HARRISONBURG, Va. - It's been a month, but the Royals men's volleyball team finally returned home Saturday, for a pair of big matchups. 

EMU battled in the opening match, but ultimately fell to #16 Marymount, 3-0 (25-23, 26-24, 25-17) before coming back to down Geneva, 3-0 (25-20, 25-19, 25-17) in the day's finale. 

EMU vs #16 Marymount

Records: EMU 7-6, 0-2 CVC | Marymount 12-0, 3-0 CVC

Highlights

Set One
Marymount jumped out to a 4-1 lead before a Nate McGhee kill pulled the Royals back within two. EMU later used a 4-1 run, with kills from Walter Spurlock and Ben Childers, to tie the set at six. The teams traded points, and EMU eventually took a 10-8 lead and a 12-11 lead, but Marymount answered with a 5-0 run for a 16-12 lead. The Royals answered with a 6-1 run of their own, with a David Ward ace, two kills from McGhee and a block from Childers and Tyler Oaks. Back-to-back kills from McGhee gave EMU a slim 22-21 advantage, but the Saints closed out the set, winning four of the next five points. 

Set Two
An 8-3 run started the second set for the Saints, and they maintained a lead to 15-10. But EMU rallied with a 5-1 tilt, picking up points from Ward and Spurlock. Marymount was able to extend their lead, even getting to set point at 24-19, but EMU once again fought back, winning five straight points with kills from Spurlock and Childers, to force extra points. But unfortunately for EMU, Marymount used a kill and an ace to pull out the win. 

Set Three
This time it was the Royals taking a lead and holding it to 8-6. MU answered with a 7-1 run for a 13-9 lead, but EMU picked up two straight from an error and a Jose Melendez kill. EMU would get within one, 15-14, after another Childers kill, but that was as close as they'd get as the Saints closed out the match with a 10-3 tilt for the win. 

Statistical Leaders
Kills: Childers (10)
Assists: Oaks (30)
Digs: Rey De La Cruz (12)

EMU vs Geneva

Records: EMU 8-6, 0-2 CVC | Geneva 10-9, 0-0 AMCC

Highlights

Set One
The Royals came out fast, taking an early 5-1 lead highlighted by a McGhee ace and a block from Melendez and McGhee. The teams went back and forth and Geneva was able to pull within one multiple times, but a 5-1 run midway through the set gave EMU some breathing room. The Royals were able to extend their lead to as many as seven, and while the Golden Tornadoes were able to chip away at the lead late, a GC service error gave EMU a 1-0 lead. 

Set Two
A 7-1 run spearheaded the start of the second frame for EMU, as they picked up kills and an ace from McGhee and a block from Melendez and Andre Mills. Later in the set, Geneva went on a run of their own and was able to pull within two, 12-10, 13-11 and 14-12, but kills from McGhee and Childers, who Geneva had no answer for, extended the Royals lead. The teams traded points to 24-19 before another Childers kill wrapped up the set. 

Set Three
The final set started out close once again, but like the earlier sets, EMU went on an early run, this time 6-2, to take a 10-5 lead. EMU's offense then came alive in the third, racking up kills from McGhee, Mills, Melendez, Childers and Pierce Donnelly for a 19-13 lead. Geneva was able to get within four, 20-16, but EMU finished out the set, and the match, with points from McGhee, a block from Childers and Melendez, and a final kill from Mills. 

Statistical Leaders
Kills: McGhee (12), Childers (9 *perfect 1.000 hitting percentage (9/9))
Assists: Oaks (29)
Digs: Spurlock (8)
Blocks: Melendez (3) 

What's Next
EMU continues its homestand, as they host the EMU Royals Tournament next Friday and Saturday. They'll start the weekend taking on Bethany College on Friday at 8 pm.

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