HARRISONBURG, Va. – After starting their 2021 season with four road matches, the EMU volleyball team finally kicked off their home schedule on Wednesday again Mary Baldwin. The Royals dropped the first set to the Flying Squirrels, but then grabbed the momentum and picked up a 3-1 win.  

Highlights 

• EMU had been off for almost a week and it showed in the first set. Mary Baldwin jumped out to a 9-1 lead before the Royals were able to start chipping away. EMU just couldn't build any sort of momentum until late, however. With the Flying Squirrels ahead 20-9, EMU went on a 12-4 run, highlighted by kills from Lizzy Kirkton and Paris Hutchinson, as well as a pair of aces from Sierra McVey. After an MBU timeout, with the score at 24-21 Mary Baldwin, the visitors were able to score the final point and take a 1-0 lead.
• The Royals pulled ahead 5-1 to start the second set before MBU went on an 8-1 run of their own to take an 9-6 lead. With Mary Baldwin leading 13-8, a pair of Kirkton kills along with three McVey aces tied the match at 13, forcing a Flying Squirrel timeout. Out of the TO, the two teams traded points, went on little runs to pull ahead and ultimately ended up at 23-20 MBU. EMU used kills from Kirkton, Megan Miller and Heather Phelps to take a 24-23 lead. After Mary Baldwin tied the set, back-to-back Kirkton kills knotted the match at one set apiece.
• To start the third, neither team could seem to pull ahead as they went back and forth to end up tied at 12. EMU then proceeded to go on a 9-1 to take a commanding lead and never looked back, taking set three 25-19.
• By the final set, the Royals had all the momentum in their favor. With EMU up 8-6, the Royal blue went on a 9-2 tilt to put the set out of reach. MBU was only able to get as close as seven, but, trailing 24-17, Phelps' spike found floor and EMU picked up their first home win of the season.
• Offensively, Kirkton led the way for EMU, finishing with 17 kills. Hutchinson was right behind her with 15 and Phelps had eight. McVey's serving was on display as she finished with six aces and Miller continued to be a top distributor, finishing with 46 assists.
• Defensively, Miller, Kirkton and Andrea Troyer had two block assists apiece and Abby Kaufman had 14 digs.   

By the Numbers 

• .478 – The Royals final set saw them hit a blistering .478 from the field (12/23 with just one error).
• 5 – Five different Royals had at least one ace on Wednesday as the team finished with 15.

What's Next 

EMU will continue its homestand as it opens ODAC play on Saturday. They'll square off with Shenandoah University as noon before finishing the day with a matchup against Gallaudet at 4 pm.

To keep up to date with everything surrounding the volleyball program this year follow EMU on Twitter and Instagram, like EMU Athletics on Facebook or visit our website.