DANVILLE, Va. - EMU made the trek down to Danville on Wednesday, looking to stay unbeaten in ODAC play. Mission accomplished. 

The Royals used a dominant first set win, and rode the momentum to two more set wins, picking up a 3-0 (25-9, 25-18, 25-20) win. 

Records: EMU 3-4, 2-0 ODAC | Averett 1-8, 0-3 ODAC

Highlights

Set One - EMU 25, Averett 9

• Averett picked up the opening point and things were tied at three apiece through six points. EMU answered with a 12-3 run, picking up three kills from Andre Mills and adding a block from Mills and Daeman Odom, to take a 15-6 lead. 
• Averett added a point, and EMU called timeout. Out of the break, leading 15-7, the Royals went on another run, this time 8-1, highlighted by three kills from Ezekiel Awkward, a Jose Melendez ace and a block from Odom and Ricardo Fernandez Perez, for a commanding 23-8 lead. 
• After an EMU service error gave AU their ninth point, EMU closed out the set with a Cougar service error and a Fernandez Perez ace, for a 1-0 lead. 

Set Two - EMU 25, Averett 18

• EMU jumped out to a 10-4 lead to start the second set, using two kills from Mills and James Powell, along with two Mills service aces and a block from Powell and Mills. 
• The teams swapped points, with neither able to grab momentum. After a timeout, EMU was able to extend their lead to as many as eight, 20-12, after a kill from Derek Diaz. Averett rallied with a 6-2 tilt, to pull within four, 22-18, as they looked to climb back into the set. 
• Kills from Awkward and Odom put EMU on the brink of a 2-0 lead, which was met with a bad set from the Cougars. 

Set Three - EMU 25, Averett 20

• After a kill from Sebastian Clemente put EMU on top to start the third set, Averett took a lead with a 6-2 run. EMU answered with a 6-0 run, using two kills from Awkward, to take a 9-6 lead. 
• Averett continued to fight, and the set was tied at 10 and 11, before EMU scored four straight points off kills from Bennett de Tenley and an Awkward ace. Averett pulled within one, 15-14, forcing an EMU timeout. After the timeout, kills from de Tenley and Delan Wright gave EMU some breathing room. 
• The Cougars continued to claw away at the Royals lead, cutting it to one at 18-17. EMU pulled away with five straight points, taking a 23-17 advantage. After AU scored three of the next four points to keep the set competitive, EMU finished things out with a Derek Diaz kill for the ODAC sweep. 

Statistical Leaders
Awkward: 10 kills, 5 digs, 1 ace, 1 block
Fernandez Perez: 32 assists, 5 blocks, 3 kills
Mills: 7 kills, 4 blocks, 2 aces, 2 blocks

What's Next
EMU finally wraps up its season-opening road trip, as they come home to Yoder Arena for a tri-match on Saturday. They'll take on Lynchburg at 1 pm before wrapping up the day with Regent at 5 pm. 

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.