Taylor, a 6-foot-5 junior hitter from Richmond, Virginia, traveled to Los Angeles for an open tryout to make the . He joined players from across the nation in Washington June 30-July 4 and July 6-15 for the pair of high-level tournaments against some of the world鈥檚 best deaf athletes.

His team took the silver in the Pan Am qualifier, finishing behind only Brazil, and lost in the quarterfinals of the World Deaf Volleyball Championships to Turkey, which went on to win the gold in that event. The silver medal in the qualifier assures the team a spot in next year鈥檚 Deaflympics in Samsun, Turkey.

Taylor, who was born with significant hearing loss and received a MED-EL cochlear implant at age 2, says the tournament experience was invaluable.

鈥淧laying at the international level helped me raise my game, because I was going up against several professional players from different countries. I felt like I was able to get some quality punches from my side of the net against guys who get paid to do this for a living,鈥� Taylor says.

鈥淚 learned a lot about international volleyball and different defense styles that are used in Olympic volleyball today. It was a great experience overall, and I can鈥檛 wait to take that back to EMU.鈥�

EMU men鈥檚 volleyball coach is also eager to bring that perspective to the team this year.

鈥淚t means a lot to have an athlete from EMU participate at the highest level of the sport,鈥� Porter says. 鈥淚鈥檓 looking for Hunter to have more roles on our team. Hunter brings life to our team, and we are proud and lucky to have him here at EMU.鈥�

Taylor started at EMU as a freshman before transferring to Radford University and leaving volleyball for a year. He missed the sport, though, and friends convinced him to return to EMU. He was a force in his second college season, receiving EMU Athlete of the Week honors this past winter.

鈥淗unter is a player that goes 100 percent and wants to get better,鈥� Porter says. 鈥淗e is very explosive and contacts high, which as a right-side hitter is a must. Hunter is always looking to learn more and absorbs everything.鈥�

Having absorbed the taste of high-level volleyball, Taylor now has a singular goal.

鈥淚 want to help us win a conference championship,鈥� Taylor says. 鈥淚 am interested in playing professionally after my college career concludes, but my biggest volleyball goal right now would be to win the conference.鈥�

The men will wrap up their regular season at league-leading Stevenson on March 30. The Royals will also be watching how Juniata finishes the year, as the Eagles and EMU are battling for the final tourney berth.

If seeding holds out over the remaining matches, EMU and Juniata would finish the season tied, meaning their fight for the final CVC Tournament bid would come down to tie-breakers.

EMU’s men are searching for their first-ever tourney berth in the four years of the CVC’s existence. The four-team CVC Tournament is April 8 and 9, hosted by the top seed.

EMU 3, Thiel 0

The Royals were in firm control in the conference contest to start the day, only allowing Thiel a pair of 3-0 runs the entire match. The Tomcats lone leads were at 2-1 in the first set and 1-0 in the third. EMU had double digit leads in each set, rolling to wins of 25-12, 25-9 and 25-18.

Eastern Mennonite hit a season-high .406 as a team, making only eight errors on 64 attempts. Setter (Richmond, Va./Deep Run) spread the ball around and made 25 assists.

(Mechanicsville, Va./Lee-Davis) landed eight kills with no errors on 11 swings. (Montpelier, Va./Patrick Henry) had six kills while (Chester, Va./Thomas Dale) and (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) each had five.

The men had eight blocks, including five from (Greencastle, Pa./Greencastle-Antrim). Taylor and Abele each had a hand in three.

EMU 3, John Jay 0

After Thiel pulled past John Jay in three, the Royals did the same to the Bloodhounds. A handful of regulars got the match off, but it hardly mattered as the men kept rolling to 25-9, 25-10 and 25-14 wins.

The net defenders picked up 11 blocks, marking just the second time this season they hit double figures in a three-setter. Spriggs, who was honored between sets two and three on Senior Recognition Day, led the charge and tied his career high with eight stuffs. The middle also tied his career high with nine kills.

