HARRISONBURG, Va. – While some people spend their Friday nights watching TV or on a date, the Royals spent it picking up a win in their first match of the EMU Royals MVB Tournament.

EMU welcomed in first-year program, Bethany College, and downed the Bison 3-0 (25-13, 25-13, 25-16) to kick off the weekend.

Records: EMU 9-6, 0-2 CVC | Bethany College 0-13, 0-0 DIII Independent

Highlights

Set One
EMU jumped out to a quick 8-2 lead early on, picking up a pair of kills from Walter Spurlock and one each from David Ward and Jose Melendez. The teams traded points and Bethany was able to cut the lead to 14-9, before EMU ended the set on an 11-4 run, using kills from Nate McGhee, Ward and Spurlock, along with blocks from Melendez/Spurlock and Tyler Oaks, to pick up a 1-0 lead.

Set Two
Once again, it was the Royals pulling ahead early with kills from McGhee, AJ Bagby and Ward for a 6-2 lead. The Bison scored twice in a row but the Royals answered with an 8-1 run, highlighted by kills from Ben Childers and Pierce Donnelly, for a 14-5 advantage. After a Bison block forced EMU to take a timeout, the Royals came out of the break on a 6-2 run, taking a 20-8 lead. Bethany was able to pick up five more points but two kills from Ward, one from Childers and a big block from Donnelly, Oaks and Childers, put the Royals ahead 2-0.

Set Three
A Spurlock kill and an Oaks ace started the final frame for EMU and they pulled out to a 7-2 lead with multiple Bison errors and a block from Bagby and Donnelly, causing Bethany to take a timeout. Out of the break, the teams traded points, with neither able to go on a run. Later in the set, with EMU leading by six, the Royals picked up three straight on kills from Melendez and Delan Wright, along with a Melendez ace, for a 19-10 lead. An error and another Wright kill, followed by a clever kill from McGhee, put the Royals up 22-13. After two EMU errors, the Royals closed out the match, taking advantage of three Bison errors for the sweep.

Statistical Leaders
Kills: McGhee (6), Spurlock, Ward and Childers (5)
Assists: Oaks (23)
Digs: Rey De La Cruz (8)
Blocks: Oaks (3)

What's Next
EMU will be back on the court on Saturday in day two of the Royals Tournament, as they'll start off with Messiah at 2 pm before finishing the day with SVU at 6 pm.

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