It's not how you start a game, but how you finish that really matters.  After toughing it through the first three sets Friday night, the EMU volleyball took over for two quick wins to secure a 3-2 decision on the road, taking down North Carolina Wesleyan in Rocky Mount, N.C.

The women shook off a four-point deficit midway through game one to win 27-25.  The Battling Bishops had just enough to win the next two, however, 25-23 and 25-20.

That's when Eastern Mennonite exerted control.  They broke off a 7-7 tie in game four, using a 6-0 run to take over and win 25-14.  Rachel Kennel (Parkesburg, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite) started game five with back-to-back service aces as the Royals scored the first nine points.  Kennel finished the night with a kill to clinch the 15-9 win.

The women landed 14 service aces, their second-best total of the year.  Kennel and Rebecca Hardy (Port Republic, Va./Eastern Mennonite) each landed four aces.

Kennel notched her second straight double double with 11 kills and 18 digs.  It was also the middle hitter's fourth straight night with double digit digs since adding back row duties to her plate.

D Probst (Willow Street, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite) led the Royals with 19 kills, the most kills in a match by any EMU player this fall.  She also had 11 digs.  Hardy tacked on 12 kills while McKenna Carter (Waynesboro, Va./Stuarts Draft) added 11.

Dani Driver (Cheverly, Md./Elizabeth Seton) had a career high 54 set assists.  Libero Katie Miller (San Antonio, Tex./Brandeis) led all players with 25 digs.

EMU improves to 9-9 with the non-conference win, their third straight.  The women haven't won 10 matches in a season since 2009, and haven't finished .500 or better since 2001.  The Royals stay in North Carolina for a tri-match on Saturday, playing at Guilford in an ODAC contest at noon, followed by Methodist at 2:00pm.