ASHLAND, Va. – EMU only plays once this week, and the Royals were looking to make it count as they hoped to hand Randolph Macon their second straight loss.
The Yellow Jackets jumped out to a 2-1 lead, but EMU responded by winning the final two sets for a 3-2 (25-18, 22-25, 22-25, 25-22, 15-12) road win.
Records: EMU 7-12, 2-7 ODAC | Randolph Macon 9-7, 5-3 ODAC
Set One – EMU 25, RMC 18
- Kills from Kaitlyn Custis and Mara Woolford got thing started for the Royals, as they tied RMC 2-2 to open the match. With things tied at four, EMU went on a 9-4 run, highlighted by two kills from Kassidy Meadows and one each from Sophia Denby, Madison Stockner, Kenley Smith and Woolford, to take a 13-8 lead.
- The teams traded points, and Randolph Macon was able to cut EMU's lead to two, at 18-16 and 19-17, before kills from Smith and Meadows, along with a Mckenzie Taylor ace, gave the Royals a 22-17 advantage.
- After a Yellow Jackets kill pulled them within four, EMU finished out the set with two kills from Meadows and one from Smith, for a 1-0 lead.
Set Two – RMC 25, EMU 22
- Set two started with a Woolford kill and a Custis ace before three straight points from the Yellow Jackets gave them a one-point lead. Later in the set, with Randolph Macon leading 9-7, EMU went on a 5-2 run with kills from Woolford and Denby, along with service aces from Stockner and Hannah Quero.
- RMC answered with an 8-2 run, forcing an EMU timeout. Out of the break, Randolph Macon was able to take a 21-15 lead, until the Royals rallied with kills from Denby, Stocker and Woolford and a Quero ace, to tie things at 21.
- Unfortunately, another kill from Woolford would be all EMU would get as Macon finished the set on a 4-1 run to tie the match at one set apiece.
Set Three – RMC 25, EMU 22
- EMU started strong in set three, taking a 3-0 lead off a kill from Smith and back-to-back aces from Stockner. Another kill from Smith gave EMU a 4-1 advantage, but Randolph Macon answered with a 6-0 run to take a 7-4 lead.
- After a Yellow Jacket error cut EMU's deficit to one, Macon scored three straight to push their lead back to four and cause an EMU timeout. Meadows notched another kill out of the timeout, but Macon added a 5-2 run for a 22-16 lead.
- The Royals continued to fight, cutting RMC's lead to two at 24-22, after a 3-0 run, but an EMU service error gave the Yellow Jackets the set win and a 2-1 lead.
Set Four – EMU 25, RMC 16
- The Royals service game continued to dominate, as they took a 3-0 lead in the fourth off a pair of errors and a Custis ace. RMC scored a pair, but EMU responded with another 3-0 run, with kills from Denby and Meadows, along with a block from Smith and Woolford, for a 6-2 lead.
- EMU continued to hold a lead, with Macon able to cut it to two at 9-7. But EMU went on an 8-1 run to push their lead to nine, 17-8. The Yellow Jackets would cut it to six, but the Royals dominated the rest of the set, outscoring RMC 7-4, with a Stockner kill, to tie the match at two and force a fifth and final set.
Set Five – EMU 15, RMC 12
- After a Yellow Jacket kill started the fifth set, EMU roared back with a 5-1 run, picking up kills from Woolford and Denby, as well as a Custis ace. Randolph Macon pulled back within one at 5-4, but EMU went on another 5-1 run, capped off by a Claire Reichenbach ace to force a Yellow Jacket timeout.
- Out of the break, Denby slammed home a kill and Reichenbach added another ace for a 12-5 advantage.
- Randolph Macon continued to battle, going on a 7-2 run, including taking four straight points with EMU at match point, to force an EMU timeout at 14-12. It was a great timeout from Casey Steinbrecher, because out of the break, Woolford slammed home her career-high 22nd kill of the night to secure the Royals win.
Statistical Leaders
Woolford: 22 kills (career high), 11 digs, 2 blocks
Custis: 46 assists (career high), 3 aces, 2 blocks
Anna Black: 24 digs (career high)
Team: 14 service aces
What's Next
EMU will be off until next Tuesday when they welcome in #14 Washington and Lee for the Royals Dig Pink Match.
To keep up to date with everything surrounding EMU women's volleyball, follow EMU on Twitter and Instagram, like EMU Athletics on Facebook or visit our website.
