HARRISONBURG, Va. (EMU Athletics) – The Royals knew they had a tough task ahead of them on Wednesday, as they welcomed in #17 Randolph Macon. And while the result wasn’t what EMU was hoping for, they were definitely up to the challenge.
All three sets against the Yellow Jackets was tightly contested, as RMC escaped Harrisonburg with a 3-0 (25-20, 28-26, 25-21) win over EMU.
Records: EMU 11-14, 6-7 ODAC | Randolph Macon 24-4, 12-0 ODAC
Highlights
Set One: RMC 25, EMU 20
• With EMU holding a slight 2-1 lead early in set one, Randolph Macon went on an 8-1 run, taking a 9-3 lead.
• Macon would continue to hold their lead, but EMU started chipping away, as midway through the set, EMU used a 9-5 run, highlighted by two kills each from Derek Diaz and Daeman Odom, to pull within two, 19-17. A 4-1 RMC run put them in front 23-18, and EMU would only get a Macon error and a kill from Odom as the Yellow Jackets took the first set.
Set Two: RMC 28, EMU 26
• Three RMC errors along with kills from Diaz and Jose Melendez, gave EMU a 5-2 lead to start set two. The Yellow Jackets evened things at five and later, pulled ahead 11-8 after a 4-0 run.
• The teams traded points before EMU went on a 4-0 run, with kills from Odom and Diaz and blocks from Odom and Melendez leading the charge. The teams once again traded blows and RMC pulled back in front, 19-17, with a 4-1 tilt.
• Late in the set, with Macon leading 23-21, the Royals used a 3-0 run to give themselves set point. RMC and EMU swapped points to 26-25 EMU, before the Yellow Jackets were able to reel off the final three points on a pair of kills and Royal error, for a 2-0 lead.
Set Three: RMC 25, EMU 21
• The Royals held a two-point lead, 8-6, through the first 14 points of set three, using two kills from Ezekiel Awkward to take a lead. RMC tied things at eight and the teams traded service errors to 10-9, EMU.
• A 9-3 Randolph Macon run surged them ahead but a Yellow Jacket error and kills from Diaz and Awkward pulled EMU back within two. EMU was able to keep RMC in their sights, staying within two to 22-20, until Randolph Macon used two kills and a block to secure the sweep.
Statistical Leaders
Kills: Diaz (12)
Assists: Ricky Fernandez (17), Gael Bravo (11)
Digs: Sebastian Clemente (10)
Blocks: Odom and Melendez (3)
What’s Next
EMU is back in action for a crucial ODAC match on Saturday, when they head to Lynchburg to take on Randolph College. First serve against the WildCats is set for 7:00 pm.
— EMU Athletics —
