MAC Volleyball Team Notes

SCHAPER NETS UA MARK, NEARS 5K
Akron's senior setter Kim Schaper became the school's all-time assists leader in the team's four-game win over Eastern Michigan Friday. Schaper, who passed out 53 assists against the Eagles, moved past Patti Godzinski (4,869) for the top spot. The setter, who nearly pulled off a triple double in the match with 13 digs and seven blocks, has 4,920 career assists. Schaper is 80 assists shy of becoming the league's third setter to reach the 5,000 assist plateau.

SALLEE BECOMES GRANDEST SETTER
Emily Sallee continued her record-setting exploits as Ball State University's setter on Saturday as she became the first Cardinal to ever record 1,000 assists each of her first three seasons. In BSU's 15-5, 15-5, 15-12 victory over Ohio, she quarterbacked the Ball State offense and totaled 35 assists. That improved her season total to 1,030, which leads the league in total and assists per game (14.11). Last week, Sallee was 4th in the nation in per-game average.

COLLINS GOES DOUBLE MILLENNIUM
With her 21 digs in Miami's four-game loss to Marshall, RedHawk senior Mindy Collins surpassed 1,000 career digs. Collins, who notched her 1,000th kill last Saturday in a four-game win over Central Michigan, also tallied 21 kills against the Thundering Herd. She joins an elite group of Miami volleyball players to reach 1,000 in both categories. She is only the sixth person in the history of the program to achieve the feat. Collins now has 1,068 career kills and 1,005 digs.

IS THERE A TREND HERE FOR WMU?
Western Michigan's 8-0 MAC record matches most recently the 1987 and 1988 Broncos, who posted perfect 8-0 league ledgers. WMU was 16-0 in 1986, and 18-0 in 1983, 1984, 1985. The Broncos dominated the MAC in the 1980's, recording an NCAA Division I record 99 consecutive regular season league wins. WMU is three wins short of tying its win total from a year ago, and is four shy of tallying the team's first 20-win season since 1996 and its second this decade.

WILLIAMS JUST DIGGIN' IT
Marshall junior outside hitter Wendy Williams continued to frustrate opponents' attackers over the weekend, racking up back-to-back 20-dig performances. Williams had 22 digs in the Herd's win over Miami, and posted 21 more at Northern Illinois for a 5.38 average. She now has four consecutive 20-plus dig matches, including a Marshall school record 37 in a win at Akron. Williams was also effective on offense, reaching double-digits in kills in both weekend matches. She averaged 3.0 kpg and 0.38 blocks per game to go along with her digging. On the season, Williams has raised her digs per game average to 4.39, the best total in the MAC.

CAREER NIGHT FOR THREE FLASHES
Senior Carrie Patterson, junior Carrie McEnery and sophomore Stephanie Doran all had career performances in Kent's five-game win against Miami. McEnery contributed 26 kills and 28 digs, Patterson compiled 30 kills, and Doran added 75 assists and 21 digs--all career-high marks for the Flashes. In that match, Patterson also became the fifth Golden Flash to reach the 1,000 kill plateau and now has 1,001.

FALCONS ARE ON A ROLL
Bowling Green moved into a third-place tie in the East Division with Miami after a pair of wins over Toledo and Central Michigan. The victories for the Falcons was their fifth in a row and is the team's longest winning streak since they won six straight in 1997.

MULLEN NEARLY PULLS OFF TRIPLE
Ohio's Katie Mullen, like Akron's Kim Schaper, nearly pulled off a triple-double in the Bobcats' match at Northern Illinois. Mullen had 34 kills, 22 digs and eight block assists, to go with a .458 hitting percentage. The senior's kill total against the Huskies marked the seventh match in the league this year in which a player registered 30 or more kills.

EMU'S HEUKER STEPS UP HER PLAY
Since entering the lineup on a permanent basis, Eastern Michigan freshman Julie Heuker has made a major contribution to the Eagles' 12 wins this season. In her last seven matches, she has posted 53 kills and a .261 hitting percentage. She has also added 24 total blocks over that time. Her best offensive performance of the year game in the team's last match against Buffalo, as she had 13 kills and just two errors in 22 attacks for a .500 hitting percentage.

WILKINS KICKS IT INTO HIGH GEAR
Another rookie making waves in the league is Northern Illinois outside hitter Tenisha Wilkins. Wilkins, who is second on the squad in kills (188), helped the Huskies to a perfect 3-0 week, which included league victories against Ohio and Marshall. Wilkins had 22 kills and 11 digs versus instate rival Illinois State, then concluded the weekend with 17 kills, 10 digs and a .349 attack percentage against the Herd.

HOME SWEET HOME FOR BSU
The sweeps of Miami and Ohio improved Ball State's winning streak to 13 straight games. The Cardinals will attempt to set the school record for consecutive games won at home on Friday when Buffalo comes to Muncie. The 1998 squad set the standard by winning 15 straight in Muncie. In addition, BSU has won 15 consecutive league matches at home, both regular and postseason. The Cardinals last lost a MAC contest in University Arena on Nov. 15, 1997 against Miami.

SPEAKING OF ROOKIES, PART III
Toledo freshman Jessica Buck is a third first-year player that is also putting up some numbers. Buck leads all freshmen in the MAC in hitting percentage (.260) and is also averaging 2.57 kills per contest, which is second on the Rockets. The middle blocker is also second on the team in block assists (33) and blocks per game (0.63).

EMU'S OLAIO A THREAT ON THE COURT
Sophomore setter/outside hitter Camila Olaio has become one of the most dangerous parts of the Eastern Michigan offense. Starting in all 20 matches, Olaio has posted 767 assists and 89 kills. She has also added a league-best 40 service aces, 168 digs and 42 total blocks.

CMU FINALLY COMING HOME
After playing five of its last six matches on the road, Central Michigan will finally have a more consistent dose of home cooking. The Chippewas, who along with Marshall have played a league-low three home contests, host Ohio and the Thundering Herd this weekend. In fact, CMU plays seven of its next nine matches at home.

CAREER-HIGHS CAN'T OVERCOME KENT
Although Miami had three players post impressive career-high numbers, it was not enough to overcome Kent in a five-game loss at Millett Hall. Mindy Collins posted 27 kills to improve upon her previous mark of 22 which she set against Central Michigan in 1997. Andrea Stone recorded 23 digs to surpass her previous career-best of 16, which she also established against Kent in 1998. Alissia Thompson amassed 22 kills to tie the personal-best she set against Northern Illinois in 1998.

UB CONTINUES ROAD TRIP
Buffalo will wrap up its season-long six-match road trip this weekend at Ball State and Miami. The Bulls, who are currently 1-3 on the swing, will then host six of its final eight at home.