(Mechanicsville, Va./Lee-Davis) dropped in nine kills while (Temple Terrace, Fla./C. Leon King) added eight. Both freshmen set their career high. Abele added four blocks, while Taylor put up 25 assists.

Taylor will compete with the national team in the World Deaf Volleyball Championships this summer in Washington, D.C., and then in the 22nd Summer in Samsun, Turkey, in 2017. Taylor is ; the six others listed are developmental athletes.

Taylor鈥檚 journey as a collegiate player began with frustration: he played in only 12 sets his freshman year and eventually transferred to Radford University. But in his year away, Hunter realized that he missed playing volleyball.听 In fact, he needed to play volleyball.

鈥淟ate March at Radford I started going through some rough times,鈥� said Hunter. 听鈥淚 lost myself.听 A close friend of mine told me she didn’t know who I was anymore. I vowed to her that I鈥檇 find myself and find a way to make myself happy again. I was also failing school and my grandfather was getting sicker and sicker that year. I felt like I needed to find myself again and go back to my roots.鈥�

His grandfather died in December. A simple drive on I-81 started turning the wheels to get him back at EMU.

鈥淥ne day I drove back to Radford and while passing the Harrisonburg exit, I texted my old roommate, teammate and best friend, (Montpelier, Va./Patrick Henry).听 I asked him if it would be crazy if I came back to EMU and he said that the team could use me.听 I considered it and months later I had applied to EMU and was back to where I first started.鈥�

Back with the Royals, Taylor has had an impressive start to his second collegiate volleyball season.听 In a match against Lancaster Bible College, the opposite matched his career high of seven kills for the second straight contest with a .500 attack percentage on just 12 swings.听 He also added four service aces, two blocks and five digs.

鈥淗unter works hard. You can tell he wants it more than ever,鈥� Coach Dominick Porter said. 鈥淪ince he鈥檚 been back, he鈥檚 matured so much and he’s developed a lot, too. He has much more control, he鈥檚 much more effective when it comes to hitting, as you can see he hit .500. He can just go up and get a ball.鈥�

Taylor says his deafness has little impact on his ability to play at an elite level. 鈥淗onestly I don’t think it affects me as much as you think it would,鈥� he said. 鈥淰olleyball is a lot of hand signals and people yell 鈥榖all鈥� loud enough so I get out of the way most of the time.听 Then again, I’ve had coaches and even teachers tell me they didn’t want me on their team or in their classroom because they didn’t want to face my disability.听 So I’ve always kept that chip on my shoulder whenever I play or try to ace a test.鈥�

Taylor was the first two-year-old in the world to have the MED-EL cochlear implant for hearing loss implanted under his skin.

鈥淚t鈥檚 cool to see the same people that go through what I go through on a daily basis and people be fluent in sign language while communicating with others,鈥� he noted. 听鈥淚t鈥檚 like a new language that you’re just fascinated to see and want to keep watching.鈥�

Meanwhile, the team is happy to have Hunter back.听 His presence adds new energy and dedication.

鈥淲e love him,鈥� Porter said. 鈥淏efore he left, I even told him, 鈥業f you ever want to come back please come back.鈥� 听I knew he wanted to play volleyball and I guess he just wasn鈥檛 ready at the time to do what he鈥檚 doing now.鈥�

Taylor said he is just happy to be playing volleyball at EMU.

鈥淚t feels great to be back, I’m a more confident player this time around,鈥漵aid Taylor.听 鈥淚t鈥檚 weird, it鈥檚 like taking a year off from volleyball was the best thing I’ve ever done for my career – I’m still figuring out my role on the team, but I鈥檓 always ready to come in and give a spark to the team whenever Dom calls on me.听My freshman year I came in expecting a lot of things, so this year to avoid stress I’m coming in with no expectations.听 I鈥檓 just happy to be here.鈥�

Porter was talking about his junior captain, (Montpelier, Va./ Patrick Henry), the Royals Athlete of the Week.

