ball rolling at the Butler Invitational, hosted by Butler University, at the Fishers Event Center, Thursday-Saturday, Sept. 18-20, in Fishers, Ind.
The Eagles will start the week with a 7 p.m. match against the Jaguars of IU Indy Thursday, Sept. 18. Eastern will then face Oakland University Friday, Sept. 19, 4 p.m., and close the invitational against the host Bulldogs Saturday, Sept. 20, 5 p.m.
Fans can follow along with the action using the 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 each game.
STARTING HOT
Eastern is off to its first 7-3 start since the 2018 season, the last time it won a MAC Tournament Championship. Eastern is looking for its first 9-3 start since 2018 while the last time the Eagles started 10-3 or better came in the 2012 season. Eastern's 7-3 mark currently ranks it second in the MAC.
AHEAD OF SCHEDULE: 2025 WIN TOTAL
Eastern is off to its first 7-3 start since the 2018 season, the last time EMU won the MAC Tournament. Last season, the Eagles posted just four wins through their first 10 games. EMU didn't reach seven wins till Sept. 26 last season when it bested Kent State University on the road in the conference opener, 3-2.
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.
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 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.
AK FRESHMAN 10+ KILLS STREAK
AshleeKay Christensen has recorded 10+ kills in three straight matches, the first time an Eastern freshman has done so since Annie Lockett in the 2021 campaign, Aug. 28-Sept. 4. Recording 10+ kills against IU Indy, Sept. 18, would mark her fourth consecutive game doing so, marking the first time a freshman has recorded four consecutive games with 10+ kills since Franki Strefling rattled off seven straight during her 2017 freshman campaign.
SIEFKE 10+ KILLS STREAK
Junior outside hitter Ava Siefke has recorded 10+ kills in all 10 matches this season, the longest stretch in her career and longest from the program since Callie Minshew recorded 10+ in 13 consecutive matches in the 2023 season, Aug. 25-Sept. 21.
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 (3.76), hitting percentage (.202), aces per set (0.23), digs per set (2.61), blocks per set (0.63), and points per set (4.45).
Siefke in 2024
Kills/Set Pts/Set Hitt%
1.73 2.24 .090
Siefke in 2025
Kills/Set Pts/Set Hitt%
3.76 4.45 .202
Siefke currently ranks sixth in the MAC in kills per set and fourth in points per set while leading the Eagles in both categories.
SIEFKE'S DOUBLE-DOUBLES
Ava Siefke posted two double-doubles at the Golden Grizzlies Invitational, Sept. 12-13. She first notched 17 kills and 14 digs in the win over SIU, before grabbing 14 kills and 13 digs in the victory over Oakland.
The occasion marked her second time this season with consecutive double-doubles. Eastern is 4-1 this season when she records a double-double. Siefke's five double-doubles mark a career-high just 10 matches into the season.
LOOKING FOR CONSISTENCY
A win against IU Indy, Sept. 18, would mark the third occurrence of three straight wins in the Foeman era. A fourth consecutive victory would be the program's first since 2017 when it won five consecutive, Sept. 2-9. Eastern hasn't won six consecutive matches since 2012, Sept. 1-8.
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 first in the MAC and sixth in program history.
WELKER: MAC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Hatteras 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 fourth-most in the nation in four sets.
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 7-0 this season when hitting better than its opponent and 21-4 under Foeman when doing so. EMU has out-killed its foe in 8-of-10 games this season, producing a 7-1 record in 2025 and 17-3 overall mark in three seasons under Foeman.
HISTORIC HITTING PERCENTAGE
Eastern hit .424 (41-5-85) in the sweep over Purdue Fort Wayne, Sept. 4. The clip ranks first in the MAC and sixth in program history.
HITTING BETTER THAN FOE IN 7/10 MATCHES
EMU has out-hit its opponent in 7-of-10 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.
ALL TIME SERIES RECORDS
IU Indy: Eastern and IU Indy are meeting for the third consecutive season and seventh time overall. EMU holds a 4-2 record in the series and 4-0 clip when facing the Jaguars in Indianapolis. Last year's contest resulted in a 3-2 win for the Eagles that saw them record 17 blocks while Hatteras Welker swatted 11, the second-most in a five-set match in EMU history.
