YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — With seven regular-season matches remaining, the Eastern Michigan University volleyball team will host Central Michigan University Tuesday, Oct. 28, 6 p.m., at the George Gervin GameAbove Center. The Eagles will then head to Ohio for two matches against the University of Akron Zips Friday-Saturday, Oct. 31-Nov. 1. Friday’s match will start at 6 p.m. and Saturday’s will begin at 4 p.m. from the James A. Rhodes Arena in Akron, Ohio.

Admission is free and fans can follow along with the action using the live stats and watch links that can be found on the EMU volleyball schedule page at emueagles.com/volleyball/schedule. Fans can also follow the team’s social media accounts on X, Instagram, and Facebook @EMUVolleyball for live in-match updates. A post-match recap will also be posted to EMUEagles.com following the game.

 

ALL-TIME SERIES RECORDS

Central Michigan: The Eagles and Chippewas will meet for the 103rd time in the all-time series and the second time this season Tuesday. Overall, Eastern holds a 31-71 record against Central Michigan and a 15-37 mark when facing it in Ypsilanti. Eastern has not beaten Central since the 2020 season when it edged the Chippewas in five sets in Mt. Pleasant, March 16, 2021, as CMU has won the previous 10 games in the series, the longest streak since it won the first 23 games in the series, 1976-85.

 

Akron: The Eagles and Zips will meet for the 48th and 49th times Friday and Saturday. Overall, Eastern holds a 22-25 all-time record against Akron and a 9-12 mark when facing it in Akron. The Eagles were swept by the Zips in both matchups last season, Nov. 8-9. The last time the Eagles won a match against the Zips came in the 2022 campaign when they beat them in five sets in Akron, Oct. 29, as Eastern is 6-4 against the Zips on the road in the last 10 matchups in Akron. Head Coach Kevin Foeman is in search of his first win over the Zips at Eastern as the Eagles hold a 6-4 record in the series’ last ten contests. 

LAST TIME AGAINST CMU

Eastern was swept by the Chippewas in Mount Pleasant, Oct. 7. The last time EMU faced CMU at home came Nov. 5, 2024, a 3-1 win for CMU. The match marked just the second time in EMU volleyball’s 50-year history that the team played on a presidential election night. Eastern previously played on election night in 1984 when they bested the Michigan Wolverines in five sets in Ann Arbor, Nov. 6, the night that America re-elected its 40th President, Ronald Reagan.

 

LAST TIME ON THE ROAD AGAINST AKRON

Eastern last traveled to Akron in the 2023 season, Oct. 5, a match that resulted in a 3-0 sweep of the Eagles.

 

EMU BLOCK PARTY

The Eagles’ 17.0 total blocks In the win over Buffalo, Oct. 24, match the team’s season high, set against Valparaiso, Sept. 5. The 17 blocks equal the highest mark in one match among MAC teams this season. Eastern is one of 19 schools in the nation, and the only school in the MAC, to have multiple matches with at least 17 blocks this season.

 

AVA SIEFKE 10+ KILLS GAMES

Ava Siefke is up to 19 double-digit kill outings, ranking second in the MAC this season. The figure stands as the most in the program since Callie Minshew notched 23 in the 2023 season.

 

SIEFKE 10+ KILLS STREAK

Ava Siefke recorded 10+ kills in the first 14 matches this season, the longest stretch in her career and longest from the program since all-time kills leader Rachel Iaquaniello ended her collegiate career with 19-straight matches of 10+ kills, Sept. 14-Nov. 16, 2012, in a year where she set the program record in single-season kills (554). 

 

SIEFKE 20+ KILLS

Ava Siefke recently notched her third 20+ kill game of the season at Ohio, Oct. 16, ranking second in the MAC. She drilled 20 kills off a .238 hitting percentage against the Bobcats, the best hitting percentage in her career when totaling 60+ attacks as she matched a career-best with 63 attacks, the most from an Eagle in a single game in 2025.

 

BREAKOUT SEASON: AVA SIEFKE

Junior outside hitter Ava Siefke has seen a significant increase in production this season as she is currently averaging career highs in kills per set (3.46), attacks per set (10.49), aces per set (0.34), digs per set (2.54), blocks per set (0.52), and points per set (4.09).

