Eastern Michigan Athletics
Thursday, September 17
Ann Arbor, Mich.
7 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
at
Michigan
Volleyball Heading to Michigan Thursday, Hosting Cornell Friday
9/15/2026 9:05:00 PM | Volleyball
EMU seeking first win in Ann Arbor since 2005
| Volleyball at Michigan, vs. Cornell | |
| Dates/Times | Thursday, Sept. 11, at Michigan | 7 p.m. | Friday, Sept. 12, vs. Cornell | 5 p.m. |
| Venues | Crisler Center | Ann Arbor, Mich. | George Gervin GameAbove Center | Ypsilanti, Mich. |
| Preview Info | EMU Notes (PDF) | EMU Media Guide |
| Live Stats | Live Stats |
| Video | at Michigan | vs. Cornell |
| @EMUVolleyball | @EMUAthletics | |
| @emu_volleyball | @emuathletics | |
ANN ARBOR and YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team closes its non-conference schedule with a match against the Big Ten's University of Michigan Thursday, Sept. 17, at 7 p.m. inside the Crisler Center. The Eagles play their final non-conference match of the 2026 season Friday, Sept. 18, at 5 p.m. against Cornell University inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center.
The Michigan match is on B1G+ while the Cornell match is on ESPN+ with Brent Balbinot, Kendal Bonney, and Elena Davis on the call. Fans can follow the action using the live stats links 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 Thursday and Friday's action.
FIRST SERVES
» Eastern looks to snap a 15-match losing streak to Michigan, Sept. 17, and plays Cornell for the first time in program history, Sept. 18.
» Eastern Michigan is off to a 6-4 start after starting 7-3 in 2025. If EMU tops Michigan, Sept. 17, and Cornell, Sept. 18, the Eagles would be 8-4 for the second-straight season.
» EMU went 1-2 at the Golden Grizzly Invitational, opening the tournament with a win over Montana (W, 3-0), Sept. 11, before dropping a match to UAB (L, 1-3), Sept. 11, and falling to Oakland (L, 0-3), Sept. 12.
» Taeley Mahler was named to the Golden Grizzly Invitational All-Tournament Team after recording 37 kills, highlighted by a career-high 17 kills on a .500 hitting percentage against Montana, Sept. 11.
» Eastern's freshmen class has accounted for 53.7% (315.5/587.0) of the Eagles' total points.
» Freshmen Lina Govoni and Haley Trosky earned all-tournament honors at the Chick-fil-A Robinson Classic, Sept. 5, after Azra Eriç, Bianca Salvador, and Surabhi Srinivasan were named USI Invitational All-Tournament Team, Aug. 29.
» Eastern has 14 newcomers, the second-most nationally. It returns six players from the 2025 roster.
» Eastern has eight freshmen, its most since at least the 1999 season.
» Eastern lost 75% of its points scored in the 2025 season, including 73% of its total kills, 92% of its solo blocks, and 79% of its block assists. Setting-wise, the team lost 89% of its total assists.
» Head Coach Kevin Foeman is in his fourth season at the helm of the program and his 11th year as a head coach. Overall, he holds a 190-155 career record and 37-66 mark at EMU.
SERIES HISTORIES
Michigan: Eastern Michigan and Michigan will meet for the 47th time. EMU is 11-35 against UM. Eastern has dropped 15-straight matches against UM and holds a 5-18 record in Ann Arbor. EMU's last match against UM was a three-set (12-25, 19-25, 20-25) loss, Sept. 2, 2025.
During its 15-match losing streak to the Wolverines, Eastern is 1-45 in sets with its last set win coming Sept. 13, 2005. The Eagles have not won multiple sets against Michigan since winning, 3-1, Sept. 7, 1994 in Ypsilanti. EMU has lost 13-straight matches in Ann Arbor with its last win coming Sept. 11, 1990.
Cornell: Friday marks the first-ever meeting between the teams.
BIG TEN BATTLE
EMU's last win over a Big Ten opponent was Sept. 11, 2010, a five-set win over Michigan State. Eastern's last win over a "Power Conference" came Sept. 18, 2021, a three-set win over the ACC's Boston College.
LAST TIME AGAINST THE IVY LEAGUE
EMU last played an Ivy League school when it beat Brown in three sets, Sept. 14, 2013.
QUICK WEEKEND SUMMARY
EMU went 1-2 at the Golden Grizzly Invitational, opening the tournament with a win over Montana (W, 3-0), Sept. 11, before dropping a match to UAB (L, 1-3), Sept. 11, and falling to the Oakland (L, 0-3), Sept. 12.
TAELEY MAHLER'S CAREER-HIGH 17 KILLS
Taeley Mahler produced a career-high 17 kills against Montana, Sept. 11, with just one error on 32 swings for a .500 hitting percentage. Adding in her four total blocks, Mahler is one of just two players in the nation to have a three-set match with 17 kills, one error or fewer, a .500 hitting percentage, and four total blocks in 2026.
