HUNTINGDON, Pa. – The Royals had a gauntlet on Saturday, taking on #9 Juniata and #13 Hobart College in a PA tri-match.

Juniata was able to pick up the home win over EMU in match one, 3-0 (25-13, 25-12, 25-23) while Hobart took down the Royals, 3-1 (26-24, 25-23,

EMU vs #9 Juniata

Records: EMU 12-10, 2-3 CVC | Juniata 17-4, 3-0 CVC

Highlights
Set One
EMU jumped out to an early 3-1 lead after an error and kills from Jose Melendez and David Ward. The teams traded points to Juniata leading 8-7 after a JC error. But the Eagles went on a 8-2 run to take a 16-9 advantage, forcing an EMU timeout. Out of the break, EMU picked up a pair of points off an error and a Ben Childers block. But Juniata answered with five straight for a 21-11 lead. EMU picked two more points, with a kill from Childers, but the Eagles won the last three points for the set win.

Set Two
Set two started evenly once again, with two Eagles errors and kills from Nate McGhee and Childers, making the score 5-4 Juniata. JC answered with a 8-1 run, with a kill from Ward being EMU's point, for a 13-5 lead. EMU picked up kills from Walter Spurlock and Melendez to sandwich a Juniata point, but once again, the Eagles went on a run, this time 8-3, for a 22-10 advantage. A service error and a Ward kill paced EMU, but Juniata finished things off with an EMU error for a 2-0 lead.

Set Three
Kills from Andre Mills and Melendez gave EMU an early 4-3 lead, but Juniata answered with 4-0 run for a 7-4 lead. But EMU battled, trading points with the Eagles to 13-11, Juniata. EMU then went on a 6-1 tilt, highlighted by kills from McGhee and Childers and a Mills ace, for a 17-14 lead. Juniata scored two straight to pull within one but EMU continued to lead, holding a 22-20 advantage after kills from Ward. Juniata picked up three straight to take a 23-22 lead, forcing an EMU timeout. Out of the break, EMU tied things at 23, but the Eagles finished off the match with a kill and a service ace.

Statistical Leaders
Ward: 6 kills, 1 blocks, 2 digs
Oaks: 18 assists, 1 kill, 1 block
McGhee: 5 kills

EMU vs #13 Hobart College

Records: EMU 12-11, 2-3 CVC | Hobart College 15-8, 1-2 UVC

Highlights

Set One
EMU and Hobart started out set one tied at five, after kills from Ward and Melendez, along with a block from Oaks and Childers. The teams traded points to Hobart leading 12-11, when the Statesman went on a 3-0 run to pull ahead 15-11. EMU then responded with a 5-1 run, highlighted by kills from Ward, Pierce Donnelly and McGhee, to tie things at 16. The teams exchanged runs to 23-20 HC. But EMU rallied once again, scoring three straight with a pair of errors and a Ward kill. Both teams produced service errors to knot things at 24 before the Statesman ended the set with a kill and an ace for a 1-0 lead.

Set Two
In the second set, with Hobart leading 7-5, EMU went on a 5-1 tilt, picking up points from McGhee and Spurlock, along with a block from Melendez. The teams traded points to EMU leading 12-11 but Hobart pulled ahead with a small run, 14-12. But once again, EMU responded with another run, this time 5-0, to take a 17-14 lead. Hobart tied the set at 17 and the score went back-and-forth HC leading 24-22 with the set on the line. An attack error pulled EMU within one, but a Royal service error put Hobart ahead 2-0.

Set Three
A Statesman error, an Oaks ace and a Childers block put EMU ahead 3-0 to start set three. They pushed their lead to 6-2 after two kills and a block from Childers. The Royals continued to hold onto a lead, pushing it to as many as five, 19-14, until Hobart was able to pull within two at 19-17 and 20-18. But three Statesman errors and a Childers kill pushed EMU's lead to six. Hobart picked up two points, but a service error gave EMU the set and cut the Royals' match deficit to 2-1.

Set Four
Aces from McGhee and Ward, along with two kills from Spurlock and one from Ward, put EMU ahead 5-2 in the fourth. EMU took an 8-6 lead before Hobart responded with seven of the next eight for a 13-9 lead. EMU cut the lead to one, but Hobart pushed it back with a 4-0 tilt to lead 17-12. The teams traded points to HC leading 22-17 but EMU was able to pull within two with a Statesman error and two McGhee aces. Kills from McGhee and Ward was able to keep EMU within two, but Hobart finished the set, and the match, with a kill.

Statistical Leaders
Ward: 12 kills, 3 blocks, 2 digs
Oaks: 33 assists, 2 kills, 2 aces, 8 digs
Spurlock, McGhee: 9 kills each

What's Next
EMU will return home on Wednesday as they take on future-ODAC foe, Virginia Wesleyan, inside Yoder Arena. First serve is set for 7 pm.

To keep up to date with everything surrounding EMU men's volleyball, follow EMU on Twitter and Instagram, like EMU Athletics on Facebook or visit our website.