HARRISONBURG, Va. - The Royals celebrated three seniors on Saturday, while also welcoming in the Cougars of Averett University. 

Averett made sure the senior celebration was bittersweet, as they picked up a 3-1 (25-18, 25-19, 19-25, 25-14) win over EMU. 

Records: EMU 5-16, 1-6 ODAC | Averett 5-15, 2-8 ODAC

Highlights

Set One: Averett 25, EMU 18

• AU jumped out to a 5-2 lead to start the match before back-to-back Cougar errors pulled EMU within one. Averett then went on a 6-0 run to pull ahead seven. 
• EMU answered with a 10-6 run, highlighted by two kills from Kenley Smith and blocks from Emma Rogers and Rogers/Kaitlyn Custis, to pull within three, 17-14. 
• A kill and back-to-back Cougar aces, extended their lead back to six before a pair of kills from Lindsay Bly kept EMU within striking distance. But, with EMU trailing by just four, Averett went on a 5-2 tilt, winning the set and taking a 1-0 lead. 

Set Two: Averett 25, EMU 19

• It was tight to start the second set, with Averett holding a slim 5-4 lead after two errors and kills by Bly and Logan Turchetta. The teams swapped points to AU leading 8-7, before the Cougars went on an 8-0 run to take a 16-7 lead. 
• EMU responded with an 11-5 run, with Emma Greer and Bly each adding a kill and service aces from Rebekah Allen and Meadows, to cut the Cougars lead to 21-18. The Cougars, however, would end the set with a 4-1 run, with a service error being EMU's final point of the set. 

Set Three: EMU 25, Averett 19

• A block by Bly and Smith, two Mckenzie Taylor aces and a Greer kill helped EMU to a 5-1 start to open the third set. Later in the set, EMU would extend their lead to six with kills from Meadows and Smith, along with a Rogers/Greer block. 
• Averett would eventually pull within two, 18-16, late in the set, but the Royals responded with three straight points, to extend their lead back to five. That would be the dagger in the set for Averett as the teams swapped points, with a Cougar attack error, giving EMU the set win. 

Set Four: Averett 25, EMU 14

• This time it was Averett taking a big lead to start the set, leading 10-4 through the first 14 points. After a Cougar service error, they rallied off four straight, pushing their lead to nine, 14-5. 
• A block from Custis and a Turchetta kill pulled the Royals back within six, but AU answered again, pulling ahead 21-9. EMU then went on a 5-3 tilt, with a kill from Turchetta, an Emerson Moats ace and blocks from Meadows/Smith and Bly/Rogers to get within 10. But a Cougar kill gave Averett the set, and match, win. 

Statistical Leaders
Kills: Smith (9), Bly (8)
Assists: Custis (12), Taylor (11)
Digs: Moats (13), Meadows (11)
Blocks: Rogers (4), Smith, Custis (3)

What's Next
Things don't get any easier for the Royals, as they welcome in #21 Virginia Wesleyan to Yoder Arena on Wednesday. First serve against the Marlins is set for 6:00 pm. 

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