HARRISONBURG, Va. (EMU Athletics) – Coming off a 3-0 sweep of Randolph on Saturday, the Royals were looking to carry that momentum into their ODAC finale against Shenandoah.
EMU led 2-1, but the Hornets forced a fifth and final set, and rallied after trailing by four in the fifth, for a 3-2 (25-12, 23-25, 22-25, 25-15, 15-12) win.
Records: EMU 6-19, 2-9 ODAC | Shenandoah 12-10, 7-4 ODAC
Highlights
Set One: Shenandoah 25, EMU 12
• Shenandoah took a 5-2 lead to start the match before kills from Emma Rogers and Jada Parker tied things at five apiece. SU pulled ahead with an 8-1 run, leading 13-6.
• Trailing 15-7, EMU cut into SU’s lead with a 4-2 run, highlighted by kills from Parker and Kenley Smith, but the Hornets responded with 8-1 tilt, using a kill and two EMU errors to finish out the set and take a 1-0 lead.
Set Two: EMU 25, Shenandoah 23
• With things tied at five through the first 10 points, EMU took a slight lead with a 3-0 run, getting two kills from Emma Greer and a kill from Smith, for an 8-5 lead.
• Later in the set, with SU leading by one, EMU rallied again, this time with a 5-1 run, including a kill from Rogers and a block from Rogers and Logan Turchetta, to take an 18-15 advantage. The Hornets answered, winning seven of the next nine points for a 22-20 lead.
• EMU continued to fight, winning four straight off kills from Parker and Smith, as well as two aces from Emerson Moats, to force a Hornets timeout. Out of the break, SU picked up a point to pull within one, but a kill from Rogers gave EMU the set and tied the match at one apiece.
Set Three: EMU 25, Shenandoah 22
• Neither team could grab much momentum to start the third until, with EMU trailing 7-5, the Royals went on a 5-1 tilt highlighted by a Turchetta kill, to take a 10-8 advantage.
• The teams swapped points to a 15-15 tie, before once again EMU went on a run, this time 6-1, with three kills by Rogers, one from Turchetta and a Rebekah Allen ace, to lead 21-16. After EMU got to set point, 24-18, SU tried to claw back in, winning four straight points to pull within two. But a Hornets attack error made sure the comeback stayed incomplete, as EMU took a 2-1 lead.
Set Four: Shenandoah 25, EMU 15
• SU jumped out to a 9-4 lead to start the fourth, as they weren’t ready to head back to Winchester quite yet. They were able to extend it to double-digits, 18-7 and 19-8, before a service error and a Rogers kill cut it back to nine.
• The Hornets extended their lead to 13 before EMU won five of the next six points, including a kill from Greer and an ace from Parker, but their hole was too deep as a Shenandoah kill forced a fifth and final frame.
Set Five: Shenandoah 15, EMU 12
• The teams traded points to 3-3 to open the fifth, before EMU gave itself some breathing room with a 3-0 run, highlighted by another Greer kill.
• Later in the set, a 4-1 EMU run gave them a 10-6 lead and it looked like they were on their way to the win. But SU had other plans, going on a 7-1 tilt to take a two-point lead. A Parker kill stopped the run and pulled the Royals within one, but the Hornets finished things out with an EMU error and a kill for the win.
Statistical Leaders
Kills: Rogers (10), Parker (9)
Assists: Kaitlyn Custis (19 – 990 for career, 10th all-time in EMU history)
Digs: Moats (17), Parker, Felicity Jones (13)
Aces: Moats (3)
Blocks: Rogers (3)
What’s Next
EMU will wrap up its 2025 season on Saturday when they take on Gallaudet inside Yoder Arena. First serve against the Bison is set for 11:00 am.
— EMU Athletics —
