HARRISONBURG, Va. – They weren't home, but it was still a great homecoming weekend for EMU women's volleyball. 

The Royals went down to NC and came back with a pair of big ODAC wins, taking down Randolph, 3-1 (27-25, 25-20, 23-25, 25-15) and then knocking off Guilford, 3-1 (25-23, 23-25, 25-23, 25-16). 

Highlights vs Randolph 

• EMU and Randolph started the match trading points, tying at two. After Randolph took a 4-2 lead, EMU went on a 6-0 run, thanks to a pair of Paris Hutchinson kills, a Lizzy Kirkton kill and a block from Heather Phelps and Hutchinson. Randolph battled back and eventually took a 12-11 lead, leading to an EMU timeout. The teams went back and forth, with neither team able to grab any momentum. A Megan Miller and Phelps block gave EMU a 21-19 lead, but Randolph answered, winning five of the next six points to pull ahead, 24-22. The WildCats then made errors in five of the next six points to give EMU a 27-25 set one win.
• Set two continued the same way as set one, with both teams trading blows and neither being able to pull ahead. With the score tied at eight, EMU used kills from Kirkton and Hutchinson, along with an ace from Miller, to take a lead and force a WildCat timeout. Out of the TO, Randolph was able to mount a small comeback, but EMU held firm to their lead. With the Royals ahead 20-18, the trio of Kirkton, Hutchinson and Miller extended the lead and a Hutchinson kill gave EMU the 25-20 win.
• The Royals took a five point lead midway through the third at 15-10 before Randolph went on an 8-1 tilt and took the lead. The Royals fought back and even had a 22-20 lead late but, with EMU up 23-22, the WildCats reeled off three straight points to force a fourth set.
• Bri Leeper played a big part in the helping the Royals pick up the win in the fourth set. After back-to-back kills from Phelps and an Abby Kaufman ace gave EMU a small 5-4 lead, a block and two kills from Leeper extended the Royals advantage. Randolph would pull within one at 8-7, but EMU went on a tear, outscoring Randolph 11-2 and taking a commanding 19-9 lead. Kills from Phelps and Kirkton finished the scoring for EMU and sent them to the 25-15 set win and gave them the 3-1 victory.
• Hutchinson had a monster match, finishing with a career-high 26 kills to go along with 11 digs and three aces. She had a kill% of .333 for the match. Kirkton also had a double-double, picking up 12 kills and 11 digs while Phelps added 11 kills. Miller was once again a stalwart in the middle, racking up a double-double herself with 46 assists and 13 digs.
• Defensively, EMU was led by Kaufman's 28 digs. Sierra McVay chipped in 10 digs. 

By the Numbers 

• 103-77 – EMU finished the match with 77 digs, holding the WildCats to a kill% of just .103.
• EMU's top hitters of Hutchinson, Kirkton and Phelps committed just 16 errors on 121 chances.
• 10 – Phelps finished the match with a kill% of .500. This was her 10^th match of the season with a percentage of .300 or better. 

Highlights vs Guilford 

• Guilford got out to a hot start and led for a majority of the first set. Two runs forced two EMU timeouts with the Royals trailing 15-19. Kills by Hutchinson, and Leeper, along with a Hutchinson ace brought EMU within one but GC responded and went ahead 23-20. Three Quaker errors, along with a Hutchinson kill and a Miller ace put an end to Guilford's momentum and gave EMU a come-from-behind set one win, 25-23.
• The Quakers pulled out to a lead again in the second but EMU was able to rally and tie things at eight and nine. EMU then went on a 6-1 run, with kills from Leeper, Phelps and Miller, to take a lead and force a GC timeout. Guilford then rallied and took a one-point lead and held on for the rest of the set, picking up a 25-23 win.
• Big runs were the story to start the third, as EMU pulled ahead 6-1 before Guilford then went up 13-7. But the Royals rallied and tied things at 15. The Quakers were able to take small leads late, leading 21-19 at one point, but had too many errors before a Kirkton kill put an end to the set and put EMU up 2-1.
• The final frame wasn't close as the Royals dominated from start to finish. They led by as many as 11, 19-8, before a couple small Guilford runs made the score 24-16. But another Quaker error ended the match and moved EMU to 7-2 in the ODAC, continuing its historic conference run.
• Hutchinson once again led things offensively for EMU tallying 14 kills with just two errors. She also had 12 digs.
• Kirkton put up big numbers as well, finishing with 13 kills, five digs and three aces. Miller dished out 31 assists while also recording a pair of kills and five aces.
• Defensively, Kaufman also had 12 digs. 

By the Numbers 

• 16 – A big factor in the outcome of the match was errors. In all four sets, EMU made just nine errors while Guilford committed 25.
• 5-0 – EMU finished the match with 5 blocks (8 block assists and 2 solo blocks) while Guilford had none. 

Words from Coach Steinbrecher 

Excited to get out of there with two wins today! We had a couple of slow starts and some bumpy sets but we finished strong. I, personally, don't need that kind of stress but the team seems to enjoy it!  

What's Next 

After a lengthy road-trip, the Royals will be back in Yoder Arena on Tuesday for a non-conference matchup. They'll take on future ODAC opponent Averett at 6 pm for their Breast Cancer Awareness match.

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