HARRISONBURG, Va. - The Royals were on the road Saturday, heading to NOVA for a tri-match against Marymount and Eastern University.
In the opener, the Royals battled and forced a fifth, and deciding, set, but Marymount squeaked out the 3-2 (22-25, 25-17, 25-18, 19-25, 15-9). In the midday match, EMU dropped a 3-0 (25-21, 27-25, 25-15) decision to the Eagles.
EMU at Marymount
Records: EMU 4-8, 1-3 ODAC | Marymount 7-7, 0-0 Atlantic East
Highlights
- With things tied at two early on, EMU went on a 5-0 run, highlighted a kill from Lindsay Bly, an Emerson Moats ace and a block from Bly and Emma Rogers, for a 7-2 lead. The Royals would push their lead to as many as eight, 16-8, before the Saints went on an 8-1 run to pull within one. The teams swapped points to EMU leading 20-18 before Marymount took the lead with a 4-0 tilt. That didn't faze the Royals, however, as they ended the set with five straight points, as Alyssa Carr picked up a kill and Carr, Haley Atkins and Ella Lambert picked up three blocks.
- The second set saw the Saints jump out to a 7-2 lead before EMU clawed back in with a 5-0 run. MU answered with a 6-1 run and, later in the set, pushed their lead to eight with a 6-1 tilt. EMU won five of the next six points but, like EMU did in the first set, Marymount won the final four points to tie the match at one apiece.
- Once again the Saints pulled ahead early, leading 9-4, before EMU cut their deficit to two with a 4-1 run behind kills from Lambert, Carr and Atkins, along with a Rogers ace. The teams exchanged 3-0 runs until, late in the set, Marymount gave themselves some breathing room with a 6-2 run. Kills from Bly and Lambert would get EMU within six, but a Saints kill would give them a 2-1 lead.
- EMU wasn't quite ready to concede the match as, with the Royals leading 5-4 early in the fourth, they went on a 9-2 run for a 14-6 lead. MU cut their deficit to four, but the Royals responded and pulled back ahead by six, 20-14. Marymount wasn't able to find it footing, and kills from Logan Turchetta and Rogers forced a fifth and final set between the teams.
- It was tied at four through the first eight points, before MU pulled ahead with an 8-1 run. Unfortunately for the Royals, they weren't able to grab the momentum back as Marymount finished out the set, and the win.
Statistical Leaders
Kills: Turchetta (10)
Assists:
Ella Ollet (14),
Cristina Colon (13)
Digs: Moats (24),
Felicity Jones (16)
Blocks: Rogers and Atkins (5)
Aces: Moats (4)
EMU vs Eastern
Records: EMU 4-9, 1-3 ODAC | Eastern 7-6, 1-0 MAC Commonwealth
Highlights
- The Eagles and Royals traded 4-0 runs to start the match, with EMU using kills from Jada Parker and Rogers, to tie things at four. Eastern surged ahead with a 7-2 run, but EMU kept battling, taking a 13-12 lead after a 7-1 run of their own, highlighted by kills from Lambert, Atkins and Reese Fitton, along with blocks from Atkins and Fitton. Later in the set, after back-to-back blocks from Hannah Hensley/Rogers and Rogers/Lambert put EMU ahead 19-18, the Eagles used a strong offense to win seven of the final nine points for the set win.
- EMU jumped out to a 6-0 lead, with two aces from Jones and kills from Atkins and Parker, and would continue to lead all the way to 18-12. But Eastern wouldn't go away and pulled out in front after an 8-1 run. The teams swapped blows and the Royals got to set point, 24-23, after an Eagle error and a kill from Lambert. But Eastern tied things at 25 and, after an Eagle error put EMU ahead again, EU ripped off three straight for a 2-1 lead.
- Things were close to start the third and after a kill from Atkins, EMU trailed by just one, 12-11. The Eagles took control with an 11-2 run for a 23-13 lead. EMU would pick up two more points off two Eagle errors, but an Eastern kill gave them the set and the sweep.
Statistical Leaders
Kills: Hensley and Atkins (6)
Assists: Colon (15)
Digs: Moats (14), Jones (12)
Aces: Moats and Jones (3)
What's Next
EMU will be back into ODAC play when they head to Roanoke on Friday for a matchup against Hollins. First serve against the Green and Gold is set for 6:00 pm.
To keep up to date with everything surrounding EMU women's volleyball, follow EMU on Twitter and Instagram, like EMU Athletics on Facebook or visit our website.