Over the men鈥檚 season opening three matches, the outside hitter averaged 4.0 kills and 1.08 service aces. His most notable performance was against D-II Alderson Broaddus when he just missed his career high with 26 kills, tied his career best with five aces and set a new high with six block assists.

鈥淚t felt like a regular game,鈥� said Scott. 鈥淯sually when I go for a lot of kills it鈥檚 because there’s a weaker blocker, or that鈥檚 our setup for the game. I鈥檓 not really going for career highs every game I鈥檓 just going with the flow. If someone’s not stopping me or someone’s not stopping someone else we go to them. It鈥檚 not really me going out there trying to impress other people; it鈥檚 going out to win the game.鈥�

In his third season, Scott has become the leader he has always pushed himself to be. In his first two campaigns, he averaged the most kills on the team. Unfortunately throughout his freshman and sophomore years his game was hindered due to injuries.

During his freshman season, Scott had a fracture in his back and also a problem with the alignment of his hips.听 The IT band is a ligament that extends from the pelvic bone to the shinbone, and during his sophomore season a misalignment there affected Scott鈥檚 ability to jump.

鈥淧reviously I liked being an outside hitter because they get more sets than anybody else, but now that鈥檚 kind of stabbing me in the back I guess,鈥� declared Scott. 鈥淭he enjoyment of getting a lot of sets has kind of dwindled out because it takes a toll on your body. Now what I enjoy most is facing the other team鈥檚 setter.听 The setter is usually the captain and the facilitator of the hitters. I鈥檓 usually matched up with him on the right side and I like reading his game plan and getting that message across to my teammates so we know how to handle their play.鈥�

According to his coach, Scott鈥檚 volleyball IQ is an obvious improvement in his game.

鈥淗e’s a lot better at dictating the flow of the game and telling it to the teammates beside him,鈥� explained Porter. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what has developed him the most because not only can he show it but he tells his teammates on the court, 鈥楬ey you should do this better,鈥� or 鈥楾his is what you should be doing.鈥欌��

Scott鈥檚 improvement did not come unexpectedly. The men began formal practices after Thanksgiving break and during the preseason Scott worked out six to seven times a week for two to three hours.

鈥淚 feel a lot stronger,鈥� he noted, 鈥淚鈥檝e done what the chiropractor and a few of my physical training friends have told me to do.听 I鈥檝e been doing that and working out with them, so I feel a lot better.鈥�

Perhaps playing so well is a repercussion of the new talent that the team has collected this year. With the proper chemistry, Scott believes the team is capable of accomplishing great things.

鈥淭he attitudes of the freshmen are good. They have high hopes,鈥� said Scott. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e putting in the effort to deliver in the long haul such as playoffs.听 Once we get our chemistry down and the game starts flowing for us, we鈥檒l become a great team instead of just a talented team.鈥�

Undoubtedly a team player, Brigham brings great leadership and contagious energy to the team.

鈥淚鈥檓 not really worried about achievements or if people recognize me or not,鈥� he explained. 鈥淚鈥檓 just here to do my job.听 I would say my job is to figure out a way to win the game and lead the way to that win.鈥�

“We finally have what we need to get there,” Porter explained, “a setter and pin hitters that can effectively put away in the clutch.”

The men finished 14-10 overall in 2015, but 3-9 in the CVC to just miss the tournament.

Having seven returners, including five who saw consistent playing time, means Porter has a strong base of players back.

“It means we have guys that want it more than ever,” Porter added.听 “After not making the tournament, they know what it feels like to watch it all come down to who beats who during the season, rather than simply focusing on making the tournament field.”

The CVC slate of matches starts with road dates at Juniata and Thiel on Feb. 5 and 6, respectively.听 But preparations began with a tri-match over Jan. 15-16, in which the team was 1-2,听 winning against NAIA Bluefield and posting losses to D-II Alderson Broaddus and听 D-II Coker.

