ASHLAND, Va. - Riding a five-match win streak, the Royals were looking to pick up two more on Saturday, as they took on RV Randolph Macon and #6 Messiah. 

But, as Geoffrey Chaucer said, "All good things must come to an end," which is what happened to EMU's win streak as they fell 3-0 (25-12, 25-16, 25-16) to Randolph Macon and 3-1 (25-15, 25-19, 19-25, 25-19) to Messiah. 

EMU at RV Randolph Macon

Records: EMU 8-7, 4-1 ODAC | Randolph Macon 14-2, 5-0 ODAC

Highlights

Set One: RMC 25, EMU 12

• RMC took a 7-2 lead to start the match, as EMU's points came on a service error and an Ezekiel Awkward kill. 
• EMU stayed within five with a pair of Yellow Jacket errors and a Jose Melendez kill, before Macon went on a 6-2 tilt to extend their lead to 16-7. 
• The teams swapped points to 20-12, with EMU picking up another kill from Melendez. RMC, however, ended the set by winning the final five points to take a 1-0 lead. 

Set Two: RMC 25, EMU 16

• Set two started out back-and-forth with the Yellow Jackets holding a 4-3 lead. EMU then went on a 3-0 run, using an error and kills from Daeman Odom and Pierce Donnelly, to take a 6-4 advantage. 
• RMC surged ahead with a 6-0 run and would hold a 6-8 point lead until, trailing 17-10, EMU won three of the next four points from Melendez and Odom kills and a block from Odom, Donnelly and Derek Diaz, to pull within five, 18-13. Unfortunately for the Royals, kills from Diaz, Odom and Bennett Barco would be all they'd pick up over the final 10 points as Randolph Macon took a two-set lead. 

Set Three: RMC 25, EMU 16

• Set Three started out very similar to set two, with EMU holding a 6-4 lead after a 3-0 run. A 4-0 RMC tilt gave them the lead back, but the Royals kept fighting and re-took the lead with a 4-1 run of their own, highlighted by an Odom kill. 
• Randolph Macon pulled ahead with a 3-0 run and the teams swapped points to 15-14 after a Melendez kill. But Macon would finish out the match on a 10-2 run, with EMU picking up a pair of points on a pair of RMC errors. 

Statistical Leaders
Kills: Melendez (5)
Assists: Ricky Fernandez (11)
Digs: Rey De La Cruz (5)

EMU vs #6 Messiah

Records: EMU 8-8, 4-1 ODAC | Messiah 16-2, 2-0 MAC

Highlights

Set One: Messiah 25, EMU 15

• The match started out tight, with things tied at six through 12 points after kills from Barco, Odom and Melendez. The Falcons pulled ahead with an 8-2 run, taking a 14-8 lead. 
• EMU fought back and pulled within two after a 4-0 run, highlighted by kills from Melendez and Odom, and the teams traded two points for two points to 16-14, MU. But, with the score close, Messiah went on a 9-1 run, including winning the final six points, for a 1-0 lead. 

Set Two: Messiah 25, EMU 19

• Things started out close once again in set two, as EMU trailed just 12-11 through the first 23 points. After a Messiah kill and a kill from Diaz, Messiah pulled ahead with back-to-back kills. But EMU responded with three straight points, including a Diaz kill and an Odom block, to tie things at 15. 
• A 5-1 Falcon run gave them the lead back, and EMU would only pick up three more points, including a Diaz kill, as Messiah led 2-0 through the first two sets. 

Set Three: EMU 25, Messiah 19

• A Powell block, two service errors and back-to-back blocks from Odom, put EMU ahead 5-2 to start set three. EMU would continue to lead until a 3-0 Messiah surge put them ahead 8-7. 
• The teams traded points to 11-10 before EMU took the lead back with a 7-2 tilt, highlighted by kills from Powell and Melendez, as well as a Melendez/Powell block.
• Messiah was able to cut their deficit to two, 18-16 and 19-17, before the Royals got to set point with two kills from Melendez, a kill from Jonas Stafford and another Melendez/Powell block. An EMU service error delayed the ending by a point, as a Falcon error got EMU right back into the match. 

Set Four: Messiah 25, EMU 19

• MU jumped out to a 5-1 lead to start the fifth set before EMU cut their deficit to two with a 4-2 run. 
• Later in the set, with Messiah leading 13-8, EMU pulled within one with a 5-1 run, highlighted by two kills from Powell and one from Diaz. Messiah answered and was able to get back in front by three, 18-15, before EMU rallied once again with three straight points, including two blocks: a Donnelly/Odom block and a Powell solo block, to tie thing at 18. 
• Unfortunately for the Royals, Messiah was able to finish out the match by winning seven of the next eight points, including the final five, to secure the win and keep EMU away from the upset. 

Statistical Leaders
Kills: Diaz (8), Odom (7)
Assists: Fernandez (15)
Digs: Sebastian Clemente (10)
Blocks: Odom and Powell (4)

What's Next
EMU is back at home on Wednesday, when they welcome in Randolph College for a midweek ODAC matchup. First serve against the WildCats is set for 7:00 pm. 

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