ST. DAVIDS, Pa. – Eastern University Volleyball earned a trip to the MAC Freedom Championship match with an overpowering three-set win over the visiting FDU-Florham Devils (16-14). The No. 12 Eagles (27-5) hit over .500 in the final two sets and .459 for the match while holding the Devils to a negative hitting percentage for the match.

Michelle Paulsen finished the match with 11 kills on 14 attacks. The sophomore middle hitter recorded four blocks to break Kate Adams' single-season blocks record. She has 155 blocks and is currently ranked 7th in the country in blocks per set. Paulsen's influence extended beyond her statistics as the Devils continually hit into the block or resorted to tipping.

Sarah Roberts was nearly as effective. Eastern's other middle hitter put away eight balls on 11 swings and added three blocks.

The Eagles led 10-9 in the opening set before reeling off 15 of the final 19 points for a 25-13 win. Stephanie Elechko had seven of her match-high 14 kills in the opening set.

Katie Stenby started in the back row for Alicia Weigel in the second set. The first-year defensive specialist served for three points and stayed in the match. The Eagles led 17-4 before she rotated out. Elechko had four kills in the run, and Paulsen had three kills and a block. The Devils cut the deficit to 19-8 with a brief run, but Paulsen served for the final five points of the set.

Eastern put away 14 kills without an error while hitting .583 in the second set.

The Eagles continued to put pressure on the Devils with tough serving into the third set. Eastern took the third 25-15. 

Rylie Haas finished with a match-high ten digs and Morgan Kline had 39 assists. 

The top-seeded Eagles will host the second-seeded DeSales University Bulldogs for the MAC Freedom Championship at 2:00 pm on Saturday. The two teams have met in St. Davids for the MAC Freedom Championship in eight of the last nine years. Eastern has won eight straight MAC Freedom Championships since joining the league in 2008.