Junior outside hitter (Montpelier, Va./Patrick Henry) was the team’s leading hitter last year with 221 kills, despite missing eight matches.听 His lofty average of 3.81 kills per set was even higher until he filled in as the setter for three matches.

Porter said that Brigham, one of the Royals’ three captains, is stronger this season after spending time in the gym.听 But his leadership will be just as important as his play.

“Being one of only two upperclassmen, Scott has and will be our on-the-court leader,” Porter said.听 “And we need him to be that to reach our goals this year.听 He has done a great job of communicating on-court responsibilities during a match and leads the unit on the court.”

The Royals return a large defensive presence, both in the back row and at the net.听 Libero (Richmond, Va./Douglas Freeman) (2.41 digs per set) and Lancaster, Pa./Hempfield) (1.44 digs per set) bring a load of poise to the back row, while middle (Greencastle, Pa./Greencastle-Antrim) (67 blocks, .356 attack percentage) quickly blossomed in his first season of organized volleyball.

“Micah and Colton will be very important for us this year,” explained Porter.听 “They have both showed an aggressive nature on the court, scrapping and getting to every ball.听 They will be our biggest asset on defense we look for them to take over on the court.听 Dan, with a year under his belt, will be our biggest threat at the net as he is truly developing into a blocking powerhouse.”

Buller and Lutz are also team captains.听 All three are from last year’s talented freshmen class, as is outside hitter (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin), who was second on the team with 191 kills (2.48 per set).

“Tim spent the summer getting into shape and it shows when he attacks the ball,” Porter noted.听 “As a result, there is a level of aggression when going after a set.”

Senior (Chester, Va./Thomas Dale) and sophomore (Gloucester, Va./Gloucester) each played in at least 10 matches as middles in 2015 and will look to expand their roles this year.

Freshman setter (Henrico, Va./Deep Run) headlines the new freshmen class, with (Mechanicsville, Va./Lee-Davis) and (North Chesterfield, Va./Thomas Dale) leading the charge for court time as transfers.听 (Richmond, Va./Patrick Henry) (1.08 kills and 0.58 blocks per set in 2014) returns after a year away from EMU.

“William previously played for national power Carthage,” Porter said, “and we look to use him in multiple roles to reach our goals this year, as well as utilizing his leadership on the court.”

Freshmen (Temple Terrace, Fla./C. Leon King), (Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial) and (Mechanicsville, Va./Lee-Davis) will also be pushing for playing time.

Porter said that while he has more offensive weapons this season, the key will still be ball control.

“I need our liberos and setter to have a big statistical year.听 Everything else will molded around their output and success.”

As noted by the two D-II opponents over opening weekend, the Royals have beefed up their non-divisional matches, which have been mostly absent since the NCAA began sponsoring a D-III national tournament in 2012.听 Men’s volleyball is unique in comparison to most other collegiate sports, as the voters in the national poll actually do take into account how teams do outside of their divisional contests.

Along with Coker and Alderson Broaddus, Porter added matches against D-II teams King, Lees-McRae and Limestone.听 All three play in the Conference Carolinas, whose teams were common opponents for Eastern Mennonite half a decade ago.

Porter said those additions were intentional to increase the level of play of the men’s opponents.

“The guys are excited to play tougher competition,” he said, indicating that change would help the team accomplish their goals for the season.听 “Our immediate goal is to make our conference tournament.听 Secondary is to come into the conference tournament higher than the fourth seed.”

EMU’s coach said that with the increased offensive options and overall knowledge of his players, the Royals are ready to take that next step in 2016.

“One of our main strengths will be the number of players on our roster that have a high level of volleyball IQ,” explained Porter. 听“With our transfers and current balance, I think this year we will show we are a new team.”

A crowd of about 200 enjoyed the game, cheering on both the Kingz and their opponents, a team made up of faculty, staff, alumni and students.

The event was billed as the EMU Charity Classic by the (BSU), which hosted the game and an after-party later that night. More than 150 tickets were sold, with the funds going towards an alternative spring break trip planned jointly by BSU, the EMU Gospel Choir, and .

