EMU's volleyball team came out flat in a key Old Dominion Athletic Conference match at Guilford Saturday afternoon, falling in four sets to the Quakers.  In a heated race for the upcoming eight-team ODAC Tournament, the Royals fall to 2-5 in league play.

The women (9-9 overall) struggled to find their groove after the long ride to Greensboro, N.C., and fell behind 22-10 in the opener.  A sudden 10-2 run got the Royals within four points and gave them some hope before Guilford closed the door on a 25-20 decision.

EMU had an 11-8 lead in the second, only to give up the advantage on an 8-0 run.  They fought back to within one point but would get no closer as GC ended on a 7-2 run to win 25-19.

The teams traded runs and leads in the third.  Eastern Mennonite had the final push, rattling off seven of the final eight tallies to force a set four, 25-22.

Attack errors plagued the Royals in the fourth, however, as a 6-1 streak midway through the set gave the Quakers a lead they would not let go.  The women got no closer than two points in the final half of the game, falling 25-21.

EMU had no offensive flow, committing a season high 38 attack errors while hitting into 15 GC blocks.  They hit .008 as a team, tying the second-lowest total for the year.  Janna Williams (Kenbridge, Va./Kenston Forest) and Maria Yoder (Manheim, Pa./Hempfield) each had 10 kills, while Skyler Johnson (Harrisonburg, Va./Harrisonburg) was good for nine.  Jasmine Johnson (Staunton, Va./Robert E. Lee) had 28 set assists.

Kait Miller (Sellersville, Pa./Christopher Dock) had three blocks.  Katie Miller (San Antonio, Tex./Brandeis) had 13 digs and Skyler Johnson added 12.

Casey Davis led Guilford with 11 kills.  Marinda Popp had a hand in 10 blocks.

The loss not only puts Eastern Mennonite a half game behind Guilford in the ODAC standings, but it also means the difference from being in sixth place in the conference to tenth.

The Royals have the week off before a busy road trip this weekend.  EMU is at Shenandoah Friday night before heading to a tri-match with Washington and Lee and William Peace Saturday in Lexington, Va.