Eastern Michigan Athletics
Thursday, September 17
Ann Arbor, Mich.
7 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
6-5,0-0MAC
1
at
3
Michigan
7-2,0-0Big Ten
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Mich. | 18 | 25 | 20 | 12 | 1 |
| Michigan | 25 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
Photo by: Joey Wolter
Christensen, Slusher Shine in Four-Set Loss at Michigan
9/17/2026 9:57:00 PM | Volleyball
The Eagles took a set from the Wolverines for the first time since the 2005 season
Photo Gallery.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team fell to the University of Michigan in four sets at the Crisler Center Thursday, Sept. 17.
Eastern Michigan showed resilience in the second set, rallying to claim a 25-23 victory to even the match at 1-1, taking a set from Michigan for the first time since Sept. 13, 2005. AshleeKay Christensen (Carlisle, Iowa/Carlisle) led Eastern Michigan with 15 kills on 44 attempts (.250), two service aces, six digs and 17.0 total points, while Nattie Slusher (Cincinnati, Ohio/Seton) continued her strong freshman campaign, posting 12 kills on 25 attempts (.320) to go with 1.0 block and 12.5 points, matching her career high.
Surabhi Srinivasan (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Jerome) anchored the back row with 15 digs, eight assists and two service aces, while Lina Govoni (Joliet, Ill./Joliet West) distributed 19 assists and added five digs to direct the EMU offense. Kaylin Richter (Temperance, Mich./Bedford) set career highs with 14 assists and four digs.
How It Happened
SET ONE | Michigan came out of the gate with purpose, controlling the opening frame from start to finish. The Wolverines' efficient attack and net presence kept Eastern at bay throughout, and Michigan closed out the set, 25-18, to take an early 1-0 match lead.
SET TWO | Eastern Michigan responded with its best set of the night, battling back to claim a tightly contested second frame, 25-23, and even the match at 1-1. Christensen and Slusher provided the offensive punch to keep the Eagles in the fight, and EMU's defense dug in to force enough errors to secure the set.
SET THREE | Michigan answered the Eagles' momentum with a steadier third set, using its blocking advantage and hitting efficiency to pull ahead, 25-20, and reclaim a 2-1 match lead. The Wolverines' front row proved difficult to contain as EMU struggled to sustain the offensive rhythm it had found in the second set.
SET FOUR | Michigan took control early in the fourth and never relinquished it, closing out the match with a dominant 25-12 set to secure the 3-1 victory. The Wolverines finished with 63 kills and a .324 hitting percentage for the match, while EMU's 46 kills on a .179 clip reflected the challenge of facing a Big Ten opponent at full strength.
Game Notes
» Eastern Michigan falls to 6-5 overall (0-0 MAC) with the loss. Michigan improves to 7-2 (0-0 Big Ten).
» AshleeKay Christensen led Eastern Michigan with 15 kills, two aces, six digs and 17.0 points. Her career kill total at EMU now stands at 244 — six away from the 250-kill milestone.
» Nattie Slusher posted 12 kills on 25 attempts (.320) with 12.5 points. Both figures tie her career highs, established earlier in the 2026 season. The performance brought her career kill total to exactly 100 — reached in just 11 matches as a freshman and is the fifth match this season recording double-digit kills.
» Surabhi Srinivasan recorded 15 digs, eight assists and two service aces. Her two aces push her career ace total to 49 — one away from 50 career service aces. Her career dig total at Eastern Michigan now stands at 772 across 96 matches.
» Kaylin Richter set career highs in both assists (14) and digs (four) off the bench, surpassing her previous marks of 13 assists and three digs.
» Azra Eriç was efficient on offense with five kills on 12 attempts (.333) and added 2.0 total blocks and 6.0 points. She has 50 blocks as an Eagle and 312 for her career.
» Maddie Herman tallied five kills on 15 attempts (.200) with 1.0 block and 5.5 points. Her career kill total at EMU now stands at 45.
» Taeley Mahler and Azra Eriç each recorded 2.0 total blocks to tie for the team lead in net defense.
» Lina Govoni distributed 19 assists and five digs. Her career assist total at EMU now stands at 263 across 10 matches.
» Eastern Michigan recorded four team service aces and 49 digs in the match.
Historical Notes
» Eastern Michigan holds an 11-36 all-time series record against Michigan across 47 total meetings.
» Eastern Michigan's second-set victory, 25-23, was the first set the Eagles had taken from Michigan since Sept. 13, 2005 — ending a stretch of more than two decades without claiming a set against the Wolverines.
Up Next
Eastern returns home Friday, Sept. 18, to host Cornell University at 5 p.m. at the George Gervin GameAbove Center in Ypsilanti, Mich. for their final non-conference match.ollow 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
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team fell to the University of Michigan in four sets at the Crisler Center Thursday, Sept. 17.
