BALTIMORE, Md. - A night after going five sets against McDaniel, the Royals women's volleyball team once again had a five-set matchup against a Maryland team. 

After EMU took two of the first three sets, Notre Dame rallied to take the fourth and fifth, picking up a 3-2 (25-22, 15-25, 23-25, 25-21, 15-11) win. 

Records: EMU 1-4, 0-0 ODAC | Notre Dame of Maryland 3-1, 0-0 United East

Highlights

Set One: NDMU 25, EMU 22

• The Gators jumped out to an 8-2 lead to start the match, before the Royals rallied with four straight points, including a kill from Logan Turchetta and a block from Kenley Smith and Lindsay Bly. 
• Later in the set, after EMU tied things at 10, NDMU pulled ahead with a 5-1 tilt. The teams traded points, and EMU was able to pull within two, 18-16, after an error and a Smith kill. But a 6-1 Gator run seemed to give them the momentum, and a 24-17 lead. 
• Once again, EMU rallied, reeling off five straight points, highlighted by a kill from Emma Rogers and an ace from Felicity Jones. But a Royals service error wrapped up the set for NDMU. 

Set Two: EMU 25, NDMU 15

• The Royals took an early 6-5 lead in set two, before extending their lead with a 10-0 run, with an ace from Emerson Moats, three kills from Bly and a kill from Rogers. 
• The Gators were able to chip away at the Royals lead, pulling within seven three times at 20-13, 21-14 and 22-15. But EMU finished off the set with a 3-0 run, as a Smith kill and a block from Bly and Rogers helped EMU tie things at one apiece.

Set Three: EMU 25, NDMU 23

• This time it was NDMU taking a big lead to start the set, as they pulled ahead 14-5 in the third. EMU fought back, winning seven straight points with two kills from Rogers, aces from Claire Reichenback and Kassidy Meadows and a block from Meadows and Kaitlyn Custis. 
• Notre Dame pushed their lead to three, 16-13, but EMU picked up another run, this time 7-0, to take a 20-16 advantage. 
• With EMU leading 23-20, the Gators won three straight points to tie things. But EMU finished out the set, taking advantage of back-to-back Gator errors for a 2-1 lead. 

Set Four: NDMU 25, EMU 21

• Set four started out tight, with NDMU took an 8-7 lead through the first 15 points. The teams swapped points to 10-9, before NDMU went on a 4-0 run to extend their lead to five. 
• Later in the set, with NDMU leading 15-10, the Royals went on a 4-1 run, with two kills from Smith and a Smith/Bly block, to cut the Gators lead to two. That would be as close as EMU would get, unfortunately, as Notre Dame won three of the final four points to take the fourth and force a fifth and final frame. 

Set Five: NDMU 15, EMU 11

• Neither team was able to grab much momentum to start the fifth, as EMU held a three point lead, 8-5, after a Smith kill and three straight Gator errors. 
• NDMU retook the lead with five straight points, and EMU would only pick up three more points, including kills from Smith and Bly, as the Gators finished out the set for the win. 

Statistical Leaders
Smith: 12 kills, 4 blocks
Custis: 23 assists, 9 assists, 3 kills, 1 ace, 1 block
Reichenbach: 22 digs, 2 aces

What's Next
The Royals will continue their road trip on Tuesday, when they head to Buena Vista to take on defending USA South Champion Southern Virginia. First serve against the Knights is set for 6:00 pm. 

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