In need of a big win, the Royals nearly got it on the road Tuesday night, forcing No. 10 Stevenson to five games before falling 3-2.  EMU won games three and four to extend the contest before the Mustangs snuck away with the win.

The men led by as many as four points in game one, but SU closed on a 7-3 spurt to win, 25-21.  Game two was tied at 15-15 before Stevenson took over for a 25-19 decision.

With their backs against the wall, Eastern Mennonite responded and took an early lead in game three.  The Mustangs went back in front 15-12, before the men tied the score at 16-16 and then scored the final four to win 25-22.

EMU led by as many as five in game four, but Stevenson fought off three game points to flip in front, 25-24.  The Royals twice turned away match points, before John Grove (Glen Allen, VA/Deep Run) capped a 3-0 run with a solo block to win the game, 28-26.

Neither team led by more than two in game five and the score was tied at 12-12.  SU scored two in a row to grab the edge before trading points for the 15-13 clincher.

Chris Moise (Hollywood, FL/South Broward) led the way with a double double of 14 kills and a match high 22 digs.  The senior added four service aces.  Greg Knight (Chesapeake, VA/Hickory) put down 13 kills from the outside while Kyle Storc (Westerville, OH/Bishop Watterson) led the middles with eight kills.  Setter John Barry (Columbus, OH/Worthington Kilbourne) had 44 assists and six kills of his own.

Storc also had one solo stuff and four assists, while Grove tallied two solos and one assist.

Travis Riesen (Hillsboro, KS/Hillsboro) picked up 13 digs while Jesse Reist (Lancaster, PA/JP McCaskey East) added 11.

Eastern Mennonite's men slip to 12-8 overall, but more importantly 1-3 in the CVC.  Stevenson improves to 2-1 in the league play.

The Royals return to Owings Mills, MD, in 10 days for the Stevenson Tournament, playing the host Mustangs again on March 22, followed by New Paltz St. and Penn St-Altoona the following day.