鈥淚 really love how the game brought a lot of energy to EMU,鈥� said sophomore Anna Messer. 鈥淚t was a great time for students to get together with professors and with each other. It was a good community event for people to just let loose and have fun.鈥�

Crowd-pleasing hoops

The Streetball Kingz is a group managed by Dewey Jackson, based in Delaware. The team plays across the U.S. for community and nonprofit events. Their flashy style of play incorporates crowd-pleasing dunks, top-notch ball handling, and supreme shooting.

The fundraiser was quickly put together and gained momentum after the Streetball Kingz, just weeks before, contacted , director of , about coming to EMU since they had already played at James Madison University and Bridgewater College. Lepley passed along the idea to BSU student advisor .

鈥淲e wanted to do something that would be fun and late night so that students would have an option of doing something that鈥檚 substance free,鈥� said Thomas. 鈥淲e thought it would bring a lot of energy to the campus and it was something new. I think we did well taking a risk and trying something different.鈥�

鈥淚t always feels good to see hard work pay off,鈥� said BSU event coordinator Richard Robinson, 鈥渆specially for an event like this that has never happened on EMU鈥檚 campus.鈥�

The fundraiser will help defray costs of an alternative spring break civil rights experiential learning trip to Alabama and Georgia.

鈥淚nstead of going to the beach, we鈥檒l be going to Selma, Tuskegee and Atlanta doing a civil rights tour,鈥� said Thomas. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the 51st anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, so we鈥檒l walk across the Pettus Bridge, stop by national civil rights museums along the way, and go to some of the churches that they marched from. We鈥檒l visit Martin Luther King Jr. father鈥檚 church, go to MLK鈥檚 church in Montgomery, and also where Rosa Parks got on the bus from her job and decided not to sit in the back of the bus.鈥�

Team brings families and communities together

Streetball Kingz player Randy Gill, aka White Chocolate, splashed three three-pointers within the first five minutes of the game and they did not stop coming. A crowd pleaser, Gill interacted with the fans the entire time.

Following a collegiate career at Bowie State University, Gill started playing streetball and minor league basketball. He was eventually asked to play overseas, and since his return, has been playing for the Streetball Kingz.

Gill explained that the mission of his team is to support youth, and to bring families and communities together.

鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 matter if there are 20,000 people or even 100 people. We鈥檙e here to spread the love, bring the community together, and have a good time,鈥� he said. 鈥淲henever there鈥檚 a cause or a mission and we can help bring the people together that鈥檚 what it鈥檚 all about. We want young people to believe in themselves and let them know that they can do anything they want to if they practice their craft, whatever it may be. My mission is believe to achieve.鈥�

More BSU events

This month, BSU will be hosting a Nov. 18 chapel with the theme of #BlackLivesMatter. On Dec. 11, BSU will be joining the Campus Activities Council to host the .

鈥淲e鈥檙e expecting about 150 people for the ball,鈥� said Thomas. 鈥淲e鈥檝e contacted a band called Ebony Blue, and that will be another large event before we leave for winter break. When we come back we鈥檒l have a week-long celebration for MLK in January, then in February we鈥檒l have Kwanzaa for Black History Month, and finally the trip will be in March. We鈥檙e trying to expose the campus to different things. 鈥�

A version of this article was first printed in Nov. 5, 2015, issue of The Weather Vane.

Eastern Mennonite’s volleyball men officially open their new season on Tuesday, hosting Lancaster Bible College at 7 p.m. in Yoder Arena.听 The Royals finished 2014 at 12-14, but tied for the longest winning streak in program history at six matches in a row.

Porter said his team did well with the hand they were dealt.

“I felt the year went as well as we could make it go given the roster size and injuries,” explained Porter.听 “The team worked hard and prepared for the long season last year knowing we did not have numbers to successfully scrimmage in practice.”

The men returned seven of their ten players, a nice core despite the fact that they lost their top hitter and setter.

