HARRISONBURG, Va. - The Royals were seeking the end to a perfect week on Saturday, looking to pick up a win over Rutgers-Newark. 

They did just that, and in a fairly dominant fashion, as they swept the Scarlet Raiders 3-0 (25-13, 25-19, 25-20). 

Records: EMU 15-11, 4-3 CVC | Rutgers-Newark 12-10, 1-4 CVC

Highlights

Set One
EMU started the opening set off strong, leading 4-0 after an error, blocks from David Ward, Ben Childers and Nate McGhee, and a Ward kill. EMU continued to hold a lead, and keep it at four, leading 12-8, before going on a 10-3 tilt to pull ahead 22-11. RUN was able to pick up a pair of points, but EMU finished things off with a McGhee kill and a big block from Childers and Tyler Oaks. 

Set Two
Kills from Walter Spurlock, McGhee and Childers, along with a block from Ward, Spurlock and Childers, put the Royals ahead 4-2 to start set two. They pushed that lead to 7-3 with a pair of Rutgers-Newark errors and an AJ Bagby kill. They grabbed a seven-point lead after a 4-0 run, but the Scarlet Raiders responded with a 6-1 run to pull within two, 13-11. The teams traded points to EMU leading 19-16, and then the Royals won three straight points with an error and kills from Ward and Childers, to give themselves some cushion. RUN pulled back within four at 23-19, but the Royals finished out the set with back-to-back Scarlet Raider errors for a 2-0 lead. 

Set Three
Rutgers-Newark jumped out early in set three, taking a 5-0 lead before the Royals could respond with three straight from Ward and a pair of errors. The Scarlet Raiders continued to lead and were ahead 11-7 when EMU went on a 4-0 run, highlighted by an Oaks, Childers and McGhee block, to tie things at 11 apiece. Rutgers-Newark added two points for a 13-11 lead and EMU responded once again, this time with a 6-1 tilt, to pull out to a 17-14 lead. The Royals would take a 20-16 lead, but the Scarlet Raiders would win two of the next three points to cut their deficit to three. EMU would get back-to-back kills from McGhee to lead 23-18 and despite RUN picking up two more points, EMU put the match away with yet another block, this time from Ward and Childers. 

Statistical Leaders
Childers: 8 kills, 7 blocks, 2 aces
Ward: 8 kills, 4 blocks, 2 aces
Oaks: 30 assists, 3 blocks, 6 digs

What's Next
EMU will wrap up their 2024 home slate on Wednesday when they take on the Yellow Jackets of Randolph Macon. First serve is set for 7 pm. 

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