EMU's volleyball women let a 2-1 lead slip away Friday night at Hood, dropping a five-setter to the Blazers in a volleyball match full of wild swings.

The Royals fall to 3-9 as they prepare for a big week of ODAC play, starting with Wednesday night's hosting of Emory & Henry. Eastern Mennonite also heads to Lynchburg next Saturday for a conference tri-match against Roanoke and Lynchburg.

The only constant in Friday night's match in Frederick, Md., was momentum changes.

EMU used a 4-0 run midway through the first set to grab control in a 25-22 win. The Blazers responded with a pair of big runs in the second, including the final five points to even things up, 25-15.

The Royals hit .300 as a team in the third set, rattling off the last seven points to run away with a 25-13 decision.

The women came close to grabbing a win in the fourth set, using a 6-0 spurt to jump ahead 20-17, but Hood responded with five straight to take the lead back. EMU scored a pair to tie things up at 22-22, but errors opened the door for the home team, who took advantage to stay alive, 25-22.

The Blazers scored the first four in the fifth set before EMU battled back. An ace serve from Hannah Johnson (Staunton, Va./Wilson Memorial) eventually cut the margin to 7-6. Hood, however, effectively closed the win with a big 6-0 run, coasting to a 15-8 finish.

Johnson led the charge with 19 kills, 13 digs and three aces. Meredith Stinnette (Lynch Station, Va./Altavista) added 11 kills. The outsides where the only EMU attackers to finish with a kill percentage better than .074. Carly Gingerich (Goshen, Ind./Goshen) had 32 assists, 12 digs and two ace serves.

Ginny Sorrell (Spotsylvania, Va./Spotsylvania) picked up 17 digs to lead six Royals in double figures out of the back row.

Elena Zinaich topped Hood with 20 kills and five blocks.