HARRISONBURG, Va. – The Royals wrapped up the 2025 season on Saturday, taking on the Bison of Gallaudet University in a final home match.

The Royals put up a fight, but ultimately it was the Bison that came out on top, downing the Royals 3-0 (25-12, 25-18, 25-22). 

Records: EMU 6-20, 2-9 ODAC | Gallaudet 24-5, 10-0 UEC

Highlights

Set One: Gallaudet 25, EMU 12

• The Royals jumped out to an early 3-1 lead to start the match, picking up kills from Claire Reichenbach, Jada Parker and Lindsay Bly. The Bison answered with an 11-1 run before a kill from Kaitlyn Custis pulled EMU within seven.
• Kills from Emma Rogers and Kenley Smith kept EMU within seven, 14-7, before GU won four of the next five points to extend their lead to 10, 18-8.
• The teams swapped points to 20-11, with Bly adding two more kills, but Gallaudet closed out the set on a 5-0 run to take a 1-0 match lead.

Set Two: Gallaudet 25, EMU 18

• GU opened up a 6-0 lead to start the second set, but EMU kept fighting, going on an 11-5 run, highlighted by kills from Rogers, Smith and Kassidy Meadows, two service aces from Parker and one from Custis and Felicity Jones, to tie things at 11.
• The Bison pulled ahead 18-11 with a 7-0 run, but EMU responded with a 5-2 tilt, using a kill from Bly and a Jones ace, to cut their deficit to four, 20-16.
• Unfortunately for the Royals, GU would finish out the set on a 5-2 run, with EMU's final two points coming on a pair of Bison errors, as Gallaudet took a 2-0 lead.

Set Three: Gallaudet 25, EMU 22

• The Bison started the third set ahead 4-2 before a pair of GU errors tied things at four. After a 3-0 Gallaudet run, EMU responded with a 5-1 tilt, using kills from Rogers and Logan Turchetta, to pull ahead 9-8.
• The teams swapped points, with Gallaudet taking a slight lead, 20-18 lead, despite three kills from Turchetta and two from Bly.
• A 3-0 GU run forced an EMU timeout, and out of the break, the Royals won four of the next five points with kills from Smith and Meadows, along with a Rebekah Allen ace, to pull within two, 24-22. But a final Bison kill wrapped up the set, and the match, for Gallaudet.

Statistical Leaders
Kills: Bly (6), Turchetta (4)
Assists: Custis (12 – reached 1000 career assists)
Digs: Allen (6), Jones and Custis (5)
Aces: Jones and Parker (2)

What's Next
This was the 2025 season finale for the Royals. They graduate just three seniors and will return a wealth of depth for the 2026 season.

To keep up to date with everything surrounding EMU women's volleyball, follow EMU on Instagram, like EMU Athletics on Facebook or visit our website.