ASHLAND, Va. – Appearing in their first postseason since 2018, the Royals MVB team headed to Randolph Macon on Tuesday for the CVC Quarterfinals. 

EMU was able to avenge a loss to the Yellow Jackets that happened just 13 days ago, as they swept RMC, 3-0 (25-15, 28-26, 25-22) to advance to the CVC Semifinals.  

Records: EMU 18-12, 4-4 CVC | Randolph Macon 18-11, 5-3 CVC

Highlights

Set One
EMU jumped out to an 7-1 lead in the opening frame, using kills from Ben Childers, David Ward and Andre Ward, to force an RMC timeout. Childers added two more points, a kill and an ace, for an 8-2 lead. Later in the set, with EMU leading 15-6, Randolph Macon went on a 7-4 tilt to pull within six, 19-13, but a Ward kill and a pair of errors put EMU ahead 22-13. The Royals finished out the set with a Tyler Oaks kill and a Yellow Jacket error.

Set Two
This time it was Randolph Macon pulling out to a lead, 7-4, and eventually pulling ahead by as many as five, 13-8, forcing EMU to take a timeout. Out of the break, the Royals went on an 8-2 run, picking up three kills from Ward and one each from Childers and Mills, to take a 16-15 lead. The teams traded points, and RMC eventually retook the lead, 20-19, but four straight points from the Royals, highlighted by a kill from Mills, put them ahead 23-20. Macon fought back forcing extra points, but EMU had set point at 25-24. The teams went back-and-forth to 26-26, but the Royals finished out the set with back-to-back kills from Walter Spurlock, for a 2-0 lead.

Set Three
The Yellow Jackets used a 3-0 run early on in set three to take a 7-4 lead and grab some momentum. They were able to push their lead to five multiple times, at 11-6 and 12-7, before EMU rallied with three straight of their own, picking up kills from Nate McGhee and Ward. Two points from RMC gave them a 14-10 lead, but the Royals stormed back with a 7-2 tilt, highlighted by kills from Mills and Jose Melendez, along with a block from Ward, Melendez and Mills, for a 17-16 lead. Randolph Macon tied things at 17 but the Royals weren't interested in sticking around campus as they went on another 7-2 run, this time picking up kills from Spurlock, Childers and Mills, to move to match point, 24-19. Macon was able to make it interesting with three straight points, but a service error wrapped up the match for EMU. 

Statistical Leaders
Mills: 11 kills, 2 blocks, 4 digs
Ward: 10 kills, 1 block, 4 digs
Oaks: 34 assists, 1 block, 5 digs
Team: 40 kills, 8 errors, .400 hit percentage for the match

Final Point


What's Next
EMU will continue its postseason run on Friday, when they take on #1 seed and #1 nationally ranked Southern Virginia at Washington and Lee. First serve against the Knights is set for 5 pm. 

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