Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, September 4
Pittsburgh, Pa.
11 a.m.
Eastern Michigan University
3-1,0-0MAC
0
at
3
Duquesne
4-0,0-0Atlantic 10
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Mich. | 22 | 20 | 14 | 0 |
| Duquesne | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
Volleyball Splits Doubleheader at Chick-fil-A Robinson Classic
9/4/2026 8:44:00 PM | Volleyball
The Eagles fall to Duquesne 0-3 before sweeping Robert Morris 3-0 as Trosky and Slusher Shine in Pittsburgh
PITTSBURGH, Pa. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team split a doubleheader Friday, Sept. 4, at the Chick-fil-A Robinson Classic, co-hosted by Duquesne University and Robert Morris University. Eastern fell to Duquesne, 0-3 (22-25, 20-25, 14-25), before rebounding to sweep Robert Morris, 3-0 (28-26, 25-19, 25-16), moving to 4-1 overall on the season, the program's best start since 2015.
The day belonged to freshman Haley Trosky (Pittsburgh, Pa./West Allegheny), who delivered a stunning breakout performance in her homecoming match against Robert Morris — recording 15 kills on 28 attempts with just one error for a .500 hitting percentage, a new career high in kills (previous best: 11 vs. Southern Indiana, Aug. 28). Trosky, who had totaled just three kills earlier in the day against Duquesne, shattered her previous career high with the performance. Fellow freshman Nattie Slusher (Cincinnati, Ohio/Seton) was EMU's most efficient weapon in the opening match, posting a career-high 12 kills on 21 attempts with one error for a .524 hitting percentage — the best mark of any player in that contest — before adding 10 more kills against Robert Morris to finish with 22 kills across the doubleheader.
Anchoring the back row throughout both matches was fourth-year Surabhi Srinivasan (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Jerome), who totaled 29 digs on the day — 12 against Duquesne and a match-high 17 against Robert Morris. Freshman setter Lina Govoni (Joliet, Ill./Joliet West) posted 21 assists, 11 digs, two kills and 1.5 blocks against Robert Morris in a standout all-around performance, recording her first double-double for the Eagles.
How it Happened vs. Duquesne
SET ONE | Duquesne and EMU played a competitive opening set, with the Dukes ultimately pulling away for a 25-22 victory. Eastern stayed within striking distance through the middle of the set, with Schaefer delivering consecutive service aces to generate momentum from the service line. The Eagles could not sustain the run, however, as Duquesne's attack — led by S. Searles — found its rhythm late to close out the set.
SET TWO | The second set followed a similar pattern, with Duquesne building a lead EMU could not overcome. The Dukes extended their advantage to take the set 25-20, out-hitting the Eagles and limiting Eastern's offensive rhythm with seven service aces on the match. Slusher continued to produce efficiently at the net, but the Eagles' serve-receive struggles kept them out of system and unable to generate consistent offense.
SET THREE | Duquesne closed the match decisively, winning the third set 25-14 to complete the sweep. The 11-point margin reflected mounting momentum in the Dukes' favor as the match wore on. EMU hit just .092 as a team across the three sets, while Duquesne's 39 kills on 90 swings proved too much for the Eagles to answer.
How it Happened vs. Robert Morris
SET ONE | Eastern Michigan and Robert Morris traded points deep into the opening set before the Eagles outlasted the Colonials, 28-26, in extra points. Trosky's offensive efficiency set the tone early, and the Eagles' blocking wall — which would finish the match with 12.0 total blocks to Robert Morris's 4.0 — began asserting itself. Govoni orchestrated the attack with poise, and Srinivasan's steady floor defense kept Eastern in system throughout the extended set.
SET TWO | With momentum from the hard-fought opening set, Eastern pulled away to take the second set, 25-19. The Eagles' cleaner execution on offense — hitting .204 as a team compared to Robert Morris's .105 — began to show as Robert Morris struggled to find answers against EMU's net presence. Fourth-year middle blocker Azra Eriç (Istanbul, Turkey/Kadir Has Anadolu lisesi/Robert Morris) was a force at the net in her return to her former home court, finishing the match with 3.5 total blocks.
