The Eastern Mennonite volleyball women earned a dramatic win in dramatic fashion Wednesday night, coming from behind to beat Randolph in five games in Harrisonburg.  It was the first ODAC victory for EMU in four years, breaking a string of 36 league losses since a win over the same Randolph program on Oct. 7, 2009. 

The Royals came out flat and quickly lost game one, 25-14.  They fell behind 9-3 in game two, but slowly closed the gap before rattling off a 9-1 run to surge in front, 21-16.  Randolph tied the score at 23-23, but a WildCat attack error followed by a Rachel Kennel (Parkesburg, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite) kill gave EMU the 25-23 win.

The visitors were back in control for game three, winning 25-17, before the teams settled in for an epic game four.  The biggest lead for either team was three points, and EMU missed twice on game point.  Randolph skipped up 26-25 to serve for match point, but the Royals fought for three straight scores to grab a 28-26 win and force game five.

The momentum belonged to EMU in the fifth game, as the women scored the first four points.  The lead was never less than two and the Royals closed on a 7-2 streak to close the comeback, 15-8.

The middle hitters led the way for the women.  Freshman McKenna Carter Waynesboro, Va./Stuarts Draft) had a team best 15 kills with just one error in 27 attacks.  She also led all players with six blocks.  Kennel came through with 11 kills, two solo blocks, and six of EMU's 12 service aces.  Rebecca Hardy (Port Republic, Va./Eastern Mennonite) added 10 kills from the outside.  Dani Driver (Cheverly, Md./Elizabeth Seton) had 35 set assists.

Katie Miller (San Antonio, Tex./Brandeis) led the defense with 20 digs with Alena Yoder (Elkhart, Ind./Bethany Christian) adding 18.  Lexi Link (Chesterfield, Va./Banner Christian) had 10 pickups.

After finishing 4-19 last fall, the Royals are now 5-5 this year, including 1-0 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference.  They play two conference matches in the Roanoke area this weekend, taking on Hollins Friday night followed by Roanoke on Saturday.