VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – The Royals made the trek down to the beach on Tuesday, but it wasn't to lay in the sand and escape the cold.  

And while it was a business trip, EMU was able to work in a little fun, as they swept the Marlins 3-0 (25-20, 25-21, 25-18) to stay undefeated in the ODAC.

Records: EMU 7-6, 4-0 ODAC | Virginia Wesleyan 8-4, 1-2 ODAC

Highlights

Set One – EMU 25, Virginia Wesleyan 20

• VWU got out to an early lead, but EMU came back with a 3-0 tilt after a kill from Andre Mills and an ace from Sebastian Clemente.
• Neither team was able to grab much momentum as they traded points and EMU was able to lead by no more than two. With EMU leading 13-12, the Royals went on a 4-0 run, picking up kills from Ezekiel Awkward and Mills, along with a block from Daeman Odom and Mills, for a 17-12 advantage.
• Later in the set, VWU was able to pull within two at 19-17, but EMU gave themselves some breathing room with a 4-1 run, for a 23-18 lead. The teams swapped points over the next five, which worked in EMU's favor as a kill from Mills wrapped up the set win.

Set Two – EMU 25, Virginia Wesleyan 21

• This time it was EMU pulling out to start the second set, taking a 7-3 lead after kills from Jose Melendez and Mills, a Mills ace and a block from Odom and Mills. After an EMU error, the Royals pulled out to an even bigger lead with a 4-0 run, leading 11-4.
• Virginia Wesleyan was able to chip away at the Royals lead, eventually pulling within two, 16-14. EMU extended their lead back to four with two errors and a kill from Mills, but the Marlins cut their deficit to one after two blocks and a Royal attack error.
• The Marlins stayed within one at 21-20, but EMU was able to close out the set with a 4-1 run, with three VWU errors and another Mills kill.

Set Three – EMU 25, Virginia Wesleyan 18

• Once again it was EMU taking an early lead in the third set, as Mills, Awkward and James Powell put the Royals ahead 5-2. VWU pulled back within one, and kept things close, trailing by no more than two and keeping it mostly within one to 10-9.
• The Royals were able to give themselves some breathing room with a 6-3 run, highlighted by a kill from Awkward and a Ricardo Fernandez Perez service ace. 
• After an EMU service error, the Royals scored four of the next six points, taking a five point lead late. With the Royals leading 22-17, EMU was able to close things out with kills on three of the final four points, with Powell and Mills putting the final touches on the Tuesday sweep. 

Statistical Leaders
Mills: 16 kills, 9 digs, 3 blocks, 1 ace
Fernandez Perez: 29 assists, 9 digs, 1 ace
Awkward: 10 kills, 1 block
Rey De La Cruz: 11 digs

What's Next
EMU is back at home this weekend, welcoming in Randolph Macon, Rutgers-Newark, Southern Virginia and Trine in for the EMU Royals Tournament. EMU kicks off the tournament on Friday against Randolph Macon at 4 pm. To see the whole tournament schedule, click here.  

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