SET THREE | Eastern Michigan closed the match with its most dominant set, winning 25-16 to complete the road sweep. Trosky continued to be unstoppable offensively, and the Eagles' blocking advantage proved decisive as Robert Morris surrendered 27 attack errors — more than double EMU's 13. Madelyn Sipe (Fort Wayne, Ind./Homestead Senior) delivered from the service line, leading the team with two aces in the match.
Game Notes vs. Duquesne
» Eastern's best set was the second, recording 13 kills off a .333 hitting percentage with two aces and two blocks.
» Freshman Nattie Slusher recorded her third-consecutive match with a career high in kills. Slusher put down 12 kills off 21 attacks for a career-best .524 hitting percentage. She previously recorded a career-best eight kills in the 3-1 win over Southern Indiana, Aug. 28, before posting nine kills in the sweep against Murray State, Aug. 29. Her point totals have risen in each outing: 2.5 (vs. Northern Illinois, Aug. 28), nine (vs. Southern Indiana, Aug. 28), 10 (vs. Murray State, Aug. 29) and 12 (vs. Duquesne, Sept. 4).
» Haley Trosky, Olivia Beaudrie, and Azra Eriç all recorded their first solo blocks in their respective EMU careers. Eriç has recorded at least three blocks in every game as an Eagle as she leads the team and ranks second in the MAC with 1.67 blocks per set. Additionally, Trosky has posted at least three blocks in three of her first four contests.
» Surabhi Srinivasan posted her fourth consecutive game with 10+ digs as she totals 26 in her NCAA career. Srinivasan ranks second in the MAC with 4.20 digs per set
» Olivia Stewart made her NCAA debut. She recorded one kill off five swings.
» Mia Schaefer totaled three aces, all in the first set. Her trio of aces were a match high and the most in her Eastern Michigan career.
» Lina Govoni distributed 11 assists to direct the EMU offense. The freshman setter from Joliet, Ill. has totaled 65 assists through four 2026 matches.
Game Notes vs. Robert Morris
» Eastern Michigan improves their record to 4-1 on the 2026 season with the sweep, its best start since the 2015 season.
» Haley Trosky recorded a career-high 15 kills on 28 attempts (.500 hitting percentage) — shattering her previous career high of 11 kills (vs. Southern Indiana, Aug. 28). She finished the doubleheader with 18 career kills and is now six kills away from 50 for her career.
» Lina Govoni posted 21 assists against Robert Morris, adding 11 digs, two kills (.500), 1.5 blocks and one ace in a standout all-around performance, recording her first double-double for the Eagles.
» Surabhi Srinivasan recorded a match-high 17 digs against Robert Morris to go with one ace. Her career single-match high is 27 digs (vs. Valparaiso, Sept. 5, 2025).
» Azra Eriç totaled 7 blocks against Robert Morris in her return to her former home court, giving her 10 total blocks across the doubleheader.
» Madelyn Sipe led the team with two service aces against Robert Morris, adding two assists and two digs in her performance.
» Olivia Beaudrie contributed nine digs and two assists against Robert Morris.
» Nattie Slusher added 10 kills against Robert Morris after her career-high 12-kill performance against Duquesne, totaling 22 kills across the doubleheader.
» Taeley Mahler added three kills with five block assists (2.5 total blocks) against Robert Morris, demonstrating her value in the team's blocking system.
» Eastern Michigan out-blocked Robert Morris 12.0 to 4.0, holding the Colonials to a .105 hitting percentage and forcing 27 attack errors — more than double EMU's 13.
Historical Notes vs. Duquesne
» The loss evens the all-time series between Eastern Michigan and Duquesne at 3-3. EMU had held a 3-2 advantage entering Friday's match. The series dates to Sept. 11, 1992.
» The loss ended EMU's bid for a 4-0 start to the season, which would have been the program's best since 2012, when the Eagles opened that year with wins over Arkansas-Little Rock, Southern Illinois, Austin Peay and Memphis.
Historical Notes vs. Robert Morris
» Eastern Michigan leads the all-time series against Robert Morris 5-2. The two programs had not met since September 14, 2018 — an eight-year gap between meetings.