Between matches against Illinois State (12 kills), Sept. 6; Montana (17 kills), Sept. 11; and UAB (14 kills), Sept. 11, Mahler had 43 kills over three matches, 13 more than her previous three-match high of 30 set in 2025.
Prior to her 17-kill showing against Montana (and 12-kill outing against Illinois State), Mahler had never recorded back-to-back matches with at least 10 kills.
Mahler was named to the Golden Grizzly All-Tournament Team after recording 37 kills in the three matches.
OLIVIA BEAUDRIE FIVE ACES, SEPT. 12
Olivia Beaudrie recorded a career-high five aces against Oakland, Sept. 12. Her five aces are the most from an Eagle since Jordan Smith landed eight against Stony Brook, Aug. 26, 2017.
EASTERN'S START
Eastern is off to a 6-4 start after starting 7-3 in 2025. If EMU tops Michigan, Sept. 17, and Cornell, Sept. 18, the Eagles would be 8-4 for the second-straight season. This would mark the first time since 2014 and 2015 that EMU started 8-4 in consecutive seasons (8-4 both seasons).
FRESHMEN FOCUSED
Eastern's freshmen class has accounted for 53.7% (315.5/587.0) of the Eagles' total points. Nattie Slusher leads the freshmen with 93.5 points, the most on the team. She is followed by Haley Trosky (91.5), Maddie Herman (56.0), Olivia Beaudrie (47.0), and Lina Govoni (26.5). Govoni also leads the team in assists (244), averaging 6.97 per set.
AZRA ERIÇ STRONG START
Azra Eriç has started her Eastern career strong. The fourth-year transfer ranks second in the MAC in blocks and aces per set, averaging 1.33 and 0.50 per set, respectively. Nationally, Eriç ranks 45th in blocks and 62nd in aces per set.
1/1: AZRA ERIÇ
Azra Eriç became the only player in the nation to record a match with 10+ kills, five or more aces, and four or more blocks, while hitting .474 or better when she posted the stat line in a five-set battle against Illinois State, Sept. 6. The performance continued Eriç's all-around play as she has recorded four or more kills in seven of 10 games this season, three or more aces in four of 10, and four or more blocks in five of 10.
1/1: LINA GOVONI
Lina Govoni became the only player in the nation to record a match with 39+ assists, 14+ digs, five or more kills, and five or more blocks when she posted the stat line in a five-set battle against Illinois State, Sept. 6. Govoni ranks sixth in the MAC, averaging 6.97 assists per set, which stands second among the conference's freshmen setters to Ohio's Kelly Rowan (9.30 per set).
THREE IN MAC TOP-10 ACES
Azra Eriç (18), Olivia Beaudrie (13), and Mia Schaefer (13) rank second and tied for fourth, respectively, in aces in the MAC with 18 and 13, respectively. Eriç ranks 28th nationally.
TROSKY AND SLUSHER KILLS PER SET
Freshmen Nattie Slusher and Haley Trosky rank first and second respectively in kills per set among MAC freshmen. Slusher averages 2.67 off a .187 hitting percentage from the outside, while Trosky posts 2.65 per set off a .207 clip.
SUCCESS IN NON-CON TOURNAMENT PLAY
Eastern has seen success in non-conference tournaments under Kevin Foeman. Since the 2024 season, the Eagles post a 20-13 record in non-conference tournaments.
HITTING EFFICIENTLY
Eastern has outhit its opponent in 8-of-10 matches this season as it holds a .197 hitting percentage as a team, a mark that stands as the best in the Foeman era and best since EMU hit .210 in the 2019 season.
BIG-TIME BLOCKERS
Eastern ranks 53rd nationally and second in the MAC with 2.47 blocks per set. EMU is the only MAC team with three players ranking inside the conference top 10 in the category. Azra Eriç is second in the MAC and ranks 45th in the country with 1.33 blocks per set, while Maddie Herman ranks seventh with 0.94 per set and Taeley Mahler slots eighth with 0.89 per set.
LETHAL FROM THE LINE
The Eagles ranks second in the MAC and rank 39th in the country, averaging 1.97 aces per set. Eastern's 12 aces against Murray State, Aug. 29 are the second-most in one match in the MAC.
SRINIVASAN YEAR FOUR
The longest tenured Eagle, Surabhi Srinivasan (2023-present) leads the Eagles' back-row defense for the second consecutive season. She is currently averaging a career-best 4.19 digs per set, ranking second in the conference and 80th nationally. The Dublin, Ohio, native has recorded 10 or more digs in all nine of the 10 matches this season, including 25+ twice with a career-high tying 27 in the win at Southern Indiana, Aug. 28. Her 27 digs against the Screaming Eagles are the second-most in one match in the MAC.
