HARRISONBURG, Va. – Before getting some time off for spring break, there was some business to attend to for the EMU men's volleyball team.  

The Royals welcomed in Carolina University and Stevenson on Saturday, wrapping up a home stretch that saw the Royals playing seven of their last eight matches inside Yoder Arena. EMU downed Carolina 3-0 (25-22, 25-20, 25-19) in the opener. After a neutral site match between Carolina and Stevenson, EMU took to the court again for a showdown with Stevenson. The Royals fell just short to the Mustangs 3-2 (25-22, 21-25, 25-16, 20-25, 5-15).

EMU vs Carolina

Records: EMU 11-8, 1-2 CVC | Carolina 5-9, 1-1 NCCAA

Highlights

Set One
Two errors and a David Ward kill gave EMU a 3-0 advantage to start the match. The Bruins were able to pull within one twice, but EMU went on another 3-0 run, this time with a kill from Oaks and blocks from Oaks, Jose Melendez and Nate McGhee for a 9-5 lead. Later in the set, with EMU holding a one-point lead, the Royals went on a 5-0 tilt, highlighted by kills from Walter Spurlock and Melendez, a Ward ace and a big block from Melendez, Oaks and Spurlock, for an 18-12 lead. With EMU later leading 23-16, Carolina pulled within one with a 6-0 run but EMU put the set away with an error and a block from AJ Bagby and Pierce Donnelly. 

Set Two
Back-to-back kills from McGhee and an error put the Royals ahead 3-0 once again. The teams traded points back and forth, with Carolina holding steady within one or two points all the way to 19-18. But EMU gave themselves some room with a 3-0 run, using an ace from Ward and a Spurlock kill, to lead 22-18. Carolina was able to pick up two more points, but a kill from McGhee gave EMU a 2-0 lead.

Set Three
The third set started with things tied at four before EMU tallied three straight points with a kill from McGhee and a Ben Childers service ace. Carolina tied things at seven and eight, but the Royals went on a 6-2 run to give themselves some breathing room with a 14-10 lead. The teams rallied back and forth to EMU leading 16-15, then EMU won four of the next five points with kills from McGhee, Spurlock and Ward for a 20-16 lead. At 20-17, a service error and an ace from Pierce Donnelly, along with two more Bruin errors, gave EMU match point at 24-18. Delan Wright put the finishing touches on the match with a big kill for an EMU sweep.

Statistical Leaders

McGhee: 10 kills, 9 digs, 4 blocks, 2 aces
Oaks: 30 assists, 3 blocks, 1 ace
Ward: 7 kills, 11 digs, 2 aces, 2 blocks

EMU vs Stevenson

Records: EMU 11-9, 1-2 CVC | Stevenson 9-4, 1-0 MAC

Highlights
 
Set One
The Royals came out firing on all cylinders, opening the match on a 7-1 run that included three service aces from McGhee. Stevenson used a mid-set 4-0 run to tie the score at 14 apiece, but EMU stymied their rally with a Ben Childers kill. The Royals then scored five of the final six points to close out the opening set 25-22.

Set Two
EMU again started strong in the second set. After the Mustangs took the opening point, the Royals rattled off four points in a row, with kills from Childers and Ward as well as another ace by McGhee. After a McGhee put EMU out front 7-4, Stevenson countered with three points in a row to tie things up at seven. The Royals sailed ahead 13-10, but that is when the Mustangs took over the set, going on a 6-0 run to take a three-point lead of their own at 16-13. EMU battled back to within one at 17-16, but the Mustangs scored the next five points to get their lead up to six at 22-16 on their way to a set win.

Set Three
There was little separation between the Royals and Mustangs at the start of the third set. Neither side got a lead bigger than three until a Spurlock kill and a Stevenson attack error gave the Royals a 14-10 advantage. With the score 17-15, EMU took control of the third set with a 6-0 scoring run. The rally featured two service aces from Childers along with two more kills by Spurlock. The Royals then finished the job to got up two sets to one on the Mustangs.

Set Four
The Royals and Mustangs traded points to begin the fourth set. When Stevenson went on a 3-0 run to go up 5-2, EMU fought right back with three straight points of their own, including two aces by Ward, to tie the score at five. From there, neither team got a lead bigger than two all the way until a David Ward kill gave EMU an 18-16 lead. However, this is where the match turned south for the Royals when the Mustangs won five straight points to go up 21-18. A McGhee kills made the score 23-20, but Stevenson took the last two points to force a fifth set.

Set Five
Stevenson seized control of the fifth and decisive set by scoring the first three points. From there, the Mustangs never looked back on their way to a 15-5 fifth set win to secure the match.

Statistical Leaders
Ward: 13 kills, 3 blocks, 3 aces
Childers: 13 kills, 2 blocks, 2 aces
Oaks:  47 assists

What's Next
EMU will have some time off before returning to the court on March 15 for a crucial CVC showdown at Elizabethtown. First serve against the Blue Jays is set for 7 pm.

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