From left: Sara Ritchie, Mattie Lehman, Kayla Smeltzer and Jillien Puster were honored as EMU's seniors in pre-match ceremonies. (Photo by Rachel Lindsay)

Women’s volleyball gets ODAC win on senior day

It was a great sendoff for EMU’s seniors, as the volleyball team battled back for a 3-1 win over Hollins on Saturday. The Royals picked up their first ODAC win of the year in their final home match, while also celebrating Senior Recognition.

With some tough serving, visiting Hollins jumped on Eastern Mennonite in set one, winning 25-19. The women turned things around in the second, scoring first and jumping to a 5-1 lead.  They never trailed in claiming a 25-15 win.

Hollins put up the first point in the swing set but EMU took over with a 9-1 run, going up 15-8. The visitors got within 16-13 before the Royals tacked on a 5-0 run to re-take control en route to a 25-21 win.

The fourth set was all EMU as the women used an early 8-0 run to blow things open. Senior  (Harrisonburg, Va./Turner Ashby) closed out the day with a kill, clinching a 25-14 winner.

Eastern Mennonite hit .170 as a team, their fourth-highest total of the season.  Ritchie finished with a match high 13 kills to go along with 14 digs.  (Kenbridge, Va./Kenston Forest) also hit double figures with 11 kills.  (Staunton, Va./Robert E. Lee) had nine swats and  (Richmond, Va./Maggie L. Walker) added eight.

 (Ridgeway, Va./Westover Christian) put up 21 assists for the hitters, while (Staunton, Va./Robert E. Lee) had 20 to go along with 17 digs. Libero  (San Antonio, Tex./Brandeis) led all players with 24 digs.

 (Harrisonburg, Va./Harrisonburg) had four of the team’s 12 service aces.

Now 8-18 overall and 1-9 in the ODAC, the Royals wrap up the year on the road.  They play their final conference match Wednesday night at Emory & Henry.