Oakland: The Eagles and Golden Grizzlies will meet for the 36th time. Eastern recently broke a five-game losing streak against the Golden Grizzlies, besting them, 3-1, on the road at the Golden Grizzlies' Invitational, Sept. 13. The Eagles control the series with a 26-9 record overall and 2-3 mark when facing the Golden Grizzlies at a neutral site. Ava Siefke led the way for Eastern with 14 kills and 13 digs, her fifth double-double of the season.
Butler: The Eagles and Bulldogs will battle for just the fourth time and first since 2017. EMU is 2-1 against Butler and 1-1 when facing it in Indianapolis as all three games have taken place in the state of Indiana.
HIGH IN MAC/NAT'L RANKINGS - TEAM
Eastern ranks in the top three in the MAC in seven categories.
Stat Figure MAC
Kills/set 13.45 1st
Assists/set 12.37 1st
Points/set 17.26 1st
Opp Hit% .179 2nd
Digs/Set 14.71 3rd
Opp Blocks/set 1.68 3rd
Blocks/set 2.13 3rd
By volume, EMU ranks 11th in the nation in total kills (511), 13th in total assists (470), 18th in total attacks (1,363), and 32nd in total digs (559).
HIGH IN MAC/NAT'L RANKINGS - TEAM SINGLE GAME
Eastern ranks first in the MAC in six team single-game categories, and inside the top four in nine total.
Stat Figure MAC NAT'L
Hit% .424 1 n/a
Blocks 17 1 6th (In four sets)
Three-Set Kills51 1 8th
Four-Set Kills 66 1 9th
Three-Set Assists50 1 5th
Three-Set Digs58 1 n/a
Three-Set Blocks11 2 n/a
Four-Set Hit% .336 2 n/a
Digs 91 4 4th (In four sets)
HIGH IN MAC/NAT'L RANKINGS- INDIVIDUAL
Eastern Michigan has four players that rank inside the conference top four in various per-set categories.
Name Stat Figure MAC
A. Belcher Asst/Set 9.47 2nd
H. Welker Blks/Set 1.36 2nd
S. Srinivasan Dig/Set 4.00 3rd
A. Siefke Pts/Set 4.45 4th
In the national standings, Belcher ranks sixth in total assists (360), Welker slots ninth in total blocks (49), and Siefke ranks 11th in total points (169.0) and 18th in total kills (143).
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
A. Belcher Assists 48 3rd
S. Srinivasan 4-set Dig 27 3rd
E. Grasson Aces 4 3rd
In the national standings by volume, Welker's 11 blocks in a four-set match slot fourth, while Belcher's 41 dimes in a three-set match are the fifth most. Grasson's four aces tie for sixth. Bonney's .688 clip ties for 11th (15-19 attempts) and Stanford's .667 percentage slots 13th.
WELKER 11 BLOCKS PROGRAM STANDING
Hatteras Welker's 11 blocks against Valparaiso rank second in EMU program history while standing second in the MAC, first in a four-set match, and fourth in the nation in four stanzas.
RECENT CAREER-HIGHS
AshleeKay Christensen set career bests with 20 kills, five digs, a .336 hitting percentage, and 46 attacks against Southern Illinois, Sept. 12. Surabhi Srinivasan landed a career-best three aces against Xavier, Sept. 12.
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.
MILESTONES
Ava Siefke recently reached the 500 mark with her 17 kills in the win over SIU, Sept. 12. She currently has 527 in her career and needs just one more dig to reach 500. Ashlynn Belcher is 12 digs away from 500 and 41 assists from reaching the 1,500 mark. Ella Voorhees needs 35 more assists to get to 500, and Abby Stanford requires four kills to achieve the same total.
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
Senior setter 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 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 has tallied 10+ digs in 8-of-10 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.
BONNEY'S EFFICIENT HITTING
Kendal Bonney's 12 kills off a .688 clip marked the highest attack percentage from an Eagle since current overseas professional Raeven Chase put down 15 off a .882 figure in a 3-1 win over Ohio University, Oct. 5, 2019. The figure stands second in the MAC this season and 11th in the nation when totaling 15-19 attempts.
UP NEXT
Eastern begins conference play as it is scheduled for a rivalry match against Western Michigan University Thursday, Sept. 26, 6 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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