SELINSGROVE, Pa. - The EMU women's volleyball team took a break from ODAC play on Saturday to head to Pennsylvania for a pair of non-conference matches. 

The Royals fell to Eastern 3-0 (12-25, 12-25, 19-25) and Susquehanna 3-0 (14-25, 8-25, 16-25) to wrap up their 2021 non-conference slate. 

Highlights vs Eastern

• Eastern pulled ahead of EMU, 12-2, early in the first set to force both EMU timeouts. Out of the TO, the Royals worked to cut into the deficit, using blocks from Paris Hutchinson, Andrea Troyer, Heather Phelps and Lizzy Kirkton, to cut into the Eagles lead. After a Hutchinson kill cut the lead to 10, at 10-20, EU finished the set in a 5-2 run to take the first set. 
• EMU kept the second set close, using kills from Hutchinson and Sarah East to take a 4-3 lead early on. The two teams traded points but after a Megan Miller kill brought EMU within one, 8-9, Eastern went on an 8-0 tilt to take a 17-8 lead. A Kirkton kill ended the streak but the Eagles outscored EMU 8-2 to finish the set, 25-12. 
• A Hutchinson kill and a pair of Eastern errors gave EMU a brief 3-2 lead to start the third before the Eagles went on another 8-0 run to take a 10-3 lead. A Phelps kill ended the Eagles momentum and with EU leading 14-8, a pair of East kills along with kills from Miller and Phelps forced an Eagle timeout and brought the score within two, 12-14. The two teams exchanged points until EMU forced another Eagle timeout, bringing the score to 17-18. After the timeout, EU scored seven of the next nine points to take take the set, and the match. 
• Hutchinson and Phelps each had eight kills to pace the Royals. Abby Kaufman led the way defensively, racking up 11 digs. 
• Miller added 20 assists for the match. With her assist in the third set, she has reached 600 on the season. 

Highlights vs Susquehanna

• In the first set of the second match, EMU played a very tough Susquehanna team very close to start the set. A Kirkton kill brought EMU within two before the River Hawks went on a 5-1 run. Both teams used took advantage of their offense, along with mistakes, to bring the score to 15-11, Susquehanna. SU then scored eight of the next nine to lead 23-12. Back-to-back kills from Troyer and Kirkton cut the lead to nine but Susquehanna scored the next two to pick up a 25-14 win. 
• EMU would like to forget the second set as Susquehanna picked up a 25-8 win. The River Hawks used runs of six, eight and five to pick up the win. EMU used a pair of errors along with a Kirkton kill and a Phelps ace to grab some momentum back before SU ended the set with a block. 
• The Royals didn't let the second set get to them in the third as they pulled out to an early lead. A Sierra McVay ace and kills from Kirkton and Troyer gave EMU an 8-6 lead. Susquehanna tallied seven of the next nine points to take a four-point advantage. Later in the set, with SU ahead by six, a Hutchinson kill brought EMU back within five at 12-17, but the River Hawks finished the match with a 8-4 run. 
• Kirkton's seven kills was tops for EMU while Miller added 17 assists. Kaufman picked up 15 digs defensively to lead the Royals. 

Words From Coach Steinbrecher

We saw some strong competition today. We played some really high level volleyball, just not quite enough of it. But it's good that we know that we're capable!

What's Next

EMU will host Washington and Lee on Tuesday night at 6:30 pm. It's Rowdy Royals night as the Royals take on the ODAC-leading Generals. 

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