The EMU volleyball women played well against the ODAC's top team Friday night, but still came up short in a 3-1 decision to Washington and Lee.  Despite losing to both of the league's top two teams over the past three days, the Royals impressively took a game from each of them as they try to build momentum into Saturday's key ODAC date with Shenandoah.

Against the Generals, Eastern Mennonite played a few points down most of game one and lost, 25-19.  But the Royals geared up for game two and traded leads with their visitors.  A 6-0 run shot the women in front, 20-16, and they rode that momentum all the way to a 25-18 win.

EMU jumped ahead 4-1 in game three and were still within three points late.  But Washington and Lee scored the final four points of the set to win, 25-18.  The Generals made a couple of adjustments in game four and led by as many as seven early.  The Royals clawed to within 18-14 before W&L closed strong to win, 25-16.

Kayley Argenbright (Fishersville, Va./Wilson Memorial) tied for the match high with 11 kills to go with three blocks.  McKenna Carter (Waynesboro, Va./Stuarts Draft) topped all players with her five block assists and added seven kills.  D Probst (Willow Street, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite) put away eight kills.

The Generals seemed to hit away from libero Katie Miller (San Antonio, Tex./Brandeis), but the entire back row answered the challenge.  Middle hitter Rachel Kennel (Parkesburg, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite) led EMU with 16 digs.  Alena Yoder (Elkhart, Ind./Bethany Christian) had 13 while setter Jessica Goertzen (Goessel, Kan./Goessel) had 12 digs and 27 assists.  Miller chipped in 11 digs.

Eastern Mennonite sits at 9-14 overall and 2-7 in the ODAC after the loss.  Although the Royals are 11th in the league standings, they are just one game behind eighth-place Bridgewater.  The women host ninth-place Shenandoah tomorrow morning at 11:00am, with Senior Recognition ceremonies starting before the first serve.  EMU also plays Bridgewater to close their ODAC schedule on Oct. 26.  The top eight teams make the ODAC Tournament.