“It means a lot to have those returners because they know what playing in college looks like and they are the ones pushing everyone else to get better and do better,” Porter commented.听 “We are in a good place right now.”

Back are outsides听听(Montpelier, Va./Patrick Henry) (3.29 kills/game and 1.84 digs/game) and听听(Lancaster, Pa./J.P. McCaskey) (2.49 kills/game and 1.61 digs/game), along with rightside hitter听听(Newport News, Va./Menchville) (0.98 kills/game and 1.54 digs/game).听听听(Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Watterson) was one of the top blockers in the nation last year at middle averaging 1.16 stuffs per game along with 0.98 kills.听 Fellow middle听听(Berryville, Va./Leesburg Christian) brings back 1.03 kills and 0.85 blocks and听听(Chester, Va./Thomas Dale) added 0.66 blocks off the bench.

听(Creighton, Pa./Deer Lakes) spent much of last season as the team’s libero, but becomes more of a general this year.

“Zach will be stepping into the setter position and I am very pleased about his versatile role on the team,” said Porter.

EMU’s coach also explained that he is expecting a lot of leadership out of his upperclassmen.

“Jesse, Kyle and Marc will lead the team as returners and two of them are seniors,” he said.听 “Their roles will have to be fulfilled this year in full as we have a young team.”

Porter also expects a lot of out his eight freshmen, both in contributions this year and during their four seasons as a whole.

“We have three liberos in听听(Richmond, Va./Douglas Freeman),听听(Lancaster, Pa./Hempfield) and听听(Lancaster, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite) and we could not be in a more stable place with the liberos we have,” he explained.听 “Outside听听(Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) will be producing a large amount of our offense this year as well as middle/rightside听听(Greencastle, Pa./Greencastle-Antrim).听听听(Virginia Beach, Va./Salem) is one of the most athletic rightsides to play at EMU, and setter听听(Hampton, Va./Bethel) and his club teammate middle blocker听听(Gloucester, Va./Gloucester) who will also be seeing time this year as freshmen.”

Besides the influx of versatile talent, Porter is excited to simply have more than the needed 12 players to complete a six-on-six scrimmage during practices.听 The Royals only had 10 men on the roster last spring.

He also sees this group of athletes functioning well as a team.

“Our biggest goal is for this group of guys to work well together,” he said, “and to do the right, simple things all the time.听 They are coming along well. 听Our short term goal is to progress day to day through practice and then game experience.听 Our long term goal is to make the CVC Tournament.”

EMU finished 2-8 in the Continental Volleyball Conference in 2014 and are still looking for their first postseason appearance as the league enters its fourth year of existence.

There is a major change in the structure of the CVC this year, however, as the Western Division of the league (made up of teams from Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri and Ohio) amicably left during the offseason to form their own more geographically-concise conference, the Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League. 听The Eastern teams of EMU, Marymount, Stevenson, Juniata, Thiel and Cairn maintained the rights to the CVC name as well as automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, and added a seventh team in Rutgers-Newark.

While the league was originally started to provide an automatic bid when the NCAA added a sponsored national championship for 2012, the continued growth of the sport allowed the expansive conference to add more teams and now cut down on travel expenses.

Porter agrees that the split was for the better.

“It just makes our conference even tougher with a greater focus on the seven teams here in the east,” he explained.听 “Having a Western Division was okay but to really just pay attention to what we have in our region is better for the program and the conference.”

The top four teams in the final standings will advance to the postseason CVC Tournament, which is hosted by Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pa., on April 10-11.

With the volleyball men sporting their largest roster size since also having 15 on the team six years ago in 2009, Porter is glad to have three assistant coaches this year, giving him extra eyes and feedback.

While Porter knows this season will see a lot of learning curves with more than half of the roster being freshmen, the Royals are excited.

“Practice is more competitive and we look more like a team,” he said.听 “Our most noticeable strength is being able to play multiple people during matches.听 We have guys that can play more than