HARRISONBURG, Va. (EMU Athletics) – EMU looking for their fourth straight win on Wednesday, as they welcomed in Shenandoah for the first ever MVB matchup between the Royals and the Hornets.
EMU was able to stay unbeaten in the ODAC, and has yet to lose a set in conference play, with a 3-0 (25-20, 25-13, 25-22) win over SU.
Records: EMU 7-6, 3-0 ODAC | Shenandoah 4-7, 1-6 ODAC
Highlights
Set One: EMU 25, Shenandoah 20
• EMU jumped out to a 5-1 lead to start the match, taking advantage of three Hornet errors, an ace from Daeman Odom and a block from James Powell and Derek Diaz.
• Later in the set, the Royals were able to push their lead to five, 15-10, with two kills from Ezekiel Awkward and one from Diaz. After the media timeout, SU started chipping away at EMU’s lead, and was able to get within two, 18-16, after a 6-3 tilt.
• The Royals finished things off, however, winning seven of the final 11 points of the set, including two kills from Odom and a block from Powell and Jose Melendez, for a 1-0 lead.
Set Two: EMU 25, Shenandoah 13
• Set two started out much closer than the final score indicated. SU was able to keep EMU in its sight through the first 20 points, trailing just 11-9, as Powell and Diaz helped the Royals to a tight lead.
• EMU went on a 4-0 run to get to the media timeout, highlighted by a Ricky Fernandez ace and a block from Powell and Pierce Donnelly. After the break, the Hornets would pick up two points, and then get outscored 10-2, with Awkward adding two more kills and EMU adding two more blocks and an ace, for a 2-0 match lead.
Set Three: EMU 25, Shenandoah 22
• Kills from Odom and Diaz, along with a Fernandez ace, put the Royals ahead 4-3 to start the third set. They were never able to lead by more than three until, holding an 11-10 advantage, EMU went on a 5-1 run, using two kills, an ace and a block, to get ahead 16-11.
• Shenandoah answered with a 7-3 run to pull within one, but a 5-2 EMU run forced a Hornet timeout, trailing 24-20. Out of the break, SU took advantage of kill and a Royals error to cut EMU’s lead to two. But Diaz wrapped up the sweep with a kill, his eighth of the night.
Statistical Leaders
Kills: Awkward (9), Diaz (8), Powell (7)
Assists: Fernandez (15)
Digs: Diaz and Sebastian Clemente (4)
Blocks: Powell and Melendez (5), Odom (4)
Service Aces: Powell and Fernandez (3)
What’s Next
The Royals are right back in action at home on Wednesday, for the first-ever men’s volleyball edition of the Route 42 Rivalry. First serve against Bridgewater is set for 7:00 pm.
— EMU Athletics —
