DANVILLE, Va. – The Royals were looking to get back to .500 on Saturday, with a pair of matches against Averett.

In the opener, which was an ODAC match, EMU picked up the sweep, knocking off the Cougars 3-0 (25-13, 31-29, 25-18). In the second match, the Royals picked up their second sweep of the day, winning 3-0 (25-19, 25-12, 25-13)

EMU vs Averett – Match One

Records: EMU 5-6, 2-0 ODAC | Averett 3-4, 0-2 ODAC

Set One: EMU 25, Averett 13

• EMU jumped out to a 7-2 lead to open the match, using a kill and an ace from Daeman Odom, two kills from Derek Diaz kill, an ace from Ricky Fernandez and blocks from Diaz, James Powell and Jose Melendez.
• After an EMU attack error, the Royals went on another run, this time 8-3, highlighted by two kills from Melendez, for a 14-5 lead.
• The teams swapped points to 16-8, but the Royals continued to be dominant, winning six of the next seven points to lead 22-9. Averett went on a small run, 4-2, to pull within 11, but a Cougar service error gave EMU a 1-0 lead.

Set Two: EMU 31, Averett 29

• This time it was Averett pulling out in front, taking an 8-7 lead early on. EMU responded with an 8-2 tilt with kills from Powell and Diego Morales Torres, along with a pair of blocks, for a 15-10 lead.
• The Royals continued to lead by multiple points until, leading 20-16, Averett won three straight to pull within one. The teams swapped points to EMU serving for the set, up 24-22. But back-to-back Cougar kills forced extra points.
• In the extra set, the teams once again went point-for-point until AU took a 28-27 lead, looking to pick up the win. A kill from Diaz and an error put EMU on top, but a Cougar kill tied things at 29. The Royals wrapped up the set, however, with another kill from Powell and an AU attack error.

Set Three: EMU 25, Averett 18

• With EMU leading 10-9 through the first 19 points of set three, the Royals then went on a 6-1 run, with two kills from Ezekiel Awkward and a block from Melendez and Awkward, to take a 16-10 advantage.
• Averett answered EMU's run with one of their own, winning six of the next seven points to cut EMU's lead to one, 17-16.
• EMU wasn't about to let Averett keep them from picking up a sweep, however, as the Royals won eight of the next 10 points, with four kills from Johnathan Badowski leading the charge for the win.

Statistical Leaders
Kills: Diaz (10), Awkward (6)
Assists: Fernandez (21), Gael Bravo (10)
Digs: Rey De La Cruz (5)
Blocks: Powell (4)
Aces: Fernandez (2)

EMU vs Averett – Match Two

Records: EMU 6-6, 2-0 ODAC | Averett 3-5, 0-2 ODAC

Highlights

Set One: EMU 25, Averett 18

• Neither team was able to grab much momentum to start the second match, as things were tied at eight through the first 16 points. EMU gave themselves some cushion with a 3-0 run, with a pair of Cougar errors and a Powell kill, for an 11-8 lead.
• Averett stormed back and led 15-13 at the media timeout, but the Royals went on an 8-2 tilt, highlighted by two Odom kills and a block from Awkward and Odom, for a 21-17 lead. After an EMU error pulled them within three, the Royals won four of the next five points, with an Odom ace and a Melendez kill, to take a 1-0 lead.

Set Two: EMU 25, Averett 12

• The Royals led 5-2 to start the second set, with two Cougar errors, an Odom kill and blocks from Powell and Pierce Donnelly and an Odom solo block. 
• After Averett cut EMU's lead to one, 5-4, the Royals went on a 5-1 run to lead 10-5 after four kills from four different players. Averett was able to get within two, 10-8, but the Royals once again pulled away, this time 8-2. 
• A kill and an EMU error would be the final points Averett would get in the set, as EMU finished things on a 7-2 run, including six straight points, as a Fernandez ace put a stamp on the set and gave EMU a 2-0 lead. 

Set Three: EMU 25, Averett 13

• EMU once again started out ahead in set three, this time 5-1 after kills from Awkward and Diaz, a Fernandez and Layne Kemp block and a Fernandez ace. 
• Averett once again pulled within two, but the Royals, much like set two, responded in kind with an 8-4 run, forcing a Cougar timeout. 
• Out of the break, EMU finished the set on a 12-5 tilt, with Delan Wright picking up a pair of kills, including the final one of the match, to secure the second win of the day. 

Statistical Leaders
Kills: Awkward and Odom (6)
Assists: Fernandez (18)
Digs: Diaz (6)
Blocks: Odom (5)
Aces: Fernandez and Morales Torres (2)

What's Next
EMU will look to stay undefeated in conference play as they welcome in Shenandoah to Yoder Arena on Tuesday. First serve against the Hornets is set for 7:00 pm. 

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