Eastern Michigan showed resilience in the second set, rallying to claim a 25-23 victory to even the match at 1-1, taking a set from Michigan for the first time since Sept. 13, 2005. AshleeKay Christensen (Carlisle, Iowa/Carlisle) led Eastern Michigan with 15 kills on 44 attempts (.250), two service aces, six digs and 17.0 total points, while Nattie Slusher (Cincinnati, Ohio/Seton) continued her strong freshman campaign, posting 12 kills on 25 attempts (.320) to go with 1.0 block and 12.5 points, matching her career high.
Surabhi Srinivasan (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Jerome) anchored the back row with 15 digs, eight assists and two service aces, while Lina Govoni (Joliet, Ill./Joliet West) distributed 19 assists and added five digs to direct the EMU offense. Kaylin Richter (Temperance, Mich./Bedford) set career highs with 14 assists and four digs.
How It Happened
SET ONE | Michigan came out of the gate with purpose, controlling the opening frame from start to finish. The Wolverines' efficient attack and net presence kept Eastern at bay throughout, and Michigan closed out the set, 25-18, to take an early 1-0 match lead.
SET TWO | Eastern Michigan responded with its best set of the night, battling back to claim a tightly contested second frame, 25-23, and even the match at 1-1. Christensen and Slusher provided the offensive punch to keep the Eagles in the fight, and EMU's defense dug in to force enough errors to secure the set.
SET THREE | Michigan answered the Eagles' momentum with a steadier third set, using its blocking advantage and hitting efficiency to pull ahead, 25-20, and reclaim a 2-1 match lead. The Wolverines' front row proved difficult to contain as EMU struggled to sustain the offensive rhythm it had found in the second set.
SET FOUR | Michigan took control early in the fourth and never relinquished it, closing out the match with a dominant 25-12 set to secure the 3-1 victory. The Wolverines finished with 63 kills and a .324 hitting percentage for the match, while EMU's 46 kills on a .179 clip reflected the challenge of facing a Big Ten opponent at full strength.
Game Notes
» Eastern Michigan falls to 6-5 overall (0-0 MAC) with the loss. Michigan improves to 7-2 (0-0 Big Ten).
» AshleeKay Christensen led Eastern Michigan with 15 kills, two aces, six digs and 17.0 points. Her career kill total at EMU now stands at 244 — six away from the 250-kill milestone.
» Nattie Slusher posted 12 kills on 25 attempts (.320) with 12.5 points. Both figures tie her career highs, established earlier in the 2026 season. The performance brought her career kill total to exactly 100 — reached in just 11 matches as a freshman and is the fifth match this season recording double-digit kills.
» Surabhi Srinivasan recorded 15 digs, eight assists and two service aces. Her two aces push her career ace total to 49 — one away from 50 career service aces. Her career dig total at Eastern Michigan now stands at 772 across 96 matches.
» Kaylin Richter set career highs in both assists (14) and digs (four) off the bench, surpassing her previous marks of 13 assists and three digs.
» Azra Eriç was efficient on offense with five kills on 12 attempts (.333) and added 2.0 total blocks and 6.0 points. She has 50 blocks as an Eagle and 312 for her career.
» Maddie Herman tallied five kills on 15 attempts (.200) with 1.0 block and 5.5 points. Her career kill total at EMU now stands at 45.
» Taeley Mahler and Azra Eriç each recorded 2.0 total blocks to tie for the team lead in net defense.
» Lina Govoni distributed 19 assists and five digs. Her career assist total at EMU now stands at 263 across 10 matches.
» Eastern Michigan recorded four team service aces and 49 digs in the match.
Historical Notes
» Eastern Michigan holds an 11-36 all-time series record against Michigan across 47 total meetings.
» Eastern Michigan's second-set victory, 25-23, was the first set the Eagles had taken from Michigan since Sept. 13, 2005 — ending a stretch of more than two decades without claiming a set against the Wolverines.
Up Next
Eastern returns home Friday, Sept. 18, to host Cornell University at 5 p.m. at the George Gervin GameAbove Center in Ypsilanti, Mich. for their final non-conference match.ollow 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
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
OH/OPP
/ Volleyball
S/DS
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
DS/L
/ VolleyballTeam Stats
EMU
Mich
Kills
46
63
Errors
21
19
Attempts
140
136
Hitting %
.179
.324
Points
53.0
75.0
Assists
43
58
Aces
4
4
Blocks
3
8
Game Leaders
Kills
15
Aces
2
Blocks
0
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Monday, September 07
Monday, September 07
Saturday, September 05
Thursday, September 03