HARRISONBURG, Va. - It was a win the Royals needed...and after a strong performance, they got it. 

Two weeks after falling to Roanoke in Salem, the Royals returned the favor, knocking off the Maroons 3-1 (17-25, 25-22, 28-26, 25-22) for a big ODAC win. 

Records: EMU 10-12, 6-2 ODAC | Roanoke 16-8, 5-2 ODAC

Highlights

Set One - Roanoke 25, EMU 17

• Kills from Daeman Odom and Ezekiel Awkward, along with an Awkward/Odom block, put EMU ahead 3-0 to start the match. The teams traded points to 8-5 Royals, before Roanoke tied things at eight with their own 3-0 run. 
• After an RC attack error, the Maroons scored 10 of the next 13 points, taking an 18-12 lead. EMU reeled off three straight points on two Maroon errors and an Awkward ace, to pull within three at 18-15. Roanoke wrapped up the set, however, finishing on a 7-2 run, to pull ahead 1-0. 

Set Two - EMU 25, Roanoke 22

• The start of set two was the literal definition of "point for point," as neither team was able to pull ahead by more than one until, with RC leading 10-9, EMU went on a 6-1 tilt, using an Andre Mills kill, a Sebastian Clemente ace and blocks from Odom and Odom/Awkward/Diego Morales Torres, to pull ahead 15-11. 
• Roanoke responded, going on a run of their own, 6-3, to pull within one, 18-17. The Royals stole the momentum back, winning the next four points, highlighted by kills from Clemente and Mills, for a 22-17 advantage. 
• With EMU leading 24-19, Roanoke made it interesting with three straight points, cutting EMU's lead to 24-22, but a kill from Mills cut down a comeback, and tied the match at one. 

Set Three - EMU 28, Roanoke 26

• Two kills from Mills, one from Odom and an Awkward ace, put EMU ahead 5-3 to start the third. Roanoke stormed back with an 8-1 run and took an 11-6 lead. 
• The Maroons would hold a five-point advantage to 13-8, before EMU reeled off three straight, using a kill from Joel Chamberlain and a Chamberlain/Jose Melendez block, to pull within two. 
• Roanoke would continue to hold a small lead, leading by as many as three late at 20-17, 21-18 and 22-19. But EMU kept fighting and, trailing 23-21, brought the crowd back into it with an Odom kill and a Maroon error, to tie things at 23. Roanoke had set point twice, at 24-23 and 25-24, but the Royals wouldn't quit, using an error and an Awkward kill to get to set point themselves, 26-25. An RC kill tied things at 26, but EMU finished the set with back-to-back kills from Awkward, as they took the pivotal third set and a 2-1 lead. 

Set Four - EMU 25, Roanoke 22

• The teams, once again, traded points to start the third, with neither able to pull ahead by more than one. Anytime either would take a lead, the other would storm back and tie it, or pull ahead by a point.
• Midway through the set, EMU finally put some cushion between them and the Maroons as, with Roanoke leading 15-14, EMU went on a 3-0 run with two kills from Mills and a Maroon error, to take a 17-15 lead. 
• Roanoke would go on a 3-0 run of their own, and snag the lead back, 18-17, but just like before, EMU answered with another 3-0 tilt, picking up a Mills kill and an Odom/Mills block, for a 20-18 lead. This time, they wouldn't relinquish it, as the teams went point for point to 23-22, EMU. The Royals finished out the set, and the win, with back-to-back Maroon errors securing the hard fought win. 

Statistical Leaders
Mills: 17 kills, 4 blocks, 5 digs
Awkward: 14 kills, 3 aces, 2 blocks, 5 digs
Ricardo Fernandez Perez: 31 assists, 1 block, 6 digs
Clemente: 12 digs, 4 kills, 1 ace, 1 block

What's Next
EMU will hit the road on Saturday, as they head to Lynchburg for an ODAC matchup against the Hornets. First serve is set for 3 pm.

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