HARRISONBURG, Va. - Nobody said winning was easy...but it sure is fun.  

EMU picked up a big 3-2 (24-26, 25-21, 21-25, 26-24, 18-16) win over Randolph Macon Tuesday night, wrapping up ODAC play at home on a high note. 

Records: EMU 10-14, 4-7 ODAC | Randolph Macon 15-5, 10-2 ODAC

Highlights

• EMU jumped out to an early 8-6 lead over the Yellow Jackets, picking up kills from Laney Cline, Lizzy Kirkton, Sophia Denby and Mara Woolford. RMC responded with a 6-0 run to pull ahead, but only briefly as EMU scored four straight to tie things at 12. Later in the set, with RMC leading 17-15, EMU went on another 4-0 run, with a pair of Denby kills and a Megan Miller ace, to take a 19-17 lead. They would hold the lead until RMC tied things at 22 and the teams swapped points until, with the set tied at 24, Randolph Macon picked up a kill and a block to take a 1-0 lead. 
• With things tied at five to start the second, EMU took a 15-8 lead with points from Manuela Marin, Madison Stockner, Woolford, Cline and Kirkton. A late Yellow Jacket rally would pull them within two, 21-19, but a 3-0 run from Cline and an error, pushed EMU's lead back to five. RMC was able to add a pair of points, but a kill from Kirkton wrapped up the set, tying things at one. 
• This time it was Randolph Macon pulling ahead in set three, as they took a 14-6 advantage. But the Royals rallied with kills from Denby, Stockner and Kirkton, along with a pair of errors, to pull within four at 16-12. RMC continued to hold a lead, extending it to six before EMU cut it to three late, 23-20. But the teams traded points with RMC taking advantage of a service error to take a 2-1 lead. 
• The Yellow Jackets started out set four ahead 4-1 before the Royals went on a 5-0 run, highlighted by kills from Cline and Kirkton, along with a big block from Cline and Kenley Smith. Later in the set, with RMC having retake the lead at 12-10, EMU rallied yet again with another 5-0 run to pull ahead 15-12. EMU keep a small lead, with RMC pulling within one at 21-20, late. Macon would eventually take a 24-23 lead, and be serving for the match, but the Royals wouldn't quit fighting. A Woolford kill on match point, and a block from Kirkton and Cline/Stockner, would complete the Royals rally and force a fifth and final set. 
• A 6-2 start for RMC quieted the Yoder Arena crowd in set five, but only briefly as EMU picked up two quick points from Kirkton and an RMC error. Randolph Macon would pull ahead 9-6 before a brilliant service game from Karla Hostetter set EMU up with a 7-0 run. In that span, the Royals picked up a kill from Cline, an ace from Hostetter and a block from Cline and Stocker, to take a 13-9 lead. The Yellow Jackets scored six of the next seven points, and once again had match point at 15-14 and 16-15, but EMU kept fighting, scoring three straight on a pair of errors and a Kirkton kill, to pick up the win. This was just the second win for the Royals over Randolph Macon since 2000. 

Statistical Leaders
Kills: Kirkton (20), Cline (16), Denby (12)
Assists: Hostetter (32), Miller (21)
Digs: Marin (26), Kirkton (19), Woolford (18)
Blocks: Stocker (6), Cline (5)
Aces: Hostetter, Woolford (2)

What's Next
EMU will wrap up its 2023 home slate on Friday, when they take on Eastern inside Yoder Arena. They'll also celebrate their three seniors: Marin, Miller and Kirkton, before the match. 

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.