HARRISONBURG, Va. - The EMU WVB team wrapped up their 2024 home slate on Saturday, celebrating a quartet of seniors in the process.

The Blazers of Hood College jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but EMU stormed back for the reverse sweep, taking down Hood 3-2 (2025, 20-25, 25-16, 25-20, 15-12).  
 
Records: EMU 8-13, 2-8 ODAC | Hood College 8-16, 1-4 MAC Commonwealth

Highlights
 
Set One - Hood 25, EMU 20

• EMU jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead after kills from Kassidy Meadows and Sophia Denby, along with a Mara Woolford ace. After another kill from Denby put EMU ahead 5-3, Hood went on a 7-3 run to take a 10-8 lead. 
• EMU tied things at 10, but Hood took control with an 8-3 run for an 18-13 advantage. An error and a pair of aces from Claire Reichenbach pulled the Royals within two, but the Blazers scored three straight of their own for a 21-16 lead. 
• EMU was able to cut into the lead with four points off three errors and a Stockner kill, but an error and an ace gave Hood a 1-0 lead. 

Set Two - Hood 25, EMU 20

• The Royals took another quick lead in set two, with a Kaitlyn Custis ace and a block from Meadows and Kenley Smith. But Hood responded with a 5-2 tilt for a 5-4 lead. The Royals then scored three straight, using a Denby kill and another Reichenbach ace, to take a 7-5 lead. 
• The teams traded points to an 11-11 tie, before the Blazers went on a 4-0 run to force an EMU timeout. Out of the break, kills from Stockner and Denby pulled EMU within two, but a 6-1 Blazer tilt pushed their lead back to seven, 21-14. 
• The Royals clawed their way back in with a 5-0 run, picking up two kills from Stockner and two aces from Hannah Quero, to get the score to 21-19. But Hood College would finish out the set, winning four of the last five points, for a 2-0 lead. 

Set Three - EMU 25, Hood 16

• The teams traded points to 7-all to start the third, with neither able to grab momentum. EMU then went on a 6-1 run, using kills from Denby and Woolford, along with a block from Denby and Smith, for a 13-8 lead. 
• Hood scored two of the next three points to pull within four, but EMU answered with an 8-3 run to push their lead to eight, 22-13. The Blazers were able to pick up three more points, but a Woolford kill, a Mckenzie Taylor ace and a Meadows kill gave EMU the set win. 

Set Four - EMU 25, Hood 20

• Neither team could gain momentum to start the fourth set, as things were tied up to nine apiece. But Hood rallied with a 3-0 run to take a 12-9 lead. The teams traded points to Hood leading 14-11, before EMU went on a 5-0 run, picking up kills from Denby and Stockner, an ace from Reichenbach and a big block from Stockner, for a 16-14 lead. 
• After Hood tied things at 16, EMU once again responded, this time with a 6-1 tilt, to take a 22-17 advantage. Hood was able to pick up a trio of points, but kills from Smith, Meadows and Woolford slammed the door on a comeback and forced a fifth and final set. 

Set Five - EMU 15, Hood 12

• After Hood took a 2-1 lead to start the fifth, EMU reeled off four straight off the hands of Woolford (a kill and two aces) and Meadows (kill), for a 5-2 lead. 
• The teams traded points to 8-6, but EMU went on a 4-0 run to take control, picking up three kills from Woolford and an ace from Stockner, the Royals 18th ace of the day. The Blazers made it interesting with a 3-0 run to cut EMU's lead to 12-9, but kills from Smith and Woolford, put them to the brink of a win, which came with a Blazer service error, their 18th of the match. 

Statistical Leaders
Woolford: 16 kills, 15 digs, 3 aces
Denby: 13 kills, 2 blocks
Custis: 29 assists, 1 ace
Anna Black: 18 digs
Reichenbach: 6 aces

What's Next
EMU will be back on the court on Wednesday, when they head to Ferrum for an ODAC showdown. First serve against the Panthers is set for 6 pm. 

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