Eastern Michigan University women’s volleyball (7-4) shined this weekend in Providence, R.I. at the Brown Invitational winning all three games they played to extend their winning streak to four.
Each match was clinched in straight sets 3-0 and the girls have won their last 12 sets.
Senior outside-hitter Erin Short led the squad with 24 kills this weekend and was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. Short had an attack percentage of .400 in the three matches.
Game 1 vs. Bryant University
EMU defeated the Bryant University Bulldogs in their first game of the tournament Friday evening 3-0 (25-12, 25-11, 25-17). Short’s .467 attack percentage and seven kills led the Eagles offense.
The team put together a season-high of 13 service aces with six of them from sophomore outside-hitter Stacey Perinar.
Redshirt freshman middle-blocker Alexa Salsbury was able to see some action and make the most of her time on the floor with two kills.
Game 2 vs. Holy Cross
The Eagles took their second match of the tournament Saturday morning with a 3-0 sweep over the College of the Holy Cross (25-16, 25-13, 25-21).
The Eagles attack efficiency allowed them to dominate the Crusaders with an attack percentage of .322 to Holy Cross’ .031. Senior outside-hitter Paige Roback led both teams in kills with nine. Short and junior middle-blocker Megan Crawshaw followed with eight each.
Roback also put up five service aces and helped sophomore libero Corynne Smith protect the floor with ten digs. Smith made 12.
Holy Cross showed life late in the third set when trailing 21-13 and a kill by freshman Natalie Welsch ignited a six-point streak for the Crusaders to bring them within two. However, two kills by Roback helped the Eagles take four of the next six points and the match.
Game 3 vs. Brown University
EMU completed their dominance and won the tournament with another 3-0 sweep, this one over the Brown University Bears (25-16, 25-20, 25-14).
The Bears early leads in the first and second set would fair to hold up as they would be the only leads they had for the whole match.
Short and Perinar led the Eagles’ offense with nine and eight kills, respectively. Briner led the team in setting for the fourth consecutive match with 18 assists.
The team’s eight service aces was their lowest of the weekend, but still an impressive number while five of them came from junior setter and defensive specialist Natalie Folk.
Looking Ahead:
The Eagles are back at the Convocation Center on Tue. Sept. 17 to take on the Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne Mastodons.
Game time starts at 7 p.m.
