SPRINGFIELD, OHIO - EMU wrapped up their season-opening weekend in Ohio on Saturday, with a pair of matches against Westminster and Marian. 

In the opener, Westminster was able to pick up a five-set win over the Royals (23-25, 26-24, 15-25, 25-22, 15-10). In the matinee, the Royals went to yet another five setter, but this time they came out on the winning end, taking down Marian 3-2 (25-20, 25-16, 20-25, 18-25, 15-4). 

EMU vs Westminster

Records: EMU 0-3, 0-0 ODAC | Westminster 5-1, 0-0 DIII Independent

Highlights

Set One: EMU 25, Westminster 23

• The Blue Jays took an early lead before a bad set and a kill from Jose Melendez put EMU on top. The teams traded points to 10-10, but a Westminster service error and back-to-back Derek Diaz kills, gave the Royals a 13-1 advantage. 
• Later in the set, things were tight with ties at 16, 18, 19, 20 and 21, before a point from Westminster used a kill to lead 22-21. The Royals scored twice with an error and a Melendez kill, but once again, the Blue Jays tied things at 25. But EMU used a Pierce Donnelly kill and a James Powell ace to take a 1-0 lead. 

Set Two: Westminster 26, EMU 24

• The start of set two was just as tight as set one, with things tied at 11 through the first 22 points. A few points later, with EMU leading 14-13, Westminster went on a 4-1 run to take a 17-15 lead. 
• WC eventually pushed their lead to four, 22-18, but the Royals went on a 6-1 tilt, highlighted by two kills from Melendez, one from Bennett Barco and an ace from Diaz, to lead 24-23. Unfortunately for EMU, the Blue Jays reeled off three straight, using a service ace to tie the match at one apiece. 

Set Three: EMU 25, Westminster 15

• Three kills from Diaz, a kill from Melendez and a block from Powell and Ricky Fernandez, gave EMU an 8-2 lead at the start of the third. 
• Westminster pulled within three after three straight points, but EMU answered once again, this time with four of the next five points, highlighted by a Jonas Stafford kill, for a 13-7 advantage. Later in the set, they pushed their lead to seven with a 4-1 run and the teams swapped points to 20-14. 
• EMU finished things with a 5-1 run, using a Powell solo block and a block assist from Powell and Johnathan Badowski, as well as another Diaz kill, and went ahead 2-1. 

Set Four: Westminster 25, EMU 22

• Neither team could gain much momentum to start the fourth, with EMU holding a one-point advantage at 11-10.
• Westminster pulled ahead with a 5-2 run, but with the Blue Jays leading 17-15, a service error and a Melendez kill tied thing at 17 apiece. The teams swapped points to 19-19, before WC went on a 5-0 run to lead 24-19. EMU scored three straight, highlighted by a Diaz kill and a Barco ace, but a service error tied the match at two, forcing a fifth and final frame. 

Set Five: Westminster 15, EMU 10

• The Blue Jays took a 4-3 lead, as Diaz accounted for all three of EMU's first points in the fifth. Westminster pulled ahead 8-3 before EMU cut their lead to three with kills from Powell and Melendez. 
• WC reeled off three straight to take a 12-6 advantage, but EMU used a Diaz and a Sebastian Clemente kill as well as an Odom/Fernandez block to pull within four. But the Blue Jays finished things out, winning two of the final three points to secure the victory. 

Statistical Leaders
Kills: Diaz (20 - career high), Melendez (11)
Assists: Fernandez (31)
Digs: Diaz (9)
Blocks: Odom (5), Powell (4)

EMU vs Marian

Records: EMU 1-3, 0-0 ODAC | Marian 0-4, 0-0 NACC

Highlights

Set One: EMU 25, Marian 20

• With things tied at five through the first 10 points, EMU went on a 4-0 run, highlighted by kills from Odom and Diaz, along with a Joel Chamberlain/Odom block. 
• Later in the set, with EMU holding a one-point lead, the Royals scored nine of the next 10 points to extend their lead to nine, 20-11. The Sabres tried to make things interesting, going on a 9-4 run to cut EMU's lead to four, but a kill from Diaz stopped any thought of a comeback and put the Royals on top 1-0. 

Set Two: EMU 25, Marian 16

•  After a 2-2 start, EMU's 9-2 run, with kills from Melendez, Odom and Diaz, gave them an 11-4 lead. 
• The Royals eventually extended their lead to double-digits, 18-8 and 19-9 but the Sabres won three of the next four points to pull within eight. After kills from Odom and Badowski, Marian scored three straight points, making the score 23-16. But EMU finished things off with an error and another Badowski kill, for a 2-0 lead. 

Set Three: Marian 25, EMU 20

• Marian took a 7-4 lead early on, before EMU pulled within one with an error and a block from Odom and Diaz. 
• The Sabres answered with four straight and five of the next six points to push their lead to six. EMU battled back with a 5-1 tilt, pulling within one, and the teams swapped points to 18-16 Marian. 
• Three kills and a service ace put the Sabres back in front by five but once again, EMU kept clawing back, cutting their deficit to two with a Diaz kill and a block from Melendez and Layne Kemp. Unfortunately, Marian won the next three points to extend the match. 

Set Four: Marian 25, EMU 18

• Marian jumped out to a 5-1 lead and the teams traded points all the way to 12-7.
• After EMU cut the Sabres lead to three, Marian pushed it back to six with three straight points. Once again the teams swapped points until, with Marian leading 19-16, the Sabres went on a 6-2 run, with EMU only getting points from Diaz, to force a fifth and final set. 

Set Five: EMU 15, Marian 4

• It couldn't have been a better start for EMU, as they jumped ahead 11-0 to start the fifth, using two kills from Odom and Diaz, two Odom/Melendez blocks and a Fernandez service ace, to take a commanding lead. A Sabre kill ended the run, but EMU answered with a 3-0 run this time, with kills from Diaz and Delan Wright, putting them on the cusp of the win. 
• Marian won the next three points on three Royals errors, but a service error put the finishing touches on the set, and gave EMU their first win of the season. 

Statistical Leaders
Kills: Diaz and Melendez (18)
Assists: Fernandez (30)
Digs: Rey De La Cruz (17), Fernandez (10)
Service Aces: Powell (5)
Blocks: Odom (8), Melendez (4)

What's Next
EMU will be back in action next weekend at the Juniata Invitational. They'll kick off the competition on Friday against #16 Hobart. First serve is set for 6:00 pm. 

To keep up to date with everything surrounding EMU men's  volleyball, follow EMU on Instagram, like EMU Athletics on Facebook or visit our website