BEREA, Ohio – For the first time in 2024, the Royals hit the road, heading north to Ohio for the Baldwin Wallace Invitational.

In the opening match, EMU battled and took down Buffalo State 3-2 (25-22, 19-25, 25-20, 23-25, 18-16). In the day's final contest, the Royals gave #18 Baldwin Wallace all it could handle, but it was Yellow Jackets picking up a 3-1 (27-25, 23-25, 25-18, 28-26) win.

EMU vs Buffalo State

Records: EMU 3-0, 0-0 CVC | Buffalo State 0-2, 0-0 Independent

Highlights

Set One
EMU used three Bengal errors and a David Ward kill to take a 4-1 lead early. They pushed their lead to 7-3 with another pair of errors and another Ward kill, and continued to keep their lead, eventually pushing to six with a 4-0 run, highlighted by a pair of kills from Nate McGhee. Later, a 7-3 run put the Royals ahead 23-16 but BSU answered with a 5-0 run to pull within two. But a pair of Bengal errors sandwiched a BSU kill, giving EMU a 1-0 lead.

Set Two
With Buffalo State leading 2-0, EMU tallied three straight for a slim lead. The teams traded points all the way to EMU leading 15-14, but the Bengals went on an 8-2 tilt to take a 22-17 lead before Andre Mills answered with a kill. But BSU picked up the set, winning three of the next four points.

Set Three
The Royals started out strong in the third set, taking a 5-2 lead on errors and kills from McGhee and Walter Spurlock. Later in the set, with things tied at eight, EMU scored four straight to pull out to a 12-8 advantage. They pushed their lead to 18-12 with a kill from Ben Childers and even led by as many as seven, 21-14, before BSU chipped away and pulled within 22-19. EMU answered with a kill from McGhee and a pair of Bengals errors for the 2-1 lead.

Set Four
This time it was BSU jumping ahead early, 6-2, before EMU answered with a 5-1 run highlighted by kills from Ward and Spurlock, to tie things at seven. The set went back-and-forth with things tied at 19 late and EMU holding a 22-21 lead. The Bengals evened the match up, however, winning four of the next five points and sending things to a fifth and final set.

Set Five
A Tyler Oaks ace and a Ward kill helped the Royals out to a 4-2 lead to start the fifth frame. Buffalo State fought back and took a lead, extending to as many as four, 11-7, and taking all the momentum. But a pair of errors and a McGhee kill pulled EMU back within one and kills from Ward and Mills tied things at 12. Both teams had match point, EMU at 14-13, 15-14 and BSU at 16-15 after a service ace, but EMU once again took advantage of a pair of errors and ended the match on a Rey De La Cruz ace to pick up the win.

Statistical Leaders
Kills: McGhee (9), Ward (8)
Assists: Oaks (25)
Digs: Jamaury Starks (13)

EMU at #18 Baldwin Wallace

Records: EMU 3-1, 0-0 CVC | Baldwin Wallace 2-0, 0-0 OAC

Highlights

Set One
EMU jumped out to an 8-5 lead to start the match, picking up kills from Childers, Ward and Jose Melendez, along with blocks from Ward/Spurlock, Childers/Spurlock and Melendez. BW came back and took a 10-9 lead and the teams traded points until, with EMU trailing 16-14, they went on a 8-2 run to take a 22-28 lead. They maintained the lead and even had set point at 24-21, forcing a Baldwin Wallace timeout. But out of the break, the Yellow Jackets tied things at 24, sending the set into extra points. After a Ward/Melendez block gave the Royals a 25-24 advantage, BW scored three straight to take a 1-0 lead.

Set Two
EMU pulled out to another 8-5 lead in the second set, but once again BW responded and pulled ahead 10-8 after a 5-0 run. EMU scored four of the next five points with kills from Mills and a block from McGhee and Childers and the two teams traded blows. BW went on a 4-0 run and forced a Royals timeout. Out of the break, EMU chipped away and pulled within three, at 23-20, before striking with five straight points, including a Spurlock kill to tie the match at one apiece.

Set Three
Baldwin Wallace took an early 10-5 lead in the third set and later on, a 4-1 tilt gave the Yellow Jackets a 17-9 advantage. But the Royals continued to battle, and eventually cut the deficit to three, 20-17, but would only pick up one more point, a kill from Ward, as BW moved ahead 2-1.

Set Four
Neither team was relenting to start the fourth frame, as things tied at seven, before EMU used a Mills kill and a Childers/Mills block to go up by two. They would maintain a multiple point lead to 16-13, but BW roared ahead with a run of their own, 8-1, for a 21-17 lead. The Royals wouldn't give up, though, and stormed back to eventually tie things at 23. Each time BW would score, EMU would tie things up and force the match to extra points. After a Mills kill tied the match at 26, BW ended the set with a kill and a block to pick up the win.

Statistical Leaders
Kills: Mills (9), Childers, Ward (7)
Assists: Oaks (21)
Digs: Starts (20)
Blocks: Melendez (8), McGhee (6)

What's Next
EMU will continue its road trip next weekend, heading to Virginia Beach for the VWU Invitational. They'll kick off the tournament on Friday with the University of Mount Olive at 3 pm and St. Andrews University at 6 pm.

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