Eastern Michigan University volleyball hosted Northern Illinois University for senior night at the Convocation Center on Nov. 9. In the final home game for senior co-captains Erin Short and Paige Roback, the Huskies bested the Eagles 3-1.
After an extra points second set, the Eagles (14-14, 4-9 Mid-American Conference) were able to take the third over NIU (16-11, 8-5 MAC), but the Huskies were able to win three out of four sets (25-16, 27-25, 17-25, 25-15).
“We have to have the effort we had against Western Michigan,” EMU head coach Kim Berrington said. “Northern Illinois is pretty good and we have to find a way not to give up those three and four point runs at key times. We’ve got another mountain in front of us.”
After notching her 1,000th kill against Western Michigan University on Nov. 8, Short had 12 kills on the day. Sophomore outside hitter Stacey Perinar led the Eagles with 14 kills and 13 digs.
For the Huskies, freshman middle blocker Jenna Radtke had 14 kills and senior middle blocker Sarah Angelos had 13 kills. Radtke was named the MAC West Division Offensive Player of the Week.
Northern Illinois opened the first set 3-0, and cruised until the Eagles cut the lead to one midway to through the set, 14-13. The Huskies would extend their lead with five straight points to make it 19-13. Northern Illinois would take the opening set by nine, 25-16.
Eastern hit just .077 attack percentage as a team in the first set.
The Eagles were able to keep up in the second set, leading midway through 10-7. Northern Illinois would take a three-point lead late. Eastern answered with a five to two run to tie the set at 20.
Northern Illinois looked to notch the set 24-22 before EMU scored on consecutive points to tie the set at 24. Northern Illinois eventually scored two straight to take the set 27-25.
Eastern dominated early in the third set, leading 13-6 midway through. The Eagles were able to increase their lead to double digits late, leading 21-11. EMU cruised to take the set 25-17.
Northern Illinois was able to dominate the fourth set, 25-15, despite Roback’s nine kills in the set. Eastern hit just .044 as a team in the final set.
Looking Ahead:
The Eagles wrap up their 2013 season this Thursday night against the Central Michigan Chippewas (11-15, 5-9 MAC) in Mount Pleseant, Mich. at 7 p.m. Eastern lost to Central Michigan 3-0 at the Convocation Center on Oct. 10.
Eastern also travels to Kent, OH Saturday night to take on the Kent State Golden Flashes (12-15, 6-8 MAC) in its final regular season game of the season.
Eastern Michigan has the ninth best record in the MAC. The top eight teams in the conference are included in the MAC championship tournament. The Eagles are one game behind Central Michigan.
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