HARRISONBURG, Va. - The Royals wrapped up their spring break at home, taking on Roanoke and Marymount in a Saturday tri-match. 

In the opener, EMU took the opening set from the Maroons, but fell in the next three as RC won 3-1 (23-25, 25-18, 27-25, 25-23). In the nightcap, EMU showcased their firepower in a 3-0 (25-17, 25-21, 25-22) sweep of former CVC foe, Marymount. 

EMU vs Roanoke

Records: EMU 8-10, 4-3 ODAC | Roanoke 13-4, 7-1 ODAC

Highlights

Set One: EMU 25, Roanoke 23

• EMU opened up with a 6-3 lead, using an Ricky Fernandez ace, kills from Jose Melendez, Daeman Odom and Ezekiel Awkward, and an Odom/Melendez block. The teams traded blows until Roanoke had taken a 12-11 lead, but EMU answered with three straight off three Maroon errors. 
• The teams swapped points until a 3-1 Roanoke run pulled them within one late, 21-20. Back-to-back kills from Derek Diaz gave EMU some cushion, but the Maroons were able to pull within one yet again, 24-23. The Royals, however, wrapped up the set with a Roanoke attack error, taking a 1-0 lead. 

Set Two: Roanoke 25, EMU 18

• Set two was controlled by the Maroons from the start, as they jumped out to a 16-7 advantage through the first 23 points.
• Kills from James Powell and Melendez, along with an Awkward ace, cut RC's lead to six, but Roanoke answered with three straight of their own to still lead by nine. 
• The teams swapped points, but EMU wasn't able to gain any ground, as they picked up five kills to tie things at one apiece. 

Set Three: Roanoke 27, EMU 25

• With Roanoke leading 7-6, EMU went on a 4-0 run, highlighted by a kill from Diaz and a block from Powell and Melendez, for a 10-7 lead. 
• Roanoke pulled back even with the Royals, and even led 13-12, before EMU went on another run, this time 4-1, using two kills from Odom and two from Jonas Stafford, to lead 16-14.
• An Odom kill and two Maroon errors would extend EMU's lead to 19-15, but Roanoke continued to fight, winning six of the next eight points to tie things at 21. After a kill from Odom gave EMU set point at 24-23, Roanoke won the next two to send the set to extras. Another kill from Odom tied things at 25, but RC won with back-to-back kills from Cade Kinne for a 2-1 lead. 

Set Four: Roanoke 25, EMU 23

• EMU jumped out to a 10-6 lead to start the fourth set, picking up four straight points from a Diaz kill, an error and blocks from Odom and Diaz. 
• Later, with the Royals leading 12-8, Roanoke pulled ahead with a 5-0 tilt before EMU answered with three straight for a 15-13 lead. The Maroons reeled off four straight points, however, to pull back in front in the topsy turvy set. 
• The teams would be tied at 21 after kills from Odom and Diaz, and 22 after a stafford kill, but back-to-back Maroon points gave them match point at 24-22. A service error pulled the Royals within one, but a Roanoke kill finished out the set, and the match. 

Statistical Leaders
Kills: Odom (15 - career high), Melendez (11)
Assists: Fernandez (25)
Digs: Fernandez and Sebastian Clemente (8)
Blocks: Powell and Odom (4)

EMU vs Marymount 

Records: EMU 9-10, 4-3 ODAC | Marymount 10-9, 0-1 CVC

Highlights

Set One: EMU 25, Marymount 17

• Neither team could grab much momentum to start the match, with things tied at eight early on. EMU then went on a 6-2 run, using kills from Powell, Awkward and Melendez, to lead 14-10.
• The Royals would continue to hold a lead, with MU getting within four, 19-15, after an EMU error. But the Royals extended their lead with a 3-0 run as kills from Pierce Donnelly and Awkward put EMU ahead 22-15. Marymount would pick up two more points, but a Saints service error put the Royals on top 1-0. 

Set Two: EMU 25, Marymount 21

• Once again, things were tight through the first 14 points, with the set tied at seven apiece. EMU gave themselves some breathing room with three straight point, including a Melendez/Powell block, for a 10-7 lead.  
• Marymount surged ahead to take a 12-11 advantage and things were later tied at 19 with each team looking to give themselves some cushion. That's exactly what the Royals did as they won the next four points, with a Diaz kill, a Powell ace and blocks from Odom/Melendez and Odom/Diaz. The Saints used an EMU error and a kill to pull within three, but an Odom kill wrapped up the set and gave EMU a 2-0 lead. 

Set Three: EMU 25, Marymount 22

• With MU leading 7-6, EMU went on a 4-1 run with two kills from Diaz, one from Melendez and a Powell ace, for a 10-8 lead. 
• Marymount pulled ahead 12-10 but EMU answered with another 4-1 run to lead 14-13. Later, they were able to push their lead to 18-15 and the teams swapped points to 22-20, EMU. The Royals smelled blood in the water, and were able to finish off the sweep after a big kill from Powell. 

Statistical Leaders
Kills: Odom (9), Powell and Diaz (8)
Assists: Fernandez (22), Stafford (15)
Digs: Clemente (8)
Blocks: Odom and Melendez (3)

What's Next
EMU will be on the road on Wednesday, as they head to Virginia Beach for a big ODAC showdown with Virginia Wesleyan. First serve against the Marlins is set for 6:00 pm. 

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