LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Royals headed to Lynchburg Friday night for a date with the Hornets.

It was a battle between two evenly-matched teams that took extra points in two of three sets, but unfortunately it was Lynchburg coming out on top, 3-0 (25-20, 32-30, 26-24).

Records: EMU 7-13, 2-7 ODAC | Lynchburg 7-8, 4-5 ODAC

Highlights

• Lynchburg started the first set on a 7-1 run, with EMU's only point coming off a Lizzy Kirkton kill. The Hornets were able to extend their lead to 11-4 but EMU started chipping away, going on a 5-1 run with a kill from Madison Stockner and multiple aces from Karla Hostetter. Later in the set, EMU was able to tie things at 15 after kills from Laney Cline and Kirkton, along with a Megan Miller ace, but Lynchburg responded with an 8-1 tilt, taking a 23-16 lead. The Royals scored four in a row, to pull within three, but the Hornets grabbed the final two points to take a 1-0 lead.
• A kill from Sophia Denby gave the Royals an early set-two lead, but Lynchburg came back with a 9-2 run for a 9-3 lead and an EMU timeout. Out of the break, the Royals came back with a 7-3 run, highlighted by three Cline kills and one from Mara Woolford, to pull within two. Later in the set, with Lynchburg leading 19-16, EMU picked up three straight points off kills from Kirkton, Cline and Lindsay Bly, to tie the set. They eventually pulled ahead 23-20 after another Bly kill and a pair of Miller aces and the set was forced into extra points. Neither team could grab the momentum, as they both had set point multiple times, but, after a Kirkton kill tied things at 30, a pair of Hornet blocks gave Lynchburg a 2-0 lead.
• EMU started out set three with a one-point lead, 6-5. The teams then traded points to midway through when Lynchburg grabbed a 14-12 lead. But EMU continued to fight, retaking the lead with points from Denby, Cline and Woolford and a Stockner/Cline block, pulling ahead 17-14. They held the four point lead to 20-16 before Lynchburg went on a 4-0 run, tying the set at 20. Kills from Denby and Kirkton tied things at 22 and a kill from Stockner gave EMU a 24-23 advantage, but the Hornets wouldn't go away and scored two straight, forcing an EMU timeout. With Lynchburg leading 25-24, a Hornet kill gave them the third set, and the match.

Statistical Leaders
Kills: Cline (12), Kirkton (11)
Assists: Hostetter (19), Miller (18)
Digs: Sierra McVey (12), Kirkton (11)
Aces: Miller (3)
Blocks: Stockner (5)

What's Next
EMU will return home on Wednesday as they welcome Shenandoah University to Yoder Arena for the Royals Dig Pink match. First serve is set for 6:30 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.