 

Siefke in 2024

Kills/Set           Pts/Set              Hitt&   Attacks/set

1.73                   2.24                   .090     6.46

 

Siefke in 2025

Kills/Set           Pts/Set              Hitt%  Attacks/set

3.46                   4.09                  .162     10.49

 

Siefke currently ranks fifth in the MAC in points per set (4.09) and kills per set (3.46), and slots ninth by value with 0.34 aces per set while leading the Eagles in both point per set and kills per set.

 

SIEFKE’S DOUBLE-DOUBLES

Ava Siefke‘s nine double-doubles rank fifth in the MAC and the most in the program since Callie Minshew recorded 10 in the 2023 season.

 

Eastern is 6-3 this season when she records a double-double as she has recorded consecutive double-doubles twice this season (vs. Marshall/Kansas City, Aug. 29-30), (vs. Southern Illinois/at Oakland, Sept. 12-13). She most recently posted a double-double with 12 kills and 18 digs in a five-set win over Buffalo, Oct. 24.

 

HISTORIC HITTING PERCENTAGES

Eastern hit .424 (41-5-85) in the sweep over Purdue Fort Wayne, Sept. 4. The clip ranks second in the MAC and sixth in program history. The Eagles followed that up with a .381 hitting percentage in the three-set win over Oakland, Sept. 19, a mark that stands ninth in program history and eighth in the MAC.

 

The 2025 season is the second in program history where the Eagles have recorded multiple program top-10 hitting percentages. It previously recorded four program top-10 marks in the 1999 campaign, including the second-best mark in program annals, a .594 clip against Chicago State, Sept. 3.

 

1/1: ASHLYNN BELCHER

Senior setter Ashlynn Belcher is the only player in the nation with 744+ assists, 15+ aces, and four or fewer service errors. She currently posts 744 assists, 15 aces, and just four service errors. Belcher is just the fourth NCAA player in the last six years to post that stat line or better since 2019.

 

BELCHER’S DOUBLE-DOUBLES

Ashlynn Belcher recently recorded her eighth double-double of the season with 31 assists and 10 digs at Ohio, Oct. 17. Her eight double-doubles are the sixth most in the conference as she notched three consecutive double-doubles for the third time in her career.

 

BELCHER ASSIST DEBUT

Ashlynn Belcher dished 48 assists against Radford, Aug. 29, and UMKC, Aug. 30, the most from an Eagle in their EMU debut since at least 2011. Her 48 dimes are the most from an Eagle overall since Elle McLoughlin dished 49 against Bradley University, Aug. 26, 2023. Her assists total is also the highest from an Eagle in the first game of the season since Kate Sulewski recorded 60 in a five-set win over Charlotte University, Aug. 24, 2007.

 

Belcher currently stands seventh in the MAC with a career-best 8.36 assists per set. Her 744 assists and 8.36 per set average are both the highest from an Eastern setter since Jayden Otto dished 1,092, posting 9.93 per set in the 2021 season.

 

1/1: HATTERAS WELKER

Sophomore middle blocker Hatteras Welker is the only player in the nation to post more than 110 blocks and 29 aces as she currently totals 111 blocks and 30 aces.

WELKER 11 BLOCKS PROGRAM STANDING

Hatteras Welker‘s 11 blocks against Valparaiso rank second in EMU program history in four-set matches while standing second in the MAC, first in a four-set match, and fifth in the nation in four stanzas. Additionally, she is the only player in the MAC to record 10+ blocks in multiple matches this season as she also did so with 11 at Butler, Sept. 20.

 

WELKER YEAR 2

After a MAC All-Freshmen team nod in 2024, Hatteras Welker earned Preseason All-MAC honors ahead of the 2025 season as she has substantially improved in key areas, averaging career bests in  service aces per set (0.33), kills per set (1.86), and points per set (2.92).

 

Welker in 2024

Kills/Set                           Pts/Set

1.34                                   2.22

 

Welker in 2025

Kills/Set                           Pts/Set

1.86                                  2.92                    

 

Welker’s 1.23 blocks per set rank second in the MAC and 65th nationally as her career-best 11 blocks against Valparaiso, Sept. 5, slot second in the MAC. 

