HARRISONBURG, Va. - EMU wrapped up the 2026 regular season with a tri-match on Saturday, as they welcomed in Virginia Wesleyan and Drew University. 

In the opener, EMU won the opening set before VWU took the next three, to win 3-1 (19-25, 25-20, 25-22, 25-22). In the finale, it was a back-and-forth affair, but it was Drew that eeked out the five-set win, 3-2 (13-25, 25-18, 16-25, 25-20, 15-11)

EMU vs Virginia Wesleyan

Records: EMU 11-17, 6-10 ODAC | VWU 20-9, 9-7 ODAC

Highlights

Set One: EMU 25, VWU 19

• EMU used two VWU errors and kills from Derek Diaz and James Powell to take a 5-3 lead to start the match. The Marlins pulled within one but EMU answered with a 4-0 run, highlighted by a Daeman Odom block and a Jose Melendez kill. 
• The teams traded points and then VWU used a 3-0 run to cut their deficit to 12-9. The teams once again swapped points with EMU using a 3-0 run to build on their lead, including kills from Powell and Diaz.
• VWU went on a 5-1 run to make the score 19-17, but EMU reeled five of the next six to surge ahead by six. After a VWU kill, a Marlins service error wrapped up the set for EMU. 

Set Two: VWU 25, EMU 20

• EMU jumped out to a 5-0 lead to start set two, using an Odom kill, an Odom/Powell block and a Ricky Fernandez ace to surge ahead. The Marlins then pulled ahead with a 6-0 run before the teams traded blows to 10-10. 
• A 6-1 Virginia Wesleyan run gave them a 16-11 lead, and they would continue to lead by at least five until they went on a 4-1 run late, extending their lead to 22-15. EMU was able to fight back, going on a 5-2 run with two kills each from Melendez and Powell, along with a Powell/Bennett Barco block, but like the ending of set one, a service error finished the set, tying things at one apiece. 

Set Three: VWU 25, EMU 22

• Neither team was able to gain much momentum to start the third set, as VWU took a slim 10-9 lead through the first 19 points. EMU pulled ahead with a 5-1 run, as Powell and Diaz kills put the Royals on top. 
• EMU would continue to hold onto a lead, despite the Marlins chipping away, to 20-17 late in the set. But VWU then surged ahead with a 4-0 run and then, after a kill from Odom, the Marlins won the next two points to make it 23-21. EMU got within one with a Wesleyan service error, but a kill and an ace put the Marlins ahead 2-1 in the match. 

Set Four: VWU 25, EMU 22

• Set four was much like set three, with neither team being able to surge ahead. EMU led 10-7 through 17 points after back-to-back VWU errors. 
• Later in the set, with EMU leading 12-10, the Marlins took a lead with a 5-1 run before swapping points to 20-18. Two points from Melendez and a Marlin error put the Royals back in front, 21-20, but a kill from Ezekiel Awkward would be all that EMU would be able to pick up, as Virginia Wesleyan closed out the set, and the match, on a 4-0 run. 

Statistical Leaders
Kills: Odom (10), Melendez and Powell (9)
Assists: Fernandez (21), Stafford (15)
Digs: Rey De La Cruz (9)
Blocks: Powell (5), Odom (4)

EMU vs Drew University

Records: EMU 11-18, 6-10 ODAC | Drew 14-16, 2-5 CVC

Highlights

Set One: EMU 25, Drew 13

• With the set tied at three, EMU used a 3-0 run, from Diaz and Pierce Donnelly, to lead 6-3. After an EMU service error, the Royals went on a 6-0 run, highlighted by a pair of Donnelly kills and blocks from Odom and Awkward, to take a 12-4 lead. 
• Drew pulled within six with a 3-1 run, but EMU answered with a 4-0 tilt of their own, including kills from Melendez and Delan Wright, for a 10-point lead. 
• The teams traded points to 19-9 before the Royals won five of the next seven to get to set point. An attack error staved off the win for a point, but Diego Morales Torres finished things off with a kill for a 1-0 EMU lead. 

Set Two: Drew 25, EMU 18

• This time it was the Rangers pulling ahead early, leading 5-1 through the first six points. EMU was able to pull within one with an error, two blocks and a kill, but Drew responded with a 6-2 tilt for a 12-7 lead. 
• An Awkward kill and a Wright block pulled EMU within two and the teams swapped points to 15-13. The Rangers gave themselves some breathing room with an 8-2 run, taking a 23-15 lead late. The Royals would only pick up three more points, coming from three Drew errors, as a kill tied the match at one. 

Set Three: EMU 25, Drew 16

• With the Royals holding a slim 12-11 lead through 23 points in set three, they were able to surge ahead with a 9-1 run, using kills from Odom, Donnelly and Diaz, a Stafford ace and blocks from Odom, Donnelly and Diaz to take a 21-12 lead. 
• It was even, 4-4, through the final eight points, but that was enough for the Royals to take a 2-1 lead, as Wright slammed home a kill to put EMU on top 2-1. 

Set Four: Drew 25, EMU 20

• A kill from Donnelly gave the Royals a 7-6 lead early in set four, before the Rangers responded with a 6-1 run, taking a 12-8 lead. Two kills from Melendez sandwiched a Drew kill, but DU extended their lead to five with back-to-back points. 
• Two points from Odom and a Diaz kill pulled EMU within three, 16-13, but Drew won four of the next five points to pull back out in front by six.
• Two Ranger errors, a Melendez kill and a Wright ace cut EMU's deficit to three, 21-18, but a 4-2 run ended the comeback by the Royals and sent the match to a fifth and final frame. 

Set Five: Drew 15, EMU 11

• Drew took a 3-1 lead to start the fifth, but Melendez, Diaz and Odom helped put the Royals in front with a 5-1 run. 
• EMU would continue to lead until a 3-1 Ranger run tied the match at eight. Odom and Barco put EMU ahead 10-8, but Drew answered with a 4-0 run. A kill from Odom stopped the run, but only briefly as the Rangers finished things off by winning the final three points to secure the 3-2 win. 

Statistical Leaders
Kills: Melendez (15), Donnelly (12), Odom (11)
Assists: Stafford (25), Fernandez (23)
Digs: Morales Torres (10)
Blocks: Odom (7)
Aces: Odom (2)

What's Next
EMU will head to Lynchburg on Tuesday for the ODAC MVB Quarterfinals. First serve against the Hornets is TBD. 

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