The Eastern Mennonite volleyball team played even with one of the ODAC's top teams on the road Friday night before coming up short in a 3-1 decision.  The Lady Royals split the first two games against second-place Virginia Wesleyan but still ended up with the loss.

Game one featured a wild ending.  EMU surged to an 18-17 lead after a pair of Sara Ritchie (Harrisonburg, VA/Turner Ashby) service aces.  The Marlins returned fire with six straight points to go ahead 23-18.  The Lady Royals scored three in a row to keep it close, but still dropped a 25-21 decision.

Let by strong net play, Eastern Mennonite took over the lead early in set two and never trailed again after recovering from a 5-4 disadvantage. A late 5-0 run gave the women all the cushion they needed in a 25-20 win.

But a big run early in game three returned the momentum to the home team, as Virginia Wesleyan roared to win the next two, 25-13 and 25-7.

Ritchie led the women with 11 kills and three aces.  Katie Miller (San Antonio, TX/Brandeis) also had three service aces.

Rachel Kennel (Parkesburg, PA/Lancaster Mennonite) had five kills without an attack error to go along with a solo block.  Lynae Fry (Pettisville, OH/Pettisville) also had five kills.

Mattie Lehman (New Paris, IN/Bethany Christian) had a match high 23 set assists.  She and Karla Martin (Stuarts Draft, VA/Grace Christian) co-led the team with nine digs.

Now 3-13 overall and 0-7 in the ODAC, the Lady Royals enter an easier part of the conference schedule.  They next play at Hollins on Wednesday.