GENEVA, NY – EMU kicked off the 2025 season on Friday, making the long drive up to New York for the two-day Hobart Tournament.

The Royals took on Bard College Friday afternoon, downing the Raptors 3-1 in four (25-12, 25-19, 18-25, 25-15)

Records: EMU 1-0, 0-0 ODAC | Bard College 0-2, 0-0 NEVC

Highlights

Set One – EMU 25, Bard 12

• The Royals jumped out to an 11-4 lead through the first 15 points, picking up three kills from Andre Mills and two from Daemon Odom, to go along with aces from Sebastian Clemente and Odom and a block from Odom and Diego Morales Torres.
• After the Raptors had cut EMU's lead to four, EMU extended it with a 12-0 run, highlighted by four service aces from Clemente and a Pierce Donnelly kill.
• A 4-0 Bard run brought them closer, but an Odom kill put EMU ahead 1-0.

Set Two – EMU 25, Bard 19

• The second set started with the teams trading points to seven apiece, until a kill from Jose Melendez and two from James Powell, gave EMU some breathing room at 10-7.
• The teams once again went back and forth until Bard pulled within two, 16-14. EMU responded with a 7-3 tilt to extend their lead to 23-17, picking up kills from Mills, Melendez and Clemente.
• Bard added a pair of points to pull within four, but EMU finished out the set with a Raptor error and a kill from Ezekiel Awkward, for a 2-0 lead.

Set Three – Bard 25, EMU 18

• This time it was Bard taking an early lead on the Royals, holding onto a two-point lead to 10-8. EMU rallied for three straight, using a Donnelly kill and two Raptor errors, to take an 11-10 advantage.
• With EMU later leading 12-11, Bard went on an 11-3 run to take a 22-15 lead. The Royals would only be able to tack on three more points, a kill from Mills and two Bard errors, as BC finished out the set to cut the match to 2-1.

Set Four – EMU 25, Bard 15

• After Bard pulled ahead 2-0 to start the fourth set, EMU used an Odom kill and blocks from Morales Torres/Mills/Odom and Mills/Odom for a 3-2 lead. Later in the set, with Bard trailing 6-4, EMU would extend their lead with a 4-1 tilt, highlighted by a kill and an ace from Donnelly. 
• EMU would continue to lead, extending it to as many as eight, 17-9 and 18-10, looking to wrap up the match in four. 
• With the Royals leading 21-14, EMU would finish things out on a 4-1 run, picking up a kill from Mills, a block from Mills and Odom and Clemente's sixth service ace of the match, to pick up the win. 

Statistical Leaders
Mills: 14 kills (career high), 3 blocks, 7 digs
Odom: 6 kills, 4 blocks, 2 service aces
Morales Torres: 22 assists
Clemente: 6 service aces, 8 digs

What's Next
EMU will wrap up their time in New York on Saturday with a pair of matches against #10 Hobart. They'll take on the Statesmen at 11 am and again at 1 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.