FERRUM, Va. - After a tough loss to a strong Virginia Wesleyan team on Tuesday, the Royals women's volleyball team was looking to bounce back. On Saturday, they did just that.

EMU tallied 48 kills en route to a 3-0 (25-16, 25-19, 25-21) sweep of Ferrum on the Panthers home court. 

Highlights

• EMU jumped on Ferrum right away in the first set, using a pair of kills from Paris Hutchinson, as well as kills from Andrea Troyer and Lizzy Kirkton, to jump out to a 6-1 lead and force a Ferrum timout. Out of the timeout, FC seemed to settle down but couldn't keep EMU off the board. Ferrum was able to pull within one, at 12-13, but EMU went on a 6-0 run, highlighted by a block and a pair of kills from Hollie Creasey. Ferrum was able to score just four more times in the set before a Kirkton kill put an end to the first set. 
• Ferrum took a quick lead in the second set before EMU was able to rally and tie things at eight apice. The two teams traded points until, with the score knotted at 14, EMU used a Ferrum error, a Kirkton ace and a Hutchinson kill to take a three point lead and never look back. Ferrum was able to pull within four, at 18-22, but a Heather Phelps Kill and two Kirkton kills gave EMU the set win. 
• Much like the first set, EMU got out to a quick lead in the third that forced an early Ferrum timeout. Out of the TO, the Panthers were able to string some points together and take a 10-9 lead. But two Ferrum errors and a Manuela Marin ace gave EMU the lead back, which they would not relinquish. With the Royals sitting on match point, at 24-18, Ferrum went on a 3-0 run and forced an Eastern Mennonite timeout. Out of the break, Hutchinson made sure the match continued no longer with her final kill of the day. 
• Offensively, Hutchinson had a huge day, finishing with a match-high 19 kills to go along with a pair of aces. Kirkton picked up 11 kills and seven digs while Phelps had 10 kills and had a stellar kill percentage of .667, committing no errors on 15 attempts. Megan Miller had her usual outstanding day at the office dishing out 41 assists. 
• Abby Kaufman's 14 digs were tops for both teams and the Royals finished with six total blocks on the day. 

By the Numbers

• 178 - EMU hit 178 points higher than Ferrum, keeping the Panthers at less than .100 (.098) for the match. 
• 26 - Ferrum finished the match with just 22 kills while EMU had 48, its most in a three-set sweep this season. 
• .446 - In her last 10 matches, Phelps has a hitting percentage of .446, and on the season, she leads the ODAC with a .366 percentage. 

Words from Coach Steinbrecher

"We were excited by the team's execution of our game plan today. Our offense, especially our middles, were very efficient and productive. That only happens when our back row and setter are doing their jobs. We were very impressed with libero, (Abby) Kaufman's all-around back row play today. I think we played a complete match. That's encouraging going into Randolph-Macon next week." 

What's Next

EMU will head to Ashland on Wednesday for a mid-week ODAC matchup with Randolph-Macon. First serve is scheduled for 7 pm. 

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