HARRISONBURG, Va. - The Royals welcomed in Randolph Macon and Rutgers-Newark on Day 1 of the EMU Royals MVB Tournament. 

In the opener, EMU took the first set, before falling 3-1 (20-25, 25-20, 25-19, 25-20) to the Yellow Jackets. In EMU's finale, they dropped another 3-1 (25-20, 24-26, 25-17, 25-17) decision to the Scarlet Raiders. 

EMU vs Randolph Macon

Records: EMU 7-7, 4-1 ODAC |  Randolph Macon 12-4, 5-0 ODAC

Highlights

Set One EMU 25, RMC 20

• The opening set was close, with neither team able to lead by more than a point, until, with EMU leading 7-6, the Royals went on a 3-0 run off kills from Ezekiel Awkward and Andre Mills. 
• Later in the set, EMU opened up their lead, this time with a 4-1 run, highlighted a kill and an ace from Mills and a sneaky kill from Ricardo Fernandez Perez. The teams traded points, and RMC was able to pull within three late, 20-17, but EMU finished things out with a 5-3 tilt, and the final point coming off the hand of Jose Melendez for a 1-0 lead. 

Set Two RMC 25, EMU 20

• The Yellow Jackets jumped out to a 6-2 lead to start the second set, before back to back errors pulled EMU within two. 
• Later in the set, with EMU trailing by five after an Awkward kill, Randolph Macon went on a 5-1 run to take a nine-point lead, their largest of the set. EMU was able to cut it back to five with a 4-0 run, picking up kills from Bennett de Tenley and Mills. 
• After RMC had pushed their lead back to six, EMU used an error and a Mills kill to pull back within four, 23-19. But the Yellow Jackets finished the set off, winning two of the last three points, to tie the match at one apiece. 

Set Three RMC 25, EMU 19

• Things were tied at five to start the third, before a 5-1 RMC run gave them some breathing room, 9-6. EMU fought back and pulled within one, 10-9, but RMC answered again, this time with three straight, for a 13-9 advantage. 
• A few points later, a kill by Sebastian Clemente pulled EMU within three, 17-14. Randolph Macon then used a 5-1 run to take a 22-15 lead, which was stopped with a kill and a block from James Powell. But a Mills kill and an RMC error would be EMU's final two points in the set, as Macon took a 2-1 lead. 

Set Four RMC 25, EMU 20

• This time it was the Royals taking an early lead in set four, pulling ahead 5-3. After an RMC service error kept the Royals ahead 6-5, RMC went on a 5-0 run, pulling ahead 10-6. 
• Back to back kills from Mills and a service error sandwiched a Macon kill, but they pushed their lead to five with three straight. EMU answered with three straight of their own from Powell and an error, to cut their deficit to two. 
• An 8-3 Macon run gave them a 22-15 lead, but EMU kept fighting, pulling within three after a 4-0 run. But a kill from Clemente would be all EMU would get in the final points, as Randolph Macon took the match, handing EMU its first ODAC loss. 

Statistical Leaders
Mills: 15 kills, 10 digs, 1 ace, 3 blocks
Fernandez Perez: 29 assists, 8 digs

EMU vs Rutgers-Newark

Records: EMU 7-8, 4-1 ODAC | RUN 11-4, 1-1 CVC

Set One RUN 25, EMU 20

• The teams traded points to nine-all through the first 18 points. The Scarlet Raiders then went on a 6-3 tilt, taking a 15-12 lead. 
• Back to back kills from Mills pulled EMU within one, 15-14, before RUN answered with a 6-1 tilt, leading 22-15. EMU clawed back in with a 5-2 run, with two kills from Mills, but Rutgers-Newark finished things off with an EMU error for a 1-0 lead. 

Set Two EMU 26, RUN 24

• Three errors and a Powell ace gave the Royals an early advantage in set two. The teams swapped points to EMU leading 9-7, but RUN pushed ahead with a 5-0 run, taking a 12-9 lead. 
• With Rutgers-Newark leading 14-11, EMU tied the set at 14 with a service error and back to back Mills aces. Neither team was able to grab much momentum, until Rutgers-Newark took a late lead, and was serving for the set at 24-23. But the Royals weren't ready to concede the set, scoring the final three points, including a kill from Awkward, to tie things at one apiece. 

Set Three RUN 25, EMU 17

• The Scarlet Raiders took a 12-5 lead in the third, before an error and a Melendez ace cut the Royals deficit to five. 
• RUN answered with a 5-2 tilt, and continued to maintain their lead for the rest of the set. EMU was able to cut it to seven, late, with a service error and a Powell ace, but a service error put Rutgers-Newark one set away from the win. 

Set Four RUN 25, EMU 17

• Once again, RUN jumped out to an early lead, this time 10-5. Two kills from Mills and an error, pulled the Royals within two, but Rutgers-Newark extended their lead with an 8-1 run. 
• Late in the set, the Scarlet Raiders were able to push their lead to double digits, and look like they were running away with the match, leading 24-14. EMU continued to fight, going on a 3-0 run, forcing three RUN errors. But an attack error from EMU wrapped up the set, and the match, for Rutgers-Newark. 

Statistical Leaders
Mills: 14 kills, 4 digs, 2 aces
Fernandez Perez: 22 assists, 1 block
Awkward: 6 kills

What's Next
EMU will be back in action on Saturday, for day 2 of the Royals Tournament. They'll take on Trine at 2 pm before finishing the weekend against #2 Southern Virginia. 

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.