GREENSBORO, NC – After having almost a week off from competition, EMU Women's Volleyball returned to action on Friday, heading south for an ODAC matchup against Guilford.

The Royals jumped out to leads in the first and second sets, but Guilford battled back and ultimately picked up a 3-1 (25-15, 25-17, 25-20) win over the Royals

Records: EMU 6-9, 1-4 ODAC | Guilford College 6-9, 2-3 ODAC

Highlights

Set One – Guilford 25, EMU 15

• EMU started out strong in the opening set, jumping out to a 10-2 run, highlighted by a kill each from Sophia Denby, Madison Stockner and Kenley Smith, along with a service ace from Mara Woolford and three from Kaitlyn Custis.
• After a Guilford timeout, the Quakers went on a big run of their own, 11-2, to take a one-point lead. But EMU tied things back up at 13 after a kill from Kassidy Meadows.
• EMU was able to pick up additional kills from Custis and Woolford, but GC ended the set on a 12-2 tilt to take the opening set, and a 1-0 lead.

Set Two – Guilford 25, EMU 17

• Denby and Woolford helped EMU jump out to another early lead in set two, 4-1, before Guilford stormed back once again to tie things at four. Two errors and a Woolford kill put EMU ahead 7-4, but the Quakers responded with a 6-1 run, forcing an EMU timeout.
• Out of the break, GC picked up three more points, to extend their lead to 13-8, before a Stockner kill ended the Quakers run. Later in the set, with Guilford leading 17-10, EMU picked up an ace from Mckenzie Taylor and a Denby block, along with an error, to pull within four.
• The Quakers extended their lead with a 4-1 run, before EMU used three kills from Woolford to go on a run of their own, 3-2, to pull within six. But a point from Guilford gave them a 2-0 lead.

Set Three – Guilford 25, EMU 20

• This time it was Guilford that pulled ahead early, taking a 9-3 lead to start set three. EMU responded with a 5-2 run, picking up kills from Woolford and Meadows, along with two aces from Woolford, to make the score 11-8.
• Guilford answered with a 4-0 run to push their lead to seven, but EMU rallied once again, going on a run of 8-2, using kills from Woolford and Meadows to cut Guilford's lead to one, 17-16.
• The Quakers pushed their lead back to three, 19-16, but a GC error and a Meadows kill sandwiched a Guilford kill, making the score 20-18. Guilford then went on a 4-0 run to give themselves match point. EMU wasn't ready to go down yet, as Stockner and Custis picked up points to pull within four. But an EMU error secured the final point for Guilford, as they picked up the win.
  
  Statistical Leaders
  Woolford: 9 kills, 7 digs, 3 service aces
  Custis: 12 assists, 3 service aces
  
  What's Next
  EMU will have to have a short memory as they're back in action on Saturday. They'll head to Danville for an ODAC matchup with Averett. First serve against the Cougars is set for noon.
  
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