DANVILLE, Va. – EMU wrapped up a weekend on the road Saturday, with an ODAC matchup against the Cougars of Averett University.
EMU was looking for a win, having dropped four straight, and they got just what they needed. Ella Rogers and
Logan Turchetta led the way for EMU with 13 kills apiece, as the Royals picked up a 3-1 (25-20, 25-16, 20-25, 25-14) win over Averett for their first conference win of the season.
Records: EMU 4-6, 1-2 ODAC | Averett 1-8, 1-3 ODAC
Highlights
- The Royals used kills from Hannah Hensley and Logan Turchetta, along with a pair of aces from Emerson Moats, to jump out to a 5-0 lead. After the Cougars tied things at six, EMU went on a 9-4 run and eventually took a 19-12 lead. When it looked like EMU was cruising to a set win, AU clawed back in and tied things up with a 7-0 run, forcing EMU to use both of its timeouts. Out of the second break, EMU took back control, picking up two kills from Emma Rogers and an Ella Ollet ace, as part of a 4-0 run and, used kills from Ella Lambert and Turchetta to finish out the final two points.
- AU held a one-point lead, 6-5, through the first 11 points before EMU went on a big run, 7-0, highlighted by kills from Rogers, Turchetta and Lambert, to take a 12-6 lead. Averett was able to pull within four, 13-9, but EMU opened things up once again, this time going on a 6-1 tilt to take a 19-10 lead. After three Cougar points, the Royals scored five straight with a Hensley/Haley Atkins block, kills from Turchetta and Atkins and a Felicity Jones ace. Averett would manage three more points, but another Hensley kill gave the Royals a 2-0 lead.
- Neither team was able to grab momentum in the fourth set, and after a pair of AU errors, EMU held a 14-13 lead. Averett then went on a 4-0 run to lead 17-14, but EMU responded with four of the next five, to tie things at 18. Unfortunately for EMU, kills by Atkins and Hensley would be all the Royals would get as Averett won seven of the final nine points to pull within one set.
- Things started out tight once again, this time with EMU holding a 9-8 lead after a Cougar kill. The Royals then went on a tear, winning seven of the next eight points after two kills from Turchetta, one from Carr and Cristina Colon and an ace from Jones. After two AU points, EMU pushed their lead to 20-11 and would allow Averett to score only three more points, with the Royals finishing off the match, winning the final five on three kills from Rogers and one apiece from Turchetta and Lambert.
- EMU's win over Averett gives the Royals their first victory over the Cougars in 25 years, with the last one coming in a neutral site matchup on Sept. 28, 2001.
Statistical Leaders
Kills: Turchetta and Rogers (13 - career highs), Lambert (10 - career high)
Assists: Ollet (21), Colon (20)
Digs: Moats (19), Jones (12), Colon (10)
Aces: Moats and Jones (3)
What's Next
The Royals will head to Winchester on Wednesday for a midweek matchup against Shenandoah. First serve against the Hornets is set for 6:00 pm.
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