MOVING ON: No. 5 Eastern Michigan Defeats No. 4 Buffalo, 3-1
OXFORD, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – The No. 5-ranked Eastern Michigan University volleyball team punched its ticket to the Mid-American Conference semi-final game thanks to a 3-1 comeback victory over No. 4 University at Buffalo Friday, Nov. 16 at Millett Hall on the campus of Miami University.
With the victory, EMU plays in the MAC semi-final for the first time since 2013. The Green and White advance to take on No. 1 seed Bowling Green State University Saturday, Nov. 17 at 4:30 p.m.
After falling in the first set 18-25, the Eagles rallied back to win 28-26, 25-17, and 25-21. Eastern outhit Buffalo .324 to .296 in the match, and held narrow advantages in digs (51 to 46) and service aces (4 to 3). The win marked the second consecutive season that EMU eliminated UB from the MAC Touranment.
Redshirt sophomore Cassie Haut (Monroe, Mich.-St. Mary's Catholic Central) had a dominating performance, crushing 21 kills and hitting .586 in the match. Senior Jordan Smith (Solon, Iowa-Solon)was the only other Eagle with double digit kills, finishing with 13, but the balanced attack and outstanding defense lifted EMU to victory.
The setting duo of Mallory Rajewski (Midland, Mich.-Midland) and Riley Taylor (Indianapolis, Ind.-Perry Meridian) had 30 and 21 assists, respectively, and also each added an ace. The defense was a one-two punch from senior libero Alyssa LaFace (Allen Park, Mich.-Allen Park) and sophomore Franki Strefling (Niles, Mich.-Buchanan), who finished with 15 and 12 digs, respectively.
Junior Ariel Hamby (Oak Park, Ill.-Oak Park River Forest) added nine kills and two blocks, while sophomore middle hitter April Houston (Minneapolis, Minn.-Southwest) added eight kills and a team-high four blocks.
No. 5 seed Eastern Michigan takes on No. 1 seed Bowling Green in Millett Hall on the campus of Miami University Saturday, Nov. 17 at 4:30 p.m.
