OWINGS MILLS, Md. – The Royals MVB team continued their seven-match road slate to start the 2025 season on Saturday, taking on Stevenson and #5 Juniata.

In the opener, it was the host Mustangs picking up a 3-0 (25-19, 26-24, 29-27) win despite a strong effort from the Royals. In the day's finale, Juniata swept the Royals 3-0 (25-15, 25-22, 25-18) to wrap up EMU's weekend in Maryland.

EMU vs Stevenson

Records: EMU 1-3, 0-0 ODAC | Stevenson 4-1, 0-0 Middle Atlantic

Highlights

Set One – Stevenson 25, EMU 19

• SU took an early 3-0 lead before a service error and kills from Andre Mills and Daeman Odom tied the match at three apiece. The teams swapped points, then Stevenson went on a 7-2 tilt to take an 11-6 lead.
• The teams once again flip-flopped points to 17-11, but EMU was able to cut into the Mustang lead with a pair of points off kills from Ezekiel Awkward and Bennett de Tenley, to pull within four. But Stevenson reeled off four straight, to push their lead to eight, 21-13.
• With SU leading 22-14, EMU went on a 5-1 run, highlighted by two kills from Mills and one from Odom, to cut their deficit to four. But Stevenson wrapped up the set with a Royals error and a kill, to take a 1-0 lead.

Set Two – Stevenson 26, EMU 24

• The Royals started on top 4-2 after kills from Jose Melendez and Mills, along with a pair of Mustang errors. SU scored three straight to take a one-point advantage, and the teams swapped points to 6-6. Stevenson then went on a 6-0 run to double up the Royals, 12-6.
• EMU cut into the lead with a 7-4 run, with Mills, Awkward and Odom picking up five of the seven points. Two SU kills sandwiched a block from Mills and Odom, before EMU went on a 6-0 run to take a 20-18 lead, late in the set.
• With EMU leading 21-19 after a kill from Melendez, Stevenson scored three straight to retake the lead. Once again, the teams traded points to 24-all, but a Mustang kill and service ace gave them a 2-0 lead.

Set Three – Stevenson 29, EMU 27

• EMU came out swinging to start set three, taking a 7-3 lead on kills from Mills, Awkward and Odom. They would continue to hold the lead, pushing it to as many as five, 12-7, midway through the set. Stevenson answered with a 9-4 run, tying things at 16 and forcing an EMU timeout.
• The Royals scored two of the next three points from an error and a Melendez kill, but SU responded with a 5-1 run for a 22-19 lead. Sebastian Clemente and Odom pulled EMU within one, but the Mustangs got to match point with back-to-back kills.
• EMU wasn't going away quietly, as they reeled off four straight with two Mustang errors and two Odom kills, for a 25-24 lead. The teams traded the lead to 27-27, before a pair of SU kills gave them the sweep in a hard fought match.

Statistical Leaders
Mills: 12 kills, 3 blocks, 6 digs
Awkward: 9 kills, 9 digs
Rey De La Cruz: 15 digs
Ricardo Fernandez Perez: 18 assists

EMU vs #5 Juniata

Records: EMU 1-4, 0-0 ODAC | Juniata 7-0, 0-0 CVC

Set One – Juniata 25, EMU 15

• Odom and Fernandez Perez came up with a big block to start the second match, giving the Royals an early lead. Later in the set, with the Eagles leading 7-5, a Juniata error and an ace from Awkward tied things at seven.
• Juniata then opened things up, going on a 10-4 run to take a 17-11 lead, before an error and a Melendez kill pulled EMU back with four. Unfortunately for the Royals, Juniata would close out the set, winning eight of the final 10 points, as Clemente picked up EMU's only kill, with Juniata taking a 1-0 lead.

Set Two – Juniata 25, EMU 22

• The Eagles took a 5-2 lead to start the second, but EMU showed it could play with one of the best teams in the country, as they went on an 11-7 run, using two kills from Melendez and one from Mills, along with aces from Mills and Fernendez Perez and a block from Mills and Odom, to take a 13-12 lead.
• Juniata retook the lead with a 4-0 run, forcing an EMU timeout. Out of the break, the Royals scored two of the next three points to cut their deficit to two, but JC answered once again, this time 5-1 to re-extend their lead to six.
• EMU continued to fight, going on a 4-0 run with kills from Awkward and Mills, to go along with a Fernandez Perez/James Powell block, to force Juniata to take a timeout. Juniata was able to get to set point, 24-20, before kills from Clemente and Odom pulled EMU within two. But the Eagles wrapped up the set win with a kill for a 2-0 match lead.

Set Three – Juniata 25, EMU 18

• Juniata raced out to a 5-0 lead to start the third set, before a pair of Eagle attack errors put EMU on the board. Later in the set, with JC leading 9-3, EMU used a kill from Odom and another Juniata error, to cut the Eagles lead to 9-5. 
• With JC leading 11-7, EMU went on a 4-0 run, using two kills and a block from Melendez, to tie things at 11. Juniata responded with an 8-0 run, retaking a 19-11 lead. 
• EMU was able to pick up seven more points in the set, with a kill from Melendez and Mills, two from Odom and a service ace from Delan Wright, to go along with two Juniata errors. But the Eagles wrapped up the win with a kill, to pick up the 3-0 sweep. 

Statistical Leaders
Mills: 7 kills, 8 digs, 2 aces, 2 blocks
Melendez: 7 kills, 1 block
Fernandez Perez: 17 assists

What's Next
EMU will open up ODAC play next Saturday when they travel to Lynchburg to take on Randolph College. First serve against the WildCats is set for 4 pm.

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