HARRISONBURG, Va. - Something had to give. 

On Tuesday, it was a battle of the ODAC unbeatens as Virginia Wesleyan came to Yoder Arena to square off with EMU. The Royals battled in all three sets but the Marlins came out on top as VWU picked up a 3-0 (25-14, 25-18, 25-15) win over EMU. 

Highlights

• EMU jumped out on top of Virginia Wesleyan, pulling out to a quick 4-1 lead with kills from Lizzy Kirkton and a block from Andrea Troyer. VWU came back and tied the match and the two teams traded points until, with the score tied at seven, the Marlins went on a 9-2 run, forcing a Royals timeout. EMU was able to pick up some points but, with Virginia Wesleyan leading 18-12, the Marlins finished the set with a 7-3 run to take the opening frame. 
• Set two was a carbon copy of the initial set, with EMU taking an early lead and the two teams trading ties back and forth. Trailing 9-10, EMU used a block from Megan Miller and Troyer, along with a Paris Hutchinson kill, to take a lead. Much like they did in the first set, however, VWU went on a run, this time an 8-2 run, to go ahead 18-13. Another Hutchinson kill brought the Royals within four but that was as close as they got as Virginia Wesleyan finished out the set, 25-18. 
• Down 0-2, EMU wasn't ready for their night to be over and played like it. Trailing 4-7, the Royals took advantage of a Marlin error and a Miller/Heather Phelps block to pull within one. VWU then went on a 9-2 tilt, forcing a Royals timeout. Out of the timeout, four kills from Hutchinson and a kill from Phelps brought EMU within six at 13-19, but that was as close as they'd get as VWU finished the set, and the match, with a 6-2 run. 
• Hutchinson led the Royals with 13 kills and had a .379 kill percentage on the night. Miller finished with a match-high 27 assists while Abby Kaufman had a match-high 15 digs. 

By the Numbers

• 10 - EMU committed 17 attack errors on the night while VWU had 7. 
• 2 - To go along with her 13 kills, Hutchinson had just two errors on 29 attempts, tied for her second fewest attack errors this season. 
• 8 - EMU has at least five blocks in eight of 12 matches this year and have had at least five blocks in seven of eight. 

What's Next

The Royals will look to get back in the win column when they travel to Ferrum on Saturday. They'll take on the Panthers in an ODAC match starting at noon. 

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