With precious remaining chances left to pick up an ODAC win, EMU's volleyball women came up short on Senior Night, falling to Lynchburg 3-1.  The Royals have one match left in conference play, playing at Bridgewater next Wednesday to end the regular season.

The Eagles are one win ahead of EMU in the ODAC standings.  Guilford and Randolph sit a half game in between the two rivals.  The Quakers and WildCats each have two matches left in ODAC play, including one against each other this Friday.

Eastern Mennonite traded small leads with LC for most of the first set, finally pushing ahead 23-21 on a kill from Skyler Johnson (Harrisonburg, Va./Harrisonburg).  But the Hornets answered with four straight kills to turn the tables and steal a 25-23 decision.

The visitors rode the momentum into set two, jumping to a 12-6 lead.  The Royals regrouped quickly, though, with a 7-1 run to tie things up at 13-13.  Late in the game a quick 3-0 outburst earned the women a 22-20 edge, and they still led at 23-22 until another late streak gave Lynchburg a second come-from-behind 25-23 win.

The Hornets used a 4-0 push to gain a 20-16 lead in the third.  After the teams traded points, EMU caught fire and scored six unanswered points to swing in front, 23-21.  Lynchburg knotted the score at 23-23, but the women had two more points in them for a 25-23 decision.

Eastern Mennonite scored the first two tallies in the fourth set, but LC answered with five in a row to grab control and end any thoughts of a fifth set.  The Hornets led by as many as nine en route to a 25-17 clincher.

Skyler Johnson finished with 13 kills and 17 digs, while Maria Yoder (Manheim, Pa./Hempfield) added 12 kills.  Setter Jasmine Johnson (Staunton, Va./Robert E. Lee) had 43 assists and 14 digs.  Alexa Weeks (Montross, Va./Washington & Lee) and Kait Miller (Sellersville, Pa./Christopher Dock) each had three block assists.

Libero Katie Miller (San Antonio, Tex./Brandeis) had a match high 26 digs, while fellow senior Alena Yoder (Elkhart, Ind./Bethany Christian) added 13.

Kelly Layne led Lynchburg with 14 kills and four blocks.

The Royals, 9-13 overall, play a pair of neutral site matches on Saturday, taking on Hood College and Lancaster Bible.  The contests will be played at Catholic University in Washington, D.C.

Senior Recognition Night
EMU's five seniors were honored in pregame ceremonies, as Katie Miller, Alena Yoder, Dani Driver (Cheverly, Md./Elizabeth Seton), Lexi Link (Midlothian, Va./Banner Christian) and Amy Nussbaum (Union, Mich./White Pigeon) were at their final home match.  Katie Miller will leave with EMU's Career Digs record, as well as a spot in the ODAC's top 10 for Career Digs.  Despite being hampered by injuries the past two seasons, Driver is No. 10 on EMU's Career Assists list.

Coach Carrie Bert said all five of her seniors have left marks on the team: