LYNCHBURG, Va. - EMU was in the Hill City on Saturday, looking for the season sweep of the Hornets. 

It wasn't to be however, as Lynchburg, trailing 2-1, took both the fourth and fifth sets to pick up a 3-2 (25-22, 23-25, 22-25, 25-18, 22-20)  win over EMU. 

Records: EMU 9-12, 4-5 ODAC | Lynchburg 9-9, 6-4 ODAC

Highlights

Set One: Lynchburg 25, EMU 22

• Kills from Daeman Odom and Derek Diaz put the Royals ahead 3-1 to start the match. Lynchburg later tied things at four and the teams swapped points to EMU leading 7-6 after another kill from Odom. 
• Lynchburg went on a 5-2 run to lead 11-9, but EMU stormed back with a kill from Diaz and blocks from James Powell and Derek Diaz, taking a 12-11 lead. Later in the set, another EMU run, this time 4-0, gave them a 16-14 lead. But the Hornets responded with a 6-0 tilt, pulling ahead 20-16. 
• An Odom kill, a Jose Melendez block and an error pulled the Royals within two, 22-20, but Lynchburg won three of the next five points to take a 1-0 lead. 

Set Two: EMU 25, Lynchburg 23

• EMU trailed 6-5 through the first 11 points, picking up kills from Melendez, Powell and Odom along with a Ricky Fernandez service ace. Lynchburg then pulled ahead 10-6 and would take a five-point lead, 13-8 and 14-9. 
• A kill from Melendez and a Powell ace started EMU's comeback, and a 4-0 run eventually tied things at 17. The teams traded points to 19-19, but the Hornets pulled ahead 22-19. EMU wasn't about to let the second set get away from them, however, as they went on a 6-1 tear, including winning the final four points off kills from Odom and Ezekiel Awkward, and an Odom block, to tie things at one apiece. 

Set Three: EMU 25, Lynchburg 22

• The Royals started out ahead 6-2 in the third, highlighted by a Fernandez service ace and two kills from Melendez. Later, after a service error and an Awkward ace, EMU would take an 11-5 lead. 
• Lynchburg went on a 10-6 run, pulling within two at 17-15. But EMU answered with three of the next four points and a 20-16 lead. The teams swapped points to 23-19, but Lynchburg tried to make it close, winning the next two to pull within three. But back-to-back blocks from Odom and Pierce Donnelly sandwiched an EMU error, giving EMU the set and a 2-1 lead. 

Set Four: Lynchburg 25, EMU 18

• This time it was the Hornets pulling out to an early lead, taking a 6-4 advantage through the first 10 points. EMU eventually tied things at nine after a kill from Powell, but Lynchburg won three of the next four points to take a 12-10 lead. 
• The Royals went on a 4-0 run, highlighted by an Odom/Melendez block, an Odom kill and a Powell ace, leading 14-12, but it didn't last long as Lynchburg stormed ahead with a 7-1 run. The teams traded kills to 21-18, before the Hornets finished off the set with the final four points. 

Set Five: Lynchburg 22, EMU 20

• Lynchburg once again took an early lead to start the fifth and final set, 6-5. A 3-0 Hornets run pushed them ahead 9-5, but back-to-back errors pulled EMU within two. 
• After the Hornets took an 11-7 lead, EMU went on a 5-1 run, highlighted by kills from Melendez and Diaz, to tie things at 12. EMU got to match point, 14-13, after kills from Awkward and Melendez, but Lynchburg forced extra points and the teams traded blows to 19-18. A Hornet error gave EMU life again , tying things at 19, before Lynchburg won three of the next four points to secure the win. 

Statistical Leaders
Kills: Diaz (14), Odom (12)
Assists: Fernandez (32)
Digs: Sebastian Clemente (16), Fernandez (13)
Aces: Powell (4), Odom (3)
Blocks: Odom (7), Melendez (4)

What's Next
EMU will look to get back in the win column when they welcome in Averett on Wednesday. First serve at home against the Cougars is set for 7:00 pm. 

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