SAINT MARY'S CITY, Md. – EMU took a break from ODAC play on Saturday, heading to Maryland for a pair of matches against Lancaster Bible and host St. Mary's.

The Royals disposed of the Chargers 3-1 (25-20, 25-21, 15-25, 25-19) in match one before falling 3-1 (25-17, 25-16, 21-25, 25-23) in the final match.

EMU vs Lancaster Bible

Records: EMU 9-13, 3-7 ODAC | Lancaster Bible 14-9, 5-0 United East

Highlights

• EMU jumped out to a 4-0 lead to start the match, picking up kills from Laney Cline and Lizzy Kirkton, along with a Karla Hostetter ace and a block from Madison Stockner and Kirkton. Another 4-0 run gave them an 8-3 lead, this time coming from Cline and Mara Woolford, along with a Kirkton ace. EMU would never trail in the set, as LBC was only able to get within one a couple of times. The Royals would score three of the final four points, with a kill from Kirkton to wrap up the set.
• The teams started even in set two before three straight from EMU gave them a three-point lead. After LBC cut the score to 8-7, EMU used points from Woolford and Kirkton to take a 12-7 lead. They added a 5-1 run later in the set and eventually pulled ahead by seven, 20-13. The Chargers made it closer, pulling within three at 21-18 and 23-20 but another kill from Kirkton gave EMU a 2-0 lead.
• An 11-3 run started the third set from Lancaster Bible and they were able to extend their lead to double-digits, 16-6, later. EMU then used kills from Cline, Woolford and Lindsay Bly, a block from Woolford and three aces to cut the Chargers lead to four. But LBC responded with an 8-2 tilt to send the match to a fourth set.
• LBC started out on top of set four, taking an 11-7 lead before EMU responded. The Royals roared back, tying things at 13 after Charger errors and a pair of kills from Kirkton. The teams traded points until a 5-2 EMU run gave them a 19-17 lead. Then, with the Royals leading 22-19, EMU scored the final three points from Kirkton and Manuela Marin, with an LBC error putting the finishing touches on the win.

Statistical Leaders
Kills: Kirkton (16), Cline (9)
Assists: Hostetter (19), Megan Miller (15)
Digs: Marin (29), Kirkton (18)
Aces: Kirkton, Marin, Hostetter (3)
Blocks: Stockner (3), Woolford (2)

EMU vs St. Mary's

Records: EMU 9-14, 3-7 ODAC | St. Mary's 10-14, 1-3 United East

Highlights

• Cline and Kirkton gave EMU a 3-0 lead to start the match against St. Mary's before the Seahawks came back with a 7-0 run to take a 7-3 lead. SMCM would push their lead to eight at 17-9 before the Royals cut into it with a Stockner block and a Hostetter ace. The teams then traded points until a 3-1 Seahawks run gave them the first set and a 1-0 lead.
• The Royals pulled out ahead once again, this time 5-3 after points from Miller, Kirkton, Stockner and Mckenzie Taylor. But once again, SMCM went on a run, this time 5-0, to take the lead. EMU fought back with four straight from Stockner and Cline, along with a block from Woolford and Kenley Smith, to take a 9-8 lead. An 9-3 Seahawks advantage would give them a 17-12 lead before Kirkton cut the lead to four with a kill. A kill from Stockner was all EMU could pick up as St. Mary's went on a 7-1 run to extend their lead to 24-14 and eventually take the second set.
• A 3-0 SMCM run in the opening third of the third set would tie things at eight before EMU pulled ahead with five of the next seven points from Smith, Kirkton, Bella Short and Cline. The Seahawks would eventually tie the match at 15 and take an 18-17 and 20-19 lead but there was no quit in EMU as they rallied off a 6-1 run, highlighted by a big Kirkton kill, to win the set.
• The Royals picked up points from Stockner and Kirkton to take a 7-4 lead in set four. The Royals would continue to hold a slim lead until St. Mary's scored five straight and seven of the next nine points to take an 18-15 advantage. Kills from Woolford and Cline pulled EMU within one twice, 20-19 and 21-20, but a 3-0 run from St. Mary's gave them a 24-20 lead. EMU continued to battle, scoring three in a row off an error and back-to-back Woolford aces, but a Seahawk kill gave them the final point, and the match.

Statistical Leaders
Kills: Kirkton (14), Cline (10)
Assists: Hostetter (12), Miller (10)
Digs: Marin (27), Kirkton (19)
Aces: Woolford (4)
Blocks: Stockner (3)

What's Next
EMU will return home for an ODAC showdown against Randolph-Macon on Tuesday. First serve against the Yellow Jackets is set for 7 pm.

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