Her 151 digs lead the conference.
RECENT MILESTONES AND A FEW COMING UP
Azra Eriç recorded her 300th career block against Illinois State, Sept. 6.
Kevin Foeman sits at 190 career wins, 10 away from 200.
Surabhi Srinivasan has 757 career digs and is 243 short of 1,000, all of which have come at Eastern. Srinivasan would become the first Eagle to reach 1,000 digs at EMU since Franki Sterling in 2019.
Mia Schaefer is at 756 career digs after 690 digs at Niagara. She is 244 short of 1,000.
UP NEXT
Eastern travels to Central Michigan for a Tuesday match, Sept. 22, at 6 p.m. inside McGuirk Arena. The match marks the start of MAC play.
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.
Previously Noted:
USI ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Azra Eriç, Bianca Salvador, and Surabhi Srinivasan were named USI Invitational All-Tournament Team after leading the Eagles to a tournament championship with wins over NIU (3-2) and Southern Indiana (3-1), Aug. 28, before topping Murray State (3-0), Aug. 29. Eriç recorded 1.83 blocks, 0.67 aces, and 3.00 points per set. Salvador posted 20 kills of a .472 hitting percentage with 12 digs in her lone contest against NIU, and Srinivasan recorded 4.25 digs per set with a career-best 27 against Murray State.
BIANCA SALVADOR NCAA DEBUT
Bianca Salvador started her NCAA career with an incredible performance, recording 20 kills off a .472 hitting percentage, with two aces, one block, and 12 digs. Salvador is the only player in the nation this season to record a game with at least 20 kills while hitting .472 or better with a double-double. Additionally, her 20 kills are the second-most in a single match in the MAC.
51 YEARS OF VOLLEYBALL IN YPSI
Eastern is opening its 51st year of volleyball against Illinois State Sunday. Overall, EMU is 34-15-1 in home opening games after sweeping Purdue Fort Wayne last season, Sept. 4.
SRINIVASAN TIES CAREER HIGH
Senior Surabhi Srinivasan tied a career high with 27 digs in the win over Southern Indiana, Aug. 28. Srinivasan's 27 digs are the most in one match in the conference while she ranks third in the MAC with 4.25 digs per set. The libero has recorded double-digit digs in all three games this season.
Notes Ahead of the 2026 Season:
SECOND-MOST NEWCOMERS NATIONALLY
Eastern welcomes eight freshmen and six transfers, totaling 14 newcomers to the program in 2026, the second-most nationally. Alabama State leads with 15 while Georgia Southern also has 14 newcomers.
EMU Newcomers: No. 1, Lina Govoni (S-Fr.), No. 2, Kayla Ostrander (DS/L-Fr.), No. 3, Nattie Slusher (OH-Fr.), No. 4, Olivia Stewart (MB-Fr.), No. 5, Maddie Herman (MB-Fr.), No. 8, Bianca Salvador (OH-Jr.), No. 9, Mia Schaefer (DS/L-Jr.), No. 10, Haley Trosky (OH/OPP-Fr.), No. 11, Mya Eberlein (MB-Fr.), No. 12, Olivia Beaudrie (OH/DS-Fr.), No. 14, Julia Johnson (S-Jr.), No. 18, Azra Eriç (MB-Sr.), No. 19, Lily Spark (OH-Fr.), and No. 21, Zaria Ragler (MB-Gr.).
Additionally, Eastern's eight freshmen are its most since at least 1999.
LIMITED RETURNERS
Eastern returns just six players from the 2025 roster, including No. 6, Madelyn Sipe (DS/L-So.), No. 7, Kaylin Richter (S/DS-So.), No. 13, Arynn Randle El (OH/RS-So.), No. 16, Surabhi Srinivasan (DS/L-Sr.), No. 17, Taeley Mahler (OH/OPP-Jr.), and No. 20, AshleeKay Christensen (OH-So.).
SHOES TO FILL
With 13 student-athletes departing after the 2025 season, Eastern lost 75% of its points scored, including 73% of its total kills, 92% of its solo blocks, and 79% of its block assists. Setting-wise, the team lost 89% of its total assists. Despite returning its digs leader, Surabhi Srinivasan (386/3.48 per set), the Eagles lost 70% of their total digs.
KEY RETURNER: SURABHI SRINIVASAN
Senior defensive specialist/libero Surabhi Srinivasan is entering her fourth season with the program. She experienced a breakout year in 2025, earning Academic All-MAC and CSC Academic All-District honors after she nearly tripled her dig total from 2024 with a career and team high 386 digs on the season for 3.48 per set. The 3.48 digs per set ranked seventh in the MAC while her 386 total digs slotted ninth.
