The Eastern Michigan University women’s volleyball team is looking for another victory as their four-game road trip continues with a match-up against Mid-American Conference West Division foe, the Toledo Rockets Oct. 5 at John F. Savage Arena in Toledo, Ohio.
The Eagles have won seven out of the last 10 games in the series against Toledo, and the teams split the two meetings against each other last season.
Their first meeting was Oct. 7, 2011 at the Convocation Center where EMU convincingly swept Toledo in straight sets (26-24, 25-7, 25-16).
The Eagles and the Rockets last met Nov. 12, 2011 in Toledo, where EMU fell to Toledo in a five-set classic (25-23, 22-25, 25-18, 26-28, 13-15).
In that game, EMU’s Rachel Iaquaniello notched 22 kills and 17 digs along with Kristen Baker’s 12 kills.
EMU (11-8 overall, 1-2 in the MAC) is looking to bounce back after enduring a tough loss in straight sets to the Central Michigan Chippewas (23-25, 23-25, 24-26) Sept. 22.
Senior Iaquaniello led the way for EMU with 14 kills and redshirt junior Kim Hildreth supplied 37 assists for EMU’s attackers in the loss.
“We lost to Central by a total of six points. We are very competitive but we just need to finish stronger,” EMU women’s volleyball head coach Kim Berrington said.
The Eagles have a perfect opportunity to gain their stride back by playing Toledo.
EMU will continue to lean on Iaquaniello, who leads the team in kills with 298 and serve attempts with 18. She broke the record earlier this season for most career kills in EMU history passing Roxanne Munch, whose record of 1,537 kills stood for 23 years.
Other players to watch out for in the upcoming match are freshmen Alyssa Davis and Sierra Reed, who lead EMU with 383 assists and 298 digs, respectively.
The Rockets (7-8) have been up and down all season in terms of wins and losses with their longest winning streak at only two games, while enduring a less daunting travel schedule than EMU.
Toledo’s players to watch out for are juniors Becca Reidy and Dakota Harkins.
Reidy leads the Rockets on the season with 136.5 points and Harkins is second with 131.5.
The Eagles’ 11-8 record has been more impressive because of the travel schedule they have had to endure. Going as far south as Denton, Texas to as far west as Chicago hasn’t been easy, and it has been a struggle to schedule non-conference home games.
“It’s hard for us to host a tournament with Michigan football being home and not being able to book hotels, but that’s just the way it is every year,” Berrington said.
After the match against Toledo, the Eagles travel to Muncie, Ind. to play Ball State Oct. 6.
Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.
