LYNCHBURG, Va. – As the weather starts to get colder, that can only mean one thing…volleyball season is turning the corner into conference play.

For the Royals women's volleyball team, that turn involved taking a trip to Lynchburg for a doubleheader on Saturday, squaring off against Roanoke College before taking on host Lynchburg. The Royals swept the Maroons, 3-0, in the opening match before taking down the Hornets, 3-1, to move to 5-5, 3-0 ODAC on the season.

Highlights vs Roanoke (3-0: 25-19, 25-22, 25-19) 

• The two teams traded points back and forth to start the match, with the score eventually tying at nine. EMU then used kills from Andrea Troyer, three kills from Paris Hutchinson and a Lizzy Kirkton ace to pull ahead. Then, with the Royals leading 14-12, EMU went on an 8-2 run to pull ahead 22-14. Eastern Mennonite finished the set win, capitalizing on three Roanoke errors to take a 1-0 lead.
• Roanoke led for most of the second set, taking a 17-11 lead and looking like they would tie the match. But the Royals battled back with kills from Heather Phelps, Kirkton and Hutchinson as well as a block by Phelps and Megan Miller, to pull within two, at 16-18. Both teams kept up the scoring until, with Roanoke leading 22-21, EMU reeled off four straight points to take the set, 25-22.
• EMU jumped on Roanoke to start the third set, using a pair of Miller aces, a pair of Roanoke errors and a Troyer kill to take a 5-0 lead. Roanoke would come as close as one, but with EMU leading 17-14, the Royals used a 5-0 run to put the set out of reach. Sarah East put the exclamation point on the win, giving the Royals a clean sweep of the Maroons.
• Hutchinson led all scorers with 17 kills while hitting an outstanding .483 for the match. East was also in double digits in kills with 12. Miller had another monster game, dishing out 37 assists.
• Defensively, Abby Kaufman led the way with 15 digs. 

By the Numbers 

• 20 – This win over Roanoke is the Royals first over the Maroons since 2001.
• .330 – On the day, the Royals had a .330 hit percentage with three players (Phelps, .364, Hutchinson, .483 and East, .588) hitting over .360 for the match.
• 19 – EMU's defense on the day had 19 more digs than Roanoke, out digging the Maroons 44-25.

Highlights vs Lynchburg (3-1: 25-16, 17-25, 25-19, 25-21) 

• EMU carried the momentum from their match one win over to the day's second match. They took an early lead against host Lynchburg and never trailed in the first set. Leading by two, at 11-10, the Royals used a 6-0 run, highlighted by kills from East, Troyer and Bri Leeper to take a 17-10 lead. Lynchburg would pull within four, twice, but never any closer as EMU took set one, 25-16.
• Lynchburg was able to tie the match at one set apiece by taking set two, 25-17, but not before the Royals were able to battle back and make the set competitive.
• The Hornets jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead to start the third but, much like EMU has done all season, they didn't panic and fought to get back in the set. After tying the score at 14 and 15 apiece, EMU took advantage of a few Lynchburg errors, along with a pair of big blocks by Troyer/Hutchinson and Phelps/East to take a 22-17 lead. Phelps put the final touches on the set and gave EMU a 2-1 advantage.
• EMU trailed for much of the fourth set but, with the score tied late at 18, the Royals finished the match on a 7-3 tilt and took the match, 3-1.
• Phelps and Hutchinson each had 13 kills while Kirkton added 11. Miller tallied 38 assists for the second match while Hutchinson added 16 kills, for a double double. Kaufman led the way with 19 digs. 

By the Numbers 

• 19 – After breaking a 20 season drought in the win over Roanoke, the Royals smashed another, beating the Hornets for the first time since September, 2002.
• .632 – Phelps' 13 kills came on 19 attempts, with just one error, giving her a phenomenal .632 kill percentage for the match. 

Words from Coach Steinbrecher 

"Overall, a gritty and relentless performance today from our players. Very proud of our seniors and the leadership they proved today as well. Really impressed with our setter, Megan (Miller), for setting two great matches. She did a great job involving our middle hitters and they did not disappoint." 

What's Next 

EMU will look to stay undefeated in the ODAC when they travel down to Roanoke on Wednesday for a matchup with Hollins. Match start is scheduled for 7 pm.

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