Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
8-9,2-3MAC
Buffalo
10-6,2-3MAC
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Mich. | 25 | 25 | 25 | 17 | 10 | 2 |
| Buffalo | 22 | 27 | 22 | 25 | 15 | 3 |
Volleyball Edged in Five Sets at Buffalo Despite Five Players with Double-Doubles
10/9/2026 10:15:00 PM | Volleyball
Eastern will battle Buffalo again Saturday, Oct. 10, at 4 p.m.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team fell to the University at Buffalo in five sets, 3-2 (25-22, 25-27, 25-22, 17-25, 10-15), at Broadview Arena Friday, Oct. 9, in Mid-American Conference action.
Eastern Michigan took the first set and built a 2-1 match lead before Buffalo rallied to claim the final two sets and the match. The Eagles finished with 53 kills, 84 digs — a 2026 season high — and 12 solo blocks in the five-set thriller that lasted two hours and 30 minutes.
Lily Spark (Christchurch, New Zealand/Christchurch Girls' School/Frontier C.C.) made her first career start and delivered in a big way, leading Eastern in kills with 11 — a season high — while adding 13 digs for her first double-double as an Eagle. Azra Eriç (Istanbul, Turkey/Kadir Has Anadolu lisesi/Robert Morris) was a force at the net, posting 10 kills on a .192 hitting percentage and a match-high six solo blocks, a career high. Eriç finished with 16.0 points, second on the team, and reached 100 career kills at Eastern Michigan.
Surabhi Srinivasan (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Jerome) anchored the back row with a match-high 23 digs and 10 assists — her fourth career 20-plus dig performance — and added one ace. Kaylin Richter (Temperance, Mich./Bedford) directed the offense with 20 assists and 11 digs for a double-double, tying her 2026 season and career high in assists. Lina Govoni (Joliet, Ill./Joliet West) contributed a double-double of her own with 15 assists and 12 digs, and led all players in the match with four service aces — a career high. Nattie Slusher (Cincinnati, Ohio/Seton) rounded out a historic night with 10 kills and 10 digs. Five Eagles recorded double-doubles in the match — the first time that has happened in at least the last 14 seasons of tracked records (since 2012), with no previous instance found in any available source.
How It Happened
SET ONE | Eastern Michigan came out with energy and purpose, taking the opening set 25-22. Govoni's serving was a weapon from the start, as she finished the match with four service aces to lead all players. Eriç and Slusher were active at the net, and EMU's balanced attack set the tone for what would become a strong night offensively.
SET TWO | The second set was the most competitive of the night, with both teams trading points in a back-and-forth battle that extended past 25. Eastern held a 25-24 advantage before Buffalo pushed through to claim the set 27-25, evening the match at one set apiece. Spark was active offensively throughout, finishing with 11 kills on the night, and Srinivasan's 23 digs kept EMU in system despite the extended rally.
SET THREE | Eastern Michigan responded with resolve, reclaiming the lead with a 25-22 victory in the third set to go up 2-1 in the match. Richter and Govoni combined for 35 assists on the night, distributing efficiently across the lineup. Eriç's six solo blocks — a career high — continued to disrupt Buffalo's rhythm at the net, and Slusher's double-digit kill performance was taking shape as EMU's offense found consistent production across multiple positions.
SET FOUR | Buffalo regrouped and surged in the fourth set, pulling away for a 25-17 win to level the match at 2-2 and force a decisive fifth set. EMU's offense worked to generate opportunities, with Trosky and Mahler each contributing seven kills on the night, but Buffalo's momentum carried through the set.
SET FIVE | The fifth set went Buffalo's way as the Bulls built an early lead and held on for a 15-10 victory to complete the comeback. Govoni's match-leading four aces and Eriç's six solo blocks were among the bright spots in a competitive five-set effort for the Green and White.
Match Notes
» Eastern Michigan falls to 8-9 overall and 2-3 in MAC play after the five-set loss.
» Five Eagles recorded double-doubles — the first time that has occurred in at least the last 14 seasons of tracked records (since 2012): Surabhi Srinivasan (10 assists, 23 digs), Lily Spark (11 kills, 13 digs), Nattie Slusher (10 kills, 10 digs), Kaylin Richter (20 assists, 11 digs) and Lina Govoni (15 assists, 12 digs).
» Lily Spark made her first career start, recording a season-high 11 kills and 13 digs for her first double-double as an Eagle.
» Azra Eriç posted six solo blocks — a career high — and reached 100 career kills at Eastern Michigan.
» Lina Govoni led all players in the match with four service aces, a career high, more than doubling her previous best of two.
» Surabhi Srinivasan led all players with 23 digs, her fourth career 20-plus dig performance.
» Kaylin Richter's 20 assists tied her 2026 season and career high at EMU, first set Oct. 3 against Central Michigan.
» Eastern Michigan's 84 digs were a 2026 season high, surpassing the previous mark of 83 set against Illinois State Sept. 6.
» EMU's 12 solo blocks were a 2026 season high.
» Eastern Michigan recorded 13 total blocks in the match; the Eagles are 2-1 in 2026 when recording 13 or more total blocks.
» Tonight was EMU's third five-set match of the 2026 season, dropping the Eagles to 1-2 in five-set matches this year.
» Nattie Slusher's 10 kills marked her eighth match with double-digit kills in 2026.
» Maddie Herman (Zionsville, Ind./Zionsville Community) led the team with a .500 hitting percentage on six kills.
» Haley Trosky (Pittsburgh, Pa./West Allegheny) contributed seven kills and two solo blocks for 9.0 points.
» Taeley Mahler (Fort Wayne, Ind./Homestead) tallied seven kills and five digs.
» Both teams finished with exactly 84 digs in the match.
Historical Notes
» With tonight's loss, Eastern Michigan's all-time series record against the University at Buffalo falls to 23-13. EMU had led the series 23-12 entering the match.
» Tonight's match was the 36th all-time meeting between Eastern Michigan and Buffalo, a series that dates to Aug. 31, 1996.
» EMU won 15 straight against Buffalo from 1996 to 2008.
» Eastern Michigan is 126-152 all-time in five-set matches.
Up Next
Eastern Michigan returns to action Saturday, Oct. 10, for the second of two consecutive matches at the University at Buffalo at Broadview Arena in Buffalo, N.Y. A watch link is available on the schedule page at EMUEagles.com.
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