WASHINGTON, D.C. - The EMU women's volleyball team headed to the Nation's Capital on Saturday, for a tri-match against Catholic and Gwynedd Mercy.
It was the Cardinals getting the best of EMU, 3-0 (25-22, 25-15, 25-18) before the Royals rebounded and took down the Griffins, 3-1 (25-22, 24-26, 25-14, 25-22).
EMU vs Catholic
Records: EMU 2-6, 0-1 ODAC | Catholic 6-2, 0-0 Landmark
Highlights
- A pair of kills from Sophia Denby and a Catholic error put EMU ahead 3-1 in the opening set. CU then went on a 6-1 run before an attack error put EMU back to serve. The teams traded points until EMU went on a 4-0 run with kills from Denby, Lizzy Kirkton and Madison Stockner, along with a Manuela Marin service ace. Later in the set, with EMU leading 19-16, Catholic tied things with a 3-0 run and the teams played to all square through 22. But the Cardinals finished the set with the final three points to take a 1-0 lead.
- The Cardinals took an 11-2 lead to start the set and EMU wouldn't recover, as they were only able to pick up kills from Denby, Kirkton, Stockner, Laney Cline and a Kirkton ace, before CU picked up the final set point.
- This time it was EMU starting hot, taking a 5-0 lead in the third with a Mara Woolford/Kenley Smith block, kills from Denby and Kirkton and a Megan Miller ace. Catholic rallied to take the lead back at 6-5 but EMU responded with four straight to pull ahead 9-6. Later in the set, with things tied at 13, the Cardinals scored five straight to move ahead 18-13 and eventually led 23-14. EMU battled, scoring four straight with points from Cline and a Cline/Smith block, but Catholic picked up the final two points to pick up the match win.
Statistical Leaders
Kills: Denby (11), Cline, Kirkton (8)
Assists: Miller (19)
Blocks: Smith (3)
EMU vs Gwynedd Mercy
Records: EMU 3-6, 0-1 ODAC | Gwynedd Mercy 2-4, 0-0 Atlantic East
Highlights
- The Griffins jumped out to a 4-3 lead before EMU went on a 7-1 run, highlighted by kills from Cline, a block from Stockner and Lindsay Bly as well as an ace from Kaitlyn Custis and Kirkton. Kills from Smith and Cline and a Miller ace put the Royals ahead 14-7 before GM rallied to pull within one, 16-15. EMU grabbed some breathing room with three straight but the Griffins wouldn't go away as they kept EMU in their sight. But, with EMU ahead by just two, Denby secured the set win with a pair of kills to put the Royals ahead 1-0.
- Set two was another big start from EMU, this time 9-2, with kills from Woolford, Stockner and an ace from Sierra McVey. The Royals eventually pulled out to a 16-5 lead and continued leading big until, with the Royals ahead 23-14, the Griffins went on a 10-0 run to take a 24-23 lead. A kill from Bly forced extra points but Gwynedd Mercy grabbed the final two points to tie things at one apiece.
- A 9-2 EMU run highlighted the third set as the score went from a 5-5 tie to the Royals leading 14-7. A kill from Denby and another McVey ace put EMU ahead by nine and they bumped their lead to double-digits with another 3-0 run, moving ahead 21-10. The Griffins clawed back to within nine, but a kill from Bly and a bad set gave EMU the set and a 2-1 lead.
- GM took a 5-1 lead in set four, but EMU rallied with kills from Woolford and a Denby/Stockner block. The teams went back-and-forth until, with Gwynedd Mercy leading 13-10, EMU went on a 9-1 run, with points from Cline, Woolford and McVey, to take an 18-14 lead. The Griffins would eventually tie things at 19 and 22, but three straight errors sent the Royals back to Harrisonburg with the W.
Statistical Leaders
Kills: Woolford (15), Cline (12), Denby (11)
Assists: Miller (22), Custis (18)
Digs: McVey (25), Cline (12)
Blocks: Stockner (3), Denby (2)
What's Next
EMU will be back at home all this week, starting with an ODAC matchup on Tuesday. They'll take on Virginia Wesleyan, with first serve scheduled 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.
