EMU's volleyball women picked up a key ODAC win Saturday afternoon, knocking off Guilford College by a final of 3-1. The victory was part of a tri-match in Harrisonburg, where the Royals dropped a non-conference decision to St. Mary's (Md.)

Eastern Mennonite is now 9-9 overall, but more importantly 2-3 in the conference after beating the Quakers. After being picked No. 10 in the ODAC Preseason Poll, the women knew they needed knock off a few teams ahead of them make the eight-team ODAC Tournament. Guilford had entered the contest at 3-1 in conference play.

The decision also ties EMU's high-water mark for overall and conference wins since 2009.

The Royals will look to carry their momentum into another big ODAC match on Tuesday, getting a 6:30pm start at Lynchburg College.

EMU 3, Guilford 1
The two teams traded leads in the opener, but the Royals had the upper hand down the stretch before scoring the final four in a 25-19 win.

The women were firing on all cylinders to start the second set, vaulting to a 10-2 lead. The Quakers fought back to within 11-9 and eventually tied the score at 16-16. But the Royals kept their cool and scored the next three to hold the lead. Senior Becca Hardy (Port Republic, Va./Eastern Mennonite) nailed a kill to finish off a 25-22 tally.

Guilford led by as many as four early in the third before EMU stormed to a 20-18 lead. During a heated final stretch, each team had short runs, with the Royals eventually serving for match point at 24-23. The Quakers had an answer, however, scoring three straight to steal a 26-24 final to stay alive.

The visitors carried the momentum into the fourth, scoring the first five points for a surprising early lead. Maria Yoder (Manheim, Pa./Hempfield) keyed a return salvo, hammering three kills in a 7-0 streak to flip EMU in front. The women never gave up the lead with senior Kait Miller (Sellersville, Pa./Christopher Dock) landing a kill to close the match out, 25-21.

Eastern Mennonite had 12 service aces, led by four from Ginny Sorrell (Spotsylvania, Va./Spotsylvania) and three from Beck Hoskins (Danville, Va./Westover Christian Academy), and getting a great effort from the back row. Sorrell led all players with 18 digs and Skyler Johnson (Harrisonburg, Va./Harrisonburg) added 17. Setter Jasmine Johnson (Staunton, Va./Robert E. Lee) had 15 digs to go with her 43 assists. And Yoder had a career bests with both 13 digs and 19 kills. Janna Williams (Kenbridge, Va./Kenston Forest) added 13 kills.

Yoder and Hoskins each had three blocks.

Morgan Tompkins led Guilford with 13 kills.

St. Mary's 3, EMU 1
The Royals blew open the first set against St. Mary's with a monster 10-1 run. Hardy had three blocks and two kills during the streak as EMU pushed their lead to 21-11. The Seahawks had a 5-0 run in them, but it wasn't enough as Eastern Mennonite claimed the opener, 25-18.

A 4-0 jab midway through the second gave the visitors the momentum, and they never let up in evening the set score, 25-17.

EMU had an 11-7 lead in the third before the Seahawks tied it at 13-13. The teams traded leads, but St. Mary's closed on a 9-3 push to win, 25-21.

It seemed the women were a step behind in the fourth before they used a late 10-3 run to get within 23-22. But two quick SMC points sealed a 25-22, ending the day.

Williams finished with a team high 14 kills, tying her career high. Yoder added 10 kills and re-broke her career high in digs with 18 pick-ups. She also set a career mark with five service aces. Hardy added seven kills and career best seven blocks, including four solos.

Skyler Johnson continued the pattern by breaking her career high with 34 digs. Jasmine Johnson had 36 assists.

Meghan Kelley led St. Mary's with 18 kills. Alli Graf added 16 kills and 19 digs.

Senior Recognition
The Royals also celebrated their Senior Recognition before the St. Mary's match, honoring Becca Hardy and Kait Miller. Both are four-year players at EMU. Miller has been a regular contributor for three years, averaging 1.39 kills per set in career. Hardy is a four-year starter who is having a banner year this fall. She has been among national leaders in attack percentage and also broke an EMU record with a .900 clip in a win at Mary Baldwin last week. She is averaging 2.05 kills and 0.52 blocks per set over her four season.

Coach Carrie Bert said she was proud of her team for the win over Guilford: