ASHLAND, Va. - The EMU men's volleyball team kicked off its 2022 season Saturday with a road doubleheader. 

The Royals dropped a close 1-3 (18-25, 20-25, 26-24, 18-25) match to Alderson-Broaddus before falling 0-3 (15-25, 19-25, 16-25) to Randolph-Macon. The losses put EMU at 0-2, 0-0 CVC. 

Highlights vs Alderson-Broaddus

• EMU used kills from Nate McGhee, Jacob Durren, David Ward and Wyatt Bollinger to jump out to a quick 8-4 lead over the Battlers. AB lived up to their name and battled back with a 5-1 run to tie things at nine. The teams traded points until, with the score tied at 10, EMU used a pair of Bollinger Aces and a block from Durren and McGhee to force a Battler timeout. Another kill by McGhee continued EMU's advantage until Alderson-Broaddus reeled off eight straight to take an 19-14 lead. EMU was able to pull within three but AB won six of the final eight points to take set one. 
• Trailing 6-7 in set two, the Royals won four straight points with kills from Ben Childers, Ward and a Bollinger ace to take a 10-7 lead. The teams traded points but with EMU leading 13-11, Alderson-Broaddus went on an 8-1 run to pull ahead 19-14. With the Battlers having set point, a Ward kill and a Durren/Ward block pulled the Royals within four, but AB finished it out on the next point to go up 2-0. 
• Alderson-Broaddus jumped ahead in set three, eventually leading 11-7 and 19-15. But a 4-0 Royals run tied things at 19. Then, with AB leading 22-20, a Childers ace and a Battler error forced a timeout. Out of the break, another AB error along with another Childers ace gave EMU a 24-22 lead. AB fought back to tie things at 24 but an error and a Bollinger ace gave EMU a 26-24 set win. 
• Neither team could pull ahead in the fourth set, with the match swapping points to the tune of 13-all. Then Alderson-Broaddus grabbed the momentum with a 6-0 run to pull ahead 19-13. EMU was able to scrap some points but the Battlers had an answer each time and took the final set, and the match. 
• Ward paced the Royals with 13 kills while Durren added eight and Childers had seven. Tyler Oaks finished with 19 assists and Bollinger had 17. Defensively, Durren finished with four assisted blocks. 

Highlights vs Randolph-Macon

• The Royals pulled ahead in set one of their match against Randolph-Macon, using points from Childers and Bollinger, along with a Durren block to go up 10-8. Later, tied at 11, the Yellowjackets found their offensive rhythm, using a 14-4 run to take a set one win. 
• EMU was able to keep things close in the second frame, keeping RMC within five the whole set. But everytime EMU tried to mount a comeback, Randolph-Macon had an answer. Christopher Webster pulled EMU within four late, 19-23, but Randolph-Macon picked up the final two points to take set two. 
• Randolph-Macon came out firing in the third set, jumping out to a 10-3 lead. The Royals used points from McGhee, Ward and Bollinger to keep it close but the Yellowjackets picked up the win with an 8-4 run. 
• Childers and Ward had seven kills apiece and McGhee had six. Bollinger tallied 17 assists. 

What's Next

EMU will have some time off before hitting the road on Feb. 4 for a weekend road trip to Ohio. They'll start the four match tilt with a Feb. 4 matchup at Mount Union. First serve is scheduled for 7 pm. 

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