The EMU volleyball women wrapped up their successful 2013 season on the road Saturday afternoon, dropping a 3-0 decision at Goucher.  The Royals close the year with a record of 9-18, their most wins since 2009, as well as 2-9 in the ODAC, their first conference victories since 2009.

Eastern Mennonite came out swinging against the Gophers and jumped to a 12-8 lead.  But Goucher answered with a 9-2 run which seemed to set the tone for the rest of the day.  The home team closed game one on a 17-6 tear, winning 25-18.

The teams traded leads in game two, but the Royals couldn't get over the hump late in a 25-22 decision.  Goucher then took over early in game three to clinch the match, 25-13.

Kayley Argenbright (Fishersville, Va./Wilson Memorial) led EMU with nine kills.  Playing in her first contest since Oct. 9, Rebecca Hardy (Port Republic, Va./Eastern Mennonite) added seven kills.

Senior Rachel Kennel (Parkesburg, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite) added five kills, three blocks and a service ace.  Fellow senior Jessica Goertzen (Goessel, Kan./Goessel) set two games and finished with 13 assists and an ace.

Dani Driver (Cheverly, Md./Elizabeth Seton) had 10 assists in her one game.  McKenna Carter (Waynesboro, Va./Stuarts Draft) had a couple of solo stuffs.  Katie Miller (San Antonio, Tex./Brandeis) had 14 digs to lead the back row, while Alena Yoder (Elkhart, Ind./Bethany Christian) picked up 12.

Kennel and Goertzen are the lone seniors on the team and played their final match on Saturday.  The women built some momentum for a program which hasn't had a winning percentage over .385 since 2001.

In Coach Jeff Tyson's second season, the Royals were hit hard by key injuries over the final month, as injuries to two of their top three hitters (D Probst (Willow Street, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite) and Hardy) as well as their starting setter (Driver) contributed to a nine-match losing skid to end the year.  The women had been 9-9 on Oct. 4.