The EMU volleyball played two matches in Hoboken, NJ, on Saturday and dropped both, falling to a nationally-ranked D-III team and a D-I squad.  The Royals slip to 1-3 overall and return home on Tuesday to host Lancaster Bible College at 6:00pm.

No. 11 Stevens 3, EMU 1
Eastern Mennonite started the day by taking on the host Ducks, and dropped the first set 25-19.  A big 14-3 run midway through game two evened the contest with a 25-20 score.  But Stevens pulled away with 25-15 and 25-18 victories.

The Royals were out-hit .300 to .198 in the loss.  They were led by Quentin Moore (Richmond, Va./Highland Springs) and his 18 kills, seven digs, four blocks and two service aces.  Jesse Reist (Lancaster, Pa./J.P. McCaskey) had 13 kills.

Marc Lovell (Newport News, Va./Menchville) had 11 digs while setter Matt Dolan (Chester, Va./Thomas Dale) dished out 39 assists.

Sacred Heart 3, EMU 1
The men quickly returned to the floor for a matchup with the D-I Pioneers, and dropped the first two sets, 25-16 and 26-17.

Eastern Mennonite open game three with the first three points, then had a big run to finish the set, 25-15.  The fourth game was tight until Sacred Heart finished on a run to win, 25-18.

The Royals were great at the net defensively, racking up 13.5 blocks as a team, but they struggled offensively, hitting just .044.

Garrett Delph (Berryville, Va./Leesburg Christian) had a match high six blocks (one solo and five assists) to go with four kills on just five swings.  Moore had nine kills.  He, Dolan and Kyle Storc (Columbus, Oh./Bishop Watterson) each added four blocks.  Scott Brigham (Montpelier, Va./Patrick Henry) led all players with eight digs.

After opening the season with three matches against D-I or D-II competition, the Royals now finish the year with 22 matches against D-III teams.