KEY RETURNER: ASHLEEKAY CHRISTENSEN
Sophomore outside hitter AshleeKay Christensen looks to build after a productive rookie campaign that saw her post 11 matches with double-digit kills. She averaged 2.50 kills per set and 1.14 digs per set with 17 total blocks. Christensen opened the year with a strong all-around performance at Radford, Aug. 29, 2025, recording 18 kills on 39 attacks. Her 18 kills that day were the most by an EMU freshman in an NCAA debut in the modern statistical era. She put down a career-best 20 kills off a .326 hitting percentage with five digs and one block in a win over Southern Illinois, Sept. 12, 2025.
KEY RETURNER: TAELEY MAHLER
Junior outside hitter/opposite Taeley Mahler returns to the Eagles after posting career highs in kills per set (1.74), blocks per set (0.74), points per set (2.13), and hitting percentage (.203) in 2025. Mahler had four games with 10+ kills last season, highlighted by a career-best 15-kill showing off a .481 hitting percentage against Kent State, Oct. 10.
IT'S JUST HAIR
Taeley Mahler was diagnosed with alopecia areata in the spring of 2026 and she opted to shave her head in July. Embracing her situation, Mahler has gained attention on social media for her diagnosis as she now acts as a role model for many young women with the condition.
FRESHMEN FRENZY
Eastern freshmen Lina Govoni, Maddie Herman, and Haley Trosky are all expected to see significant playing time in the season's early-going. Herman and Trosky joined the team in the winter 2026 semester while Govoni arrived in the fall.
For more information on Govoni, see page No. 9
For more information on Herman, see page No. 13
For more information on Trosky, see page No. 18
KEY TRANSFER: BIANCA SALVADOR
Third-year outside hitter Bianca Salvador joins the team from Trinity Valley Community College. She earned consecutive NJCAA All-American and Region 16 Player of the Year honors while leading her teams to back-to-back NJCAA Region 16 Championships. Salvador won the championship with Missouri State West Plains in 2024 before doing it at Trinity Valley the following season.
For more information on Salvador, see page No. 16
KEY TRANSFER: MIA SCHAEFER
Junior defensive specialist/libero Mia Schaefer arrives in Ypsilanti after two seasons at Niagara. She excelled in her sophomore campaign, earning MAAC Libero of the Year and All-MAAC Second Team honors. She averaged 5.44 digs per set last season, ranking third in the nation while pacing the MAAC. She notably totaled 33 digs in a five-set win over Merrimack, Nov. 15, 2025.
For more information on Schaefer, see page No. 17
KEY TRANSFER: AZRA ERIÇ
Fourth-year middle blocker Azra Eriç brings experience to the front row after three seasons at Robert Morris. Eriç has by far the most NCAA experience on the team by matches and sets played, having appeared in 340 sets over 85 contests. Last season, she averaged career highs with 1.17 kills per set and 2.26 points per set. She was a force at the net in her sophomore season, posting 1.17 blocks per set while landing 37 aces.
For more information on Eriç, see page No. 25
SHORT HISTORY ON FOEMAN
Head Coach Kevin Foeman is entering his fourth season at the helm of the program and his 11th year as a head coach. Overall, he holds a 184-151 career record and 31-62 mark at EMU. 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 selection, 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.
THE FOEMANS
Head Coach Kevin Foeman and Asst. Coach/Director of Operations Remy Foeman are married and have three children. They are one of six married couples coaching together at the NCAA Division I level. The duo began their coaching careers together at Hillsdale College in 2014 and have since gone on to lead programs at Lake Erie College and Ashland University prior to landing in Ypsilanti.
COACHES LOVE COACHES
Much like Kevin Foeman and Remy Foeman are married and have three children, KJ, Evie, and Jax. Assistant coach Sidney Clarke is married to the Eagles' head soccer coach, Taylor Clarke. Together, they have two sons, Porter and Bailey.
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.
SUCCESS IN NON-CON TOURNEYS
Eastern looks to continue its success in non-conference tournaments under Head Coach Kevin Foeman. Since 2024, Eastern holds a 14-10 record in non-con tourneys including an 8-4 record last season, including a tournament win at the EMU Tournament, Sept. 4-6, as Eastern went 3-0 in matches and won nine of the 10 sets it played.
ON THE ROAD A LOT
Eastern will play 10 of its 12 non-conference games on the road, with its lone two home games slated for Sept. 6 and Sept. 18, facing Illinois State and Cornell, respectively.
A LOOK AHEAD
EMU is set for 28 regular-season matches (12 non-conference, 16 conference), 10 of which will take place at the George Gervin GameAbove Center in Ypsilanti and 18 of which will be played on the road. Eastern will venture outside of MAC play often, as it will face opponents from nine different conferences. Postseason action will begin Nov. 20, with the MAC Tournament, hosted by Ball State in Muncie, Ind.
Players Mentioned
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/ VolleyballMonday, September 07
Monday, September 07
Saturday, September 05
Thursday, September 03