GLENSIDE, Pa. – The Royals men's volleyball team packed up and hit the road this weekend, heading to Pennsylvania for the Arcadia Invitational.

EMU went 1-1 on Saturday, picking up a 3-1 (25-14, 19-25, 25-16, 25-21) win over Baruch before falling to Alvernia, 3-1 (12-25, 16-25, 26-24, 19-25) The split moves EMU to 2-6, 1-0 CVC.

Highlights vs Baruch

• The Royals jumped out to a quick 7-2 lead, picking up a kill from Nate McGhee, a block from Jacob Durren and Wyatt Bollinger and a pair of Durren aces. The Bearcats picked up four straight to pull within one and the teams traded points until, with EMU ahead 11-10, the Royals picked up blocks from Durren, Bollinger and Christopher Webster, along with kills from Webster and McGhee and a Bollinger ace to take eight of the next 10 points and take a 19-12 lead. The Royals sandwiched a Baruch point with five more scores and used a McGhee kill to pick up the set one win. 
• Tied four-all in the second set, Baruch used a 4-0 run and forced an EMU timeout. Webster slammed down a kill but Baruch went on an 11-4 run to go up big, 20-9. EMU battled, picking up three-straight with a pair of McGhee kills and taking advantage of Baruch errors, but the Bearcats finished out the set with a kill to tie things at one apiece. 
• The third set started much like the second, with the teams keeping things tied through the first 10 points. But then EMU took control, going on an 11-3 run and putting the set out of reach. Baruch would get as close as 16-11 but EMU would put distance between them and the Bearcats, ending the set with a big Bollinger kill. 
• It was a back-and-forth affair in the fourth until, with Baruch leading 13-12, EMU scored four-straight with points from McGhee and Bollinger to go up by three. Once again, the teams traded points and Baruch climbed back in, trailing 20-19, before a McGhee kill, a Childers ace and a Durren block stole the momentum from the Bearcats. An attack error from Baruch sealed the win for EMU. 
• McGhee had another big match, finishing with his second straight double, notching 19 kills and 10 digs, while hitting .310. Childers and Bollinger each had six kills and Durren added five. Tyler Oaks was an assist machine, dishing out 35. Defensively, Bollinger also picked up 10 digs and Durren had seven total blocks.  

Highlights vs Alvernia

• Alvernia started out strong in the first set, jumping out to a 10-3 lead. EMU responded with a Childers kill and a Golden Wolves error to pull within five before Alvernia scored six of the next eight points to push their lead to 16-7. A McGhee kill pulled EMU within eight but the Golden Wolves responded with a 4-0 run. Durren and Childers were able to pick up kills but Alvernia finished out the set with a kill and an ace to go up 1-0. 
• The match was even through the first 16 points with the teams trading points to eight apiece. Alvernia then went on a 8-2 run to take a 16-10 lead. The Royals were able to pick up points from Durren and McGhee but the Golden Wolves were able to pick up the nine-point second set win. 
• The Royals let Alvernia know they weren't ready to pack it in yet by picking up a hard-fought third set win. After an EMU error gave Alvernia a 4-3 lead, the Royals picked up three straight points from Webster, McGhee, Oaks and Durren to take a lead. EMU and the Golden Wolves would trade points until late in the set where, tied at 21, Durren picked up a block and an ace to pull EMU within a point of the set win, 24-21. Alvernia rallied to tie things at 24 but a kill from Childers and a block from Webster and Childers ended the rally and gave EMU the set win. 
• Set four was a back-and-forth affair with Alvernia taking a lead but not being able to extend it. The Royals pulled within two, 9-11, with kills from Webster, McGhee and Childers. The Golden Wolves re-took the lead but EMU continued to stay close, using a Webster kill and a McGhee kill to pull EMU to 19-24. A Royals service error ended the day, through, as Alvernia was able to pick up the set four win. 
• McGhee once again paced the Royals offensively, picking up 11 kills, his third straight double-digit kill match. Childers also had double-figure kills, finishing with 10 to go along with two total blocks. Durren chipped in seven kills and three blocks. Oaks added 33 assists and six digs on the day. 

What's Next

EMU will be back on the court tomorrow for day two of the Arcadia Invitational. They'll take on host Arcadia at noon before finishing the weekend with a 2 pm matchup against Misericordia. 

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