The Royals certainly had their moments in a tough setting against a talented opponent, but host Southern Virginia held on to hand EMU a 3-1 defeat.

The Eastern Mennonite University volleyball women fall to 9-10 with the non-conference loss to an SVU team that has gone 8-1 against ODAC teams this fall.

EMU closed a set one deficit with a late 7-1 run before Southern Virginia scored the final four to win 25-18.

In the second set, the Royals used a 4-0 jab to take a 13-11 lead. They still held it at 19-16, eyeing the win in the set. But the Knights scored the next five points to flip back in front and continue to a 25-22 win.

Facing elimination, Eastern Mennonite held firm midway through the third when a 6-1 run from SVU erased a small lead. The women responded with five unanswered points to get ahead, 23-19, which took them to a 25-20 win.

The momentum carried into the fourth, where the Royals used an 8-0 run for an early lead. They still led 15-9 before the pendulum swung. In a big way. Southern Virginia rattled off the next 13 points, surging in front, 22-15. The women answered with the next four, and got within 23-22 on an ace from Tori Wigley (Elkton, Va./East Rockingham), but SVU closed out with a 25-22 clincher.

EMU hit just .095 as a team including .091 or lower in the three sets they lost. By contrast, SVU hit .212.

Sarah East (Washington, Va./Rappahannock County) had the most efficient night, landing seven kills on 15 swings. Hannah Johnson (Staunton, Va./Wilson Memorial) dropped in nine kills with 16 digs. Amy Goodman (Midlothian, Va./Midlothian) added seven kills, 10 digs and a season high four aces. Andrea Troyer (Harrisonburg, Va./Broadway) had five blocks and five kills.

Wigley finished with 18 assists. Delanie Miller (Dayton, Va./Turner Ashby) had a match high 18 digs with three aces.

Serving was a strength, as the Royals landed nine aces against only two service errors.

The women were without a match for EMU Homecoming Weekend, so they are hosting an alumni vs. alumni match this Saturday at 1:00pm.