HARRISONBURG, Va. – After the forecasted weather rained out a Friday night match, the EMU women's volleyball team was ready to be on the court Saturday, and they showed it.

EMU hit a blistering .303 from the field while holding Randolph to a .012 hit percentage as the Royals downed the WildCats 3-0 (25-12, 25-20, 25-18).

Records: EMU 6-7, 3-3 ODAC | Randolph 9-8, 1-5 ODAC

Highlights

Set One

The teams traded points to 5-5 until kills from Bri Leeper and Laney Cline gave the Royals a slim two-point lead. After Randolph used a kill to pull within one, EMU used kills from Lizzy Kirkton and Paris Hutchinson along with service aces from Megan Miller and Leeper to pull ahead 16-7. The WildCats would pick up a couple points and make it 9-17, but EMU responded with a Kirkton block, a Randolph error and a Hutchinson ace to go up big, 20-9. Kills from Kirkton and Miller and two from Cline ended the set, putting EMU ahead 1-0.

Set Two

 Randolph did a good job of responding to start the second set, leading 6-5 early. But EMU scored five of six points with kills from Kirkton, Cline, Leeper and Madelyn See, forcing a Randolph timeout. Out of the break, the WildCats were able to pull within one at 9-10 but EMU reeled off five straight, using a strong Miller service game and kills from See, Hutchinson, Leeper and a See/Leeper block to go ahead by five. Randolph wouldn't go away, however, as they battled back and cut their deficit to one, causing EMU to take a timeout. EMU held a slim lead but the WildCats would eventually tie the set at 18 apiece. EMU picked up four straight points to pull back ahead and scored three of the final five to go up 2-0 in the match.

Set Three

This time the Royals started the set on fire, with a See block and kill, a Hutchinson kill and a Kirkton kill, along with a Randolph error, to start out 5-0. Randolph would gradually chip away but anytime the WildCats got close EMU answered. With EMU leading by five, 13-8, a Leeper ace, Hutchinson kill and error pushed the lead to eight. Later in the set, a pair of Kirkton kills sandwiched a Miller kill and the Royals led by nine. Randolph was able to cut the lead to five but an error and an emphatic Hutchinson kill put the finishing touches on the match, giving EMU a 3-0 sweep.

Statistical Leaders

• Kirkton – 12 kills, 5 digs
• Miller – 29 assists, 6 digs, 3 aces
• See – 4 kills, 3 blocks
• Hutchinson – 9 kills, 6 digs
• Mara Woolford – 11 digs

Postmatch Interview with Coach Casey Steinbrecher

What's Next

EMU will look to move their ODAC win streak to two when they take on the Green and Gold of Hollins University on Tuesday at home. First serve is scheduled for 6:30 pm. 

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