BRIDGEWATER, Va. – It was another installment of the Poultry Road Rivalry Tuesday night, as EMU made the trip down 42 to take on Bridgewater.
Just like last season, it was a hard-fought five-set matchup, but the Eagles were able to prevail 3-2 (25-7, 18-25, 28-26, 27-29, 15-12) over EMU.
Records: EMU 7-12, 2-6 ODAC | Bridgewater 15-5, 6-2 ODAC
Highlights
- The first set didn't go EMU's way as Bridgewater started out on a 6-1 run before the Royals first kill came off the hand of Sophia Denby. Mara Woolford picked up a pair of kills but the Eagles took a 22-4 lead. A kill from Laney Cline and a Madison Stockner block gave EMU some momentum, but a BC kill gave them the first set.
- This time it was the Royals starting hot, using a pair of Megan Miller aces, along with Lizzy Kirkton and Denby kills, to take a 5-0 lead. Points from Kirkton and Woolford put the Royals ahead 7-3 and later in the set, a 3-0 run gave them an 11-5 lead before BC was able to cut into the lead with a point. EMU continued strong play with an 8-4 run, picking up kills from Cline, Lindsay Bly, Woolford and Denby, along with a block from Denby and Bly to take a 19-10 lead. A few points later, a kill from Cline forced a BC timeout and out of the break, the Eagles responded with a 5-1 run to pull within four, 21-17. EMU them called timeout and came back out to win the set, scoring four of the final five points, including a big block from Bly and Denby to tie the match at one.
- The teams traded points to start set three before a 3-0 run from EMU, highlighted by kills from Kirkton, Cline and a Miller ace, gave them an 8-5 lead. BC would pull within one, but the Royals went on a 5-0 run to extend their lead to six. EMU would keep their lead until a 6-3 Bridgewater run tied things at 19. The Royals picked up three of the next four points to take a 22-20 lead but the Eagles would storm back and take a 23-22 lead, causing EMU to take a timeout. EMU was able to score the next two to get to set point but BC forced extra points. The teams traded points and a Bly kill tied things at 26, but Bridgewater took the set with a kill and an attack error.
- The Eagles jumped out to a 6-3 lead before kills from Woolford and Cline, along with a pair of BC errors, made the score 8-7 Bridgewater. The Eagles maintained a lead, extending it to three or four throughout the set until, with BC leading 20-17, the Royals stormed back with a 4-0 run from Denby and Miller to take a one-point advantage. This time EMU kept the lead until the Eagles tied things at 24, sending the set into extra points yet again. With the teams matching kill-for-kill, EMU finally wrapped up the set with a Bly kill and a BC error to send the match into a fifth and final set.
- A 4-1 Bridgewater start forced an EMU timeout early in set five. The Royals tied things at five with a pair of kills from Denby and one from Woolford and the teams went back-and-forth. EMU eventually look a 9-8 lead after Cline and Denby picked up big kills but the Eagles scored four of the next five, taking a 12-10 lead. They extended their lead to 13-10 before Denby added another kill to pull within two. But that was as close as EMU would get as the Eagles used a kill from Regan Stroop, her 21st of the night, to pick up the win.
Statistical Leaders
Kills: Denby (17), Cline (11)
Assists: Miller (27)
Digs: Manuela Marin, Woolford (16)
Blocks: Bly (3.5), Stockner (3.0)
Aces: Miller (4)
What's Next
EMU will continue road ODAC play on Friday when they head to Lynchburg for a matchup with the Hornets. First serve is set for 6 pm.
To keep up to date with everything surrounding the EMU women's volleyball program this year, follow EMU on Twitter and Instagram, like EMU Athletics on Facebook or visit our website.
