The EMU volleyball women started their final ODAC swing Friday night, playing at Lynchburg College.  Playing without their leading hitter, the Lady Royals were no match for LC, falling 3-0.

The Hornets controlled games one and three, taking 25-14 and 25-13 decisions.  Eastern Mennonite put up a good fight in game two, holding a 16-15 lead.  But the home team closed on a big run to win that game 25-20.

Rachel Kennel (Parkesburg, PA/Lancaster Mennonite) had eight kills without any errors to lead EMU.  Amber Loftin (Amherst, VA/Amherst) had seven kills while Kayla Smeltzer (Richmond, VA/Maggie L. Walker) added five.  Mattie Lehman (New Paris, IN/Bethany Christian) had 23 set assists.

Jessica Goertzen (Goessel, KS/Goessel) had two of the women's three service aces.  Katie Miller (San Antonio, TX/Brandeis) led all players with 13 digs, while Loftin and Lehman each had six.

Sophomore Sara Ritchie (Harrisonburg, VA/Turner Ashby), who is fourth in the ODAC with 3.46 kills per game, is missing the weekend with a family commitment.

The loss drops the women to 4-16 overall and 0-10 in the ODAC.  They play one final conference match tomorrow morning at Randolph.  Start time is 11:00am.