Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
8-8,2-2MAC
Central Michigan
0-17,0-4MAC
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Mich. | 20 | 24 | 10 | 0 |
| Eastern Mich. | 25 | 26 | 25 | 3 |
Volleyball Sweeps Central for Second Time This Season
10/3/2026 8:45:00 PM | Volleyball
Eastern has won three in a row against CMU
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team swept Central Michigan University, 3-0 (25-20, 26-24, 25-10), at home Saturday, Oct. 3, powered by a match-high 13.5 points from Nattie Slusher and a dominant net presence that doubled the Chippewas' block production.
The win moves Eastern Michigan to 8-8 overall and 2-2 in MAC play while Central Michigan falls to 0-17 overall and 0-4 in conference action. Slusher (Cincinnati, Ohio/Seton) paced the offense with eight kills and a match-best five service aces, while AshleeKay Christensen (Carlisle, Iowa/Carlisle) added a team-high nine kills and 10 digs. Azra Eriç (Istanbul, Turkey/Kadir Has Anadolu lisesi/Robert Morris) anchored the net with a match-best five total blocks and Surabhi Srinivasan (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Jerome) tied for the match high in digs with 15 to go along with three aces.
Kaylin Richter (Temperance, Mich./Bedford) ran the offense efficiently, posting a career-high 20 assists and seven digs, while Maddie Herman (Zionsville, Ind./Zionsville Community) delivered a team-best .455 hitting percentage on five kills in just 11 attempts. Haley Trosky (Pittsburgh, Pa./West Allegheny) added five kills on 10 swings for a .400 hitting percentage and three total blocks. Lina Govoni (Joliet, Ill./Joliet West) contributed 14 assists and four digs as Eastern's offense found its rhythm throughout all three sets.
How It Happened
SET ONE | Eastern Michigan set the tone early, building a lead and closing out the opening frame, 25-20. Slusher's service pressure kept CMU out of system, and the Eagles' block unit — led by Eriç and Herman — disrupted the Chippewas' attack rhythm. EMU hit .229 on the match and held Central Michigan to a .026 hitting percentage across all three sets, with the block and floor defense combining to force 25 attack errors from the visitors.
SET TWO | The second set was the most contested of the evening. Central Michigan pushed ahead, 24-22, before Eastern answered with four straight points to claim the set, 26-24. Christensen provided consistent offensive production, matching her 2026 season high with nine kills on the day, while Richter's distribution kept the Eagles' attack varied and efficient. The two-point margin belied EMU's control of the net, where the Green and White doubled CMU's block total for the match.
SET THREE | Eastern turned in its most dominant performance of the evening in the decisive third set, overwhelming the Chippewas, 25-10. Slusher's five service aces — all recorded for the first time in her collegiate career, as she had never registered an ace before this match — generated multiple momentum runs from the service line, and the Eagles' net presence left Central Michigan with little room to operate. The 15-point margin was the largest of the match and capped a straight-sets sweep that gave EMU its first home victory of the 2026 season.
Match Notes
» Nattie Slusher led all players with 13.5 points on eight kills, five service aces, six digs and one block — both the 13.5 points and the five aces represent career highs at Eastern Michigan. Slusher had never recorded a service ace prior to this match, making her five-ace performance all the more remarkable.
» AshleeKay Christensen posted nine kills and 10 digs, matching her 2026 season highs in both categories, both previously set against Central Michigan on Sept. 22.
» Azra Eriç led all players with five total blocks (one solo, four assists), adding two kills for 5.0 points on the evening.
» Surabhi Srinivasan tied for the match high in digs with 15, adding three aces and four assists. She entered Saturday ranked first in the MAC and 48th nationally in total digs.
» Kaylin Richter set a career high with 20 assists, surpassing her previous best of 16 set against Central Michigan on Sept. 22, and added seven digs.
» Maddie Herman posted a team-best .455 hitting percentage on five kills in 11 attempts, adding three total blocks for 6.5 points.
» Haley Trosky hit .400 with five kills on 10 attempts and contributed three total blocks for 6.5 points.
» Lina Govoni totaled 14 assists, four digs and one block in support of the Eagles' offensive effort.
» EMU recorded eight service aces in the match, moving to 4-1 in 2026 when recording eight or more aces in a match.
» The Eagles posted 10 total blocks, doubling Central Michigan's five, and held the Chippewas to a .026 hitting percentage on 25 attack errors.
» Eastern Michigan's freshman class continued to fuel the offense, with Slusher and Govoni among the key contributors Saturday.
» The victory is EMU's first home win of the 2026 season, improving the Eagles to 1-3 at home.
» Head coach Kevin Foeman improved to 39-68 at Eastern Michigan and 192-157 in his career with the sweep.
Historical Notes
» The all-time series between Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan now stands at 34-71 in favor of CMU across 105 meetings since Oct. 9, 1976. EMU's all-time home record in the series moves to 17-37.
» Eastern Michigan swept Central Michigan in three consecutive matches — all by 3-0 scores — dating to Oct. 28, 2025 (home), Sept. 22, 2026 (away) and Oct. 3, 2026 (home).
» EMU's two 3-0 sweeps of Central Michigan in the same season (Sept. 22 away, Oct. 3 home) mark the first time in program history that Eastern Michigan has swept the Chippewas twice in a single season.
» The three-match winning streak against CMU is EMU's first such streak in the series since 2004-05.
» Azra Eriç entered Saturday ranked 42nd nationally in total blocks and third in the MAC in blocks per set (1.22).
» Surabhi Srinivasan entered Saturday with 831 career digs and needs 169 more to reach 1,000 for her career.
Up Next
Eastern heads back on the road Tuesday, Oct. 9, traveling to Buffalo, N.Y., to face the University at Buffalo in MAC action. Watch live on ESPN+.
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