» Azra Eriç played collegiately at Robert Morris before transferring to Eastern Michigan, making Friday's match at the Colonials' home court a notable personal homecoming. She led the Horizon League in all block categories in 2024 at Robert Morris with 127 total blocks and 1.17 per set.
Up Next
Eastern battles Elon tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 5, at 12 p.m. The game can be streamed live on ESPN+.
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.
The day belonged to freshman Haley Trosky (Pittsburgh, Pa./West Allegheny), who delivered a stunning breakout performance in her homecoming match against Robert Morris — recording 15 kills on 28 attempts with just one error for a .500 hitting percentage, a new career high in kills (previous best: 11 vs. Southern Indiana, Aug. 28). Trosky, who had totaled just three kills earlier in the day against Duquesne, shattered her previous career high with the performance. Fellow freshman Nattie Slusher (Cincinnati, Ohio/Seton) was EMU's most efficient weapon in the opening match, posting a career-high 12 kills on 21 attempts with one error for a .524 hitting percentage — the best mark of any player in that contest — before adding 10 more kills against Robert Morris to finish with 22 kills across the doubleheader.
Anchoring the back row throughout both matches was fourth-year Surabhi Srinivasan (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Jerome), who totaled 29 digs on the day — 12 against Duquesne and a match-high 17 against Robert Morris. Freshman setter Lina Govoni (Joliet, Ill./Joliet West) posted 21 assists, 11 digs, two kills and 1.5 blocks against Robert Morris in a standout all-around performance, recording her first double-double for the Eagles.
How it Happened vs. Duquesne
SET ONE | Duquesne and EMU played a competitive opening set, with the Dukes ultimately pulling away for a 25-22 victory. Eastern stayed within striking distance through the middle of the set, with Schaefer delivering consecutive service aces to generate momentum from the service line. The Eagles could not sustain the run, however, as Duquesne's attack — led by S. Searles — found its rhythm late to close out the set.
SET TWO | The second set followed a similar pattern, with Duquesne building a lead EMU could not overcome. The Dukes extended their advantage to take the set 25-20, out-hitting the Eagles and limiting Eastern's offensive rhythm with seven service aces on the match. Slusher continued to produce efficiently at the net, but the Eagles' serve-receive struggles kept them out of system and unable to generate consistent offense.
SET THREE | Duquesne closed the match decisively, winning the third set 25-14 to complete the sweep. The 11-point margin reflected mounting momentum in the Dukes' favor as the match wore on. EMU hit just .092 as a team across the three sets, while Duquesne's 39 kills on 90 swings proved too much for the Eagles to answer.
How it Happened vs. Robert Morris
SET ONE | Eastern Michigan and Robert Morris traded points deep into the opening set before the Eagles outlasted the Colonials, 28-26, in extra points. Trosky's offensive efficiency set the tone early, and the Eagles' blocking wall — which would finish the match with 12.0 total blocks to Robert Morris's 4.0 — began asserting itself. Govoni orchestrated the attack with poise, and Srinivasan's steady floor defense kept Eastern in system throughout the extended set.
SET TWO | With momentum from the hard-fought opening set, Eastern pulled away to take the second set, 25-19. The Eagles' cleaner execution on offense — hitting .204 as a team compared to Robert Morris's .105 — began to show as Robert Morris struggled to find answers against EMU's net presence. Fourth-year middle blocker Azra Eriç (Istanbul, Turkey/Kadir Has Anadolu lisesi/Robert Morris) was a force at the net in her return to her former home court, finishing the match with 3.5 total blocks.
SET THREE | Eastern Michigan closed the match with its most dominant set, winning 25-16 to complete the road sweep. Trosky continued to be unstoppable offensively, and the Eagles' blocking advantage proved decisive as Robert Morris surrendered 27 attack errors — more than double EMU's 13. Madelyn Sipe (Fort Wayne, Ind./Homestead Senior) delivered from the service line, leading the team with two aces in the match.
Game Notes vs. Duquesne
» Eastern's best set was the second, recording 13 kills off a .333 hitting percentage with two aces and two blocks.
