EMU's volleyball women got off to a solid start to a busy weekend, pushing Elizabethtown College before falling by a final of 3-1.

The women will stay at the Blue Jay Classic for two more matches on Saturday, playing Cairn at 11:00am followed by Rowan at 1:00pm.

The Royals (2-6) got a quick jump in the first set, scoring five straight to break off a 7-7 tie. From there, EMU never let the lead get less than three points and they rolled to a 25-20 win. Playing just a few miles from her hometown, senior Maria Yoder (Manheim, Pa./Hempfield) led the charge with five kills and a service ace.

Elizabethtown (5-6) jumped to quick leads in each of the next two sets to get in front with wins of 25-16 and 25-11.

Eastern Mennonite got their attack back in order for the fourth set and traded leads with the Blue Jays. E-town held a slim lead at 21-20 after Amy Goodman (Midlothian, Va./Midlothian) landed a kill, but the home team scored the next three points to get to set point before finally sneaking out with a 25-22 clincher.

Not surprisingly, the Royals were at their best in the first and fourth sets, finishing with .140 and .139 kill percentages, respectively, in those sets. They hit a combined -0.025 in the other two sets.

Yoder tallied team highs of 10 kills, three blocks and two aces. Goodman worked her way to eight kills with 14 digs. Carly Gingerich (Goshen, Ind./Goshen) had 19 assists. Leading hitter Hannah Johnson (Staunton, Va./Wilson Memorial) missed the match with an injury.

Candice Shaheen (Scottsville, Va./Fluvanna County) picked up 16 digs to lead from the back row while Ginny Sorrell (Spotsylvania, Va./Spotsylvania) added 12 digs and two aces.

Mackenzie Garner had 16 kills to lead the Blue Jays, who out-hit EMU, .204 to .081.