 

WELKER FROM THE SERVE LINE

Hatteras Welker has at least one ace in 19-of-24 matches this season. Her 19 matches with at least one ace are tied for the second-highest mark in the nation, are the most in the MAC, and are the most of any middle in the country. Welker ranks second on the team averaging 0.33 aces per set, an improvement from her 0.18 per set average in 2024.

 

STAR STRUCK

Senior outside hitter Bri Struck erupted for a career-best 16 kills in the second start of her NCAA Division I career. Struck entered the match with just 13 career kills as she bested her previous single-game career-high of three by 13. She also recorded the first block of her career, swatting five, and matched a career best with three digs.

 

AKC FRESHMAN 10+ KILL MATCHES

Freshman outside hitter AshleeKay Christensen recorded her ninth 10+ kill match with 11 against Toledo, Oct. 4. Her nine double-digit kill matches are the fourth most among MAC freshmen.

 

The figure is the most from an EMU freshman since redshirt freshman Krista Blakely recorded 17 10+ kill matches in 2022 and the most from a true freshman since Annie Lockett had 10 in 2021. The last time a true freshman had more than 10 came in 2017 when Franki Strefling posted 12.

AK FIRING ON ALL CYLINDERS

Freshman outside hitter AshleeKay Christensen had a career outing against Southern Illinois University, Sept. 12. The freshman recorded career bests with 20 kills off a .326 hitting percentage while adding five digs. Her 20+ kills while hitting over .300 are the first time an EMU player has done so since current overseas professional Raeven Chase landed 20 kills off a .536 clip in a match against Ohio University, Oct. 7, 2022. She is the only freshman in the MAC to post at least 20 kills while hitting .326 or better.

 

Christensen is just the third EMU freshman in the modern statistical era (1999-present) to accomplish the feat and the second outside hitter. Melissa Bartlett drilled 20 kills while hitting .500 as a freshman against Oakland University, Sept. 11.

 

AK FRESHMAN SINGLE-GAME KILLS

AshleeKay Christensen‘s 20 kills against SIU, Sept. 12, are the third most from a freshman in the MAC this season and most from an EMU freshman since Rachel Irbe landed 21 against the University at Buffalo, Oct. 22, 2016. Buffalo’s Emerson Matthews recorded a MAC freshman-high 25 against Ohio, Oct. 4, after Ohio’s Bailey Blair had a 23-kill outing against Furman, Sept. 20, ranking second in the MAC among freshmen.

 

CHRISTENSEN’S HISTORIC DEBUT

Freshman outside hitter AshleeKay Christensen‘s 18 kills in her NCAA debut against Radford, Aug. 29, are the most in program history in the modern statistical era for a collegiate debut. Christensen’s 15+ kill debut marked the fourth time an Eagles has done so in that time frame. The other three – Rachel Iaquaniello, Jordan Smith, and Cassie Haut all rank inside the program top-10 for career kills as Iaquaniello is the all-time leader with 1,949 from 2009-12.

 

SRINIVASAN CONSISTENCY

Junior libero Surabhi Srinivasan ranks seventh in the conference averaging a career-best 3.78 digs per set as she has tallied 10+ digs in 17-of-24 matches this season, the most productive stretch in her career. Her 24 digs in the season opener against Radford, Aug. 29 were previously a career high and the most from an Eagle in a season opener since Sierra Reed tallied 26 in a 3-2 win over the University of Hartford, Aug. 30, 2013. Srinivasan set a career-best with 27 digs in the win over Valparaiso, Sept. 5, bettering her previous personal-best (24) by three and marking the most from an Eagle since Kamryn Stilwell recorded 30 against Western Michigan, Sept. 23, 2021. She has gone over 20 digs four times this season, as EMU is 3-1 when she does so.

 

Srinivasan previously posted seven consecutive games with double-digit digs, Sept. 12-26, the longest streak of her tenure.

MAHLER’S EFFICIENT HITTING

Sophomore outside hitter Taeley Mahler has seen a significant increase in her hitting percentage from her freshman to sophomore season as she hit .188 last season and is currently hitting .219, a number that ranks first on the team for players with at least 450 attacks as she is taking on a increased workload, posting 5.36 attacks per set this season compared to 4.33 in 2024.

 

Through 24 matches, Mahler has posted four double-digit kill performances, besting the one she had last season (against Bowling Green, Oct. 10). She has also hit .250 or better in 13-of-24 (54%) matches this season after doing so in 6-of-18 (33%) in 2024. 

 

GRASSON MOST ACES FROM EAGLE SINCE 2017

Senior Ella Grasson‘s career-best five aces in the sweep over Kent State, Oct. 9, are the most from an Eagle since Jordan Smith landed eight against Stoney Brook, Aug. 26, 2017. The total stands as the most in the conference in a three-set match while ranking second in single-game aces in all matches.

 

WASELEWSKY EMERGENCE

Freshman libero/defensive specialist Layna Waselewksy recorded a career-best 21 digs against Bowling Green, Oct. 3, the second most in the MAC among freshmen as Miami freshman Molly Creech previously posted 24. Waselewsky has hit her stride as of late, recording the first occurrence of consecutive double-digit digs games with 21 against BGSU,  Oct. 3, before notching 18 the next day against Toledo, Oct. 4. The freshman has three games with over 15 digs, a figure that stands third in the MAC.

 

GUARD GEARING UP

Sophomore outside hitter Anna Guard has hit her stride as of late as she has recorded 8+ kills in four of her last six games, including a season-high 12 kills against Ohio, Oct. 16. Guard also landed 11 kills off a .375 hitting percentage in a win over Kent State, Oct. 9. She most recently drilled 10 in a win over Buffalo, Oct. 24. 

 

BELCHER: MAC SETTER OF THE WEEK

Ashlynn Belcher was named Mid-American Conference Setter of the Week, Sept. 8.

 

Belcher dished a total of 137 assists (10.54/set) and heavily contributed to the team’s .254 hitting percentage throughout the week. The setter contributed defensively with 42 digs (3.23/set), and eight blocks (0.62/set). Belcher posted two assists/digs double-doubles, dishing 46 assists and recording 16 digs in the win over Valparaiso, Sept. 5, before notching 41 assists and 15 digs in a sweep against Niagara University, Sept. 6.

 

Belcher was particularly sharp against Purdue Fort Wayne, Sept. 4, as she set EMU to hit .424 as a team in the sweep over the Mastodons, a clip that ranks second in the MAC and sixth in program history.

WELKER: MAC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Hatteras Welker was named MAC Defensive Player of the Week, Sept. 8. Welker was on a tear defensively as she recorded 26 total blocks, averaging two per set in the Eagles’ perfect 3-0 weekend at the EMU Tournament, Sept. 4-6, and 3-1 week overall. On top of her blocks, Welker contributed with 28 kills (2.15 per set) and four aces (0.31/set), equaling 47.5 points (3.65 per set).

 

She particularly shined in the 3-1 win over Valparaiso University, Sept. 5, as she led the match with 11 blocks, the second-most in the MAC by an individual this season, most in a four-set contest, second-most in EMU history in a four-set game, and fifth most in the nation in four sets by volume.

 

MULTIPLE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Ashlynn Belcher and Hatteras Welker‘s respective MAC Player of the Week nods, Sept. 8, mark the programs first time earning multiple conference player of the week accolades in the same week since at least 2009.

 

CONSISTENT TRENDS

Eastern is 11-0 this season when hitting better than its opponent and 25-4 under Foeman when doing so. EMU has out-killed its foe in 12-of-24 games this season, producing a 11-1 record in 2025 and 21-3 overall mark in three seasons under Foeman. EMU is also a perfect 5-0 when hitting .250 or better this season, most recently doing so in a sweep of Kent State, Oct. 9, as Eastern hit .259.

 

HITTING BETTER THAN FOES

EMU has out-hit its opponent in 11-of-24 matches this season and did so in 7-of-10 (Aug. 29-Sept. 13) games for the first time since the 2018 season, Oct. 25-Nov. 18.  That season, the Eagles out-hit their opponent in 27-of-35 games en route to a MAC Tournament Championship and NCAA Tournament berth. 

 

Overall, the Eagles are 11-0 this season when out-hitting their opponent and 25-4 in the Foeman era. They most recently out-hit the Buffalo Bulls, .182-.129, in a five-set win, Oct. 24.  

 

GOING TO EXTRAS

Both Eastern and Western Michigan scored into the 30s in the second set in the MAC opener, Sept. 25, as Western won a tight third set, 33-31. The occurrence marked the first time EMU and its opponent scored into the 30s in the same set since it scored into the 30s again against Western Michigan in the 2021 MAC opener, as EMU won the first set, 32-30, Sept. 23.

 

RECENT CAREER-HIGHS

Bri Struck struck a career high 16 kills in the win over Buffalo, Oct. 24, while also setting career-best totals with five blocks and three digs. Wrigley Takats also swatted a career-best 10 blocks. Kaylin Schroeder made her first scratches in the stats book with 13 assists, two kills, and two digs against the Bulls, Oct. 24.  

MOST ACES UNDER FOEMAN

Eastern landed 12 aces in the win over UMKC, Aug. 30, marking the most in the Foeman era (2023-present) and the most in a single game since it recorded 15 against Buffalo, Oct. 27, 2006. The total stands fourth in the program’s all-time single-game leaderboards.

 

HIGH IN MAC/NAT’L RANKINGS – TEAM

Eastern ranks in the top three in the MAC in four categories.

 

Stat                                      Figure MAC    

Digs/set                                15.46  2nd

Attacks/set                            36.60  3rd

Opp Hit%                              .190     3rd

Blocks/set                              2.32     3rd       

 

Eastern ranks 39th in the country in attacks per set (36.60). By volume, it ranks ninth in the county in total attacks (3,367), 12th in the nation in team digs (1,422), 17th in team total blocks (213.0), 33rd in team kills (1,130), 35th in team assists (1,043), and 38th in team service aces (147).

 

Additional MAC/National stats rankings can be found on page eight.

 

HIGH IN MAC/NAT’L RANKINGS – TEAM SINGLE GAME

Eastern ranks first in the MAC in two team single-game categories, and inside the top four in 10 total.

 

Stat                      Figure MAC     NAT’L

Blocks                17          1st         6th (In four sets)

Three-Set Aces    11          1st         7th (In three sets)

Three-Set Assists 50          2nd       8th

Hit%                     .424     2nd       n/a

Four-Set Digs       91        2nd       5th (In four sets)

Four-Set Hit%     .336     3rd        n/a

Four-Set Kills       66          3rd        9th

Five-Set Aces      12          3rd        6th (In five sets)

Three-Set Kills     51          4th        n/a

Three-Set Blocks  11          4th        n/a

 

HIGH IN MAC/NAT’L RANKINGS- INDIVIDUAL

Eastern Michigan has three players that rank inside the conference top five in various per-set categories.

 

Name                 Stat      Figure MAC    

H. Welker      Blks/Set      1.23     2nd

A. Siefke       Kills/Set       3.46     5th

A. Siefke       Pts/Set        4.09     5th

 

In the national standings, Hatteras Welker slots eighth in total blocks (111). Ava Siefke slots 11th in total attacks (965), 26th in total points (376.0), and 42nd in total kills (318).

 

Additional MAC/National stats rankings can be found on page eight.

HIGH IN MAC/NAT’L RANKINGS – SINGLE GAME INDIV.

 

Name                 Stat      Figure MAC

E. Grasson       3-set Ace    5       1st

H. Welker           Blocks      11          2nd

E. Grasson       Aces            5             2nd

A. Belcher         3-set Ast     41          3rd

S. Srinivasan  4-set Dig      27          3rd

H. Welker           Aces         4             3rd       

 

In the national standings by volume, Welker’s 11 blocks in a four-set match slot fifth, while Belcher’s 41 dimes in a three-set match are the 11th most. Grasson’s five aces tie for fifth in three-set matches.

 

MILESTONES

Ashlynn Belcher is 157 assists away from 2,000 in her career as she totals 1,843. Ella Voorhees sits 43 digs from 500, and 205 assists from 1,000. Ava Siefke is 25 aces away from the century mark.

 

UP NEXT

Eastern welcomes Ball State to the George Gervin GameAbove Center for its final two regular season home games Thursday-Friday, Nov. 6-7. Both games will start at 6 p.m. Admission is free and the matches 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.