» Freshman Nattie Slusher recorded her third-consecutive match with a career high in kills. Slusher put down 12 kills off 21 attacks for a career-best .524 hitting percentage. She previously recorded a career-best eight kills in the 3-1 win over Southern Indiana, Aug. 28, before posting nine kills in the sweep against Murray State, Aug. 29. Her point totals have risen in each outing: 2.5 (vs. Northern Illinois, Aug. 28), nine (vs. Southern Indiana, Aug. 28), 10 (vs. Murray State, Aug. 29) and 12 (vs. Duquesne, Sept. 4).
» Haley Trosky, Olivia Beaudrie, and Azra Eriç all recorded their first solo blocks in their respective EMU careers. Eriç has recorded at least three blocks in every game as an Eagle as she leads the team and ranks second in the MAC with 1.67 blocks per set. Additionally, Trosky has posted at least three blocks in three of her first four contests.
» Surabhi Srinivasan posted her fourth consecutive game with 10+ digs as she totals 26 in her NCAA career. Srinivasan ranks second in the MAC with 4.20 digs per set
» Olivia Stewart made her NCAA debut. She recorded one kill off five swings.
» Mia Schaefer totaled three aces, all in the first set. Her trio of aces were a match high and the most in her Eastern Michigan career.
» Lina Govoni distributed 11 assists to direct the EMU offense. The freshman setter from Joliet, Ill. has totaled 65 assists through four 2026 matches.
Game Notes vs. Robert Morris
» Eastern Michigan improves their record to 4-1 on the 2026 season with the sweep, its best start since the 2015 season.
» Haley Trosky recorded a career-high 15 kills on 28 attempts (.500 hitting percentage) — shattering her previous career high of 11 kills (vs. Southern Indiana, Aug. 28). She finished the doubleheader with 18 career kills and is now six kills away from 50 for her career.
» Lina Govoni posted 21 assists against Robert Morris, adding 11 digs, two kills (.500), 1.5 blocks and one ace in a standout all-around performance, recording her first double-double for the Eagles.
» Surabhi Srinivasan recorded a match-high 17 digs against Robert Morris to go with one ace. Her career single-match high is 27 digs (vs. Valparaiso, Sept. 5, 2025).
» Azra Eriç totaled 7 blocks against Robert Morris in her return to her former home court, giving her 10 total blocks across the doubleheader.
» Madelyn Sipe led the team with two service aces against Robert Morris, adding two assists and two digs in her performance.
» Olivia Beaudrie contributed nine digs and two assists against Robert Morris.
» Nattie Slusher added 10 kills against Robert Morris after her career-high 12-kill performance against Duquesne, totaling 22 kills across the doubleheader.
» Taeley Mahler added three kills with five block assists (2.5 total blocks) against Robert Morris, demonstrating her value in the team's blocking system.
» Eastern Michigan out-blocked Robert Morris 12.0 to 4.0, holding the Colonials to a .105 hitting percentage and forcing 27 attack errors — more than double EMU's 13.
Historical Notes vs. Duquesne
» The loss evens the all-time series between Eastern Michigan and Duquesne at 3-3. EMU had held a 3-2 advantage entering Friday's match. The series dates to Sept. 11, 1992.
» The loss ended EMU's bid for a 4-0 start to the season, which would have been the program's best since 2012, when the Eagles opened that year with wins over Arkansas-Little Rock, Southern Illinois, Austin Peay and Memphis.
Historical Notes vs. Robert Morris
» Eastern Michigan leads the all-time series against Robert Morris 5-2. The two programs had not met since September 14, 2018 — an eight-year gap between meetings.
» Azra Eriç played collegiately at Robert Morris before transferring to Eastern Michigan, making Friday's match at the Colonials' home court a notable personal homecoming. She led the Horizon League in all block categories in 2024 at Robert Morris with 127 total blocks and 1.17 per set.
Up Next
Eastern battles Elon tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 5, at 12 p.m. The game can be streamed live on ESPN+.
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.
Players Mentioned
OH/DS
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
OH/OPP
/ Volleyball
L/DS
/ Volleyball
DS/L
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
DS/L
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
OH/OPP
/ VolleyballTeam Stats
EMU
DU
Kills
26
39
Errors
18
15
Attempts
87
90
Hitting %
.092
.267
Points
37.0
51.0
Assists
25
37
Aces
6
7
Blocks
5
5
Game Leaders
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
3
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
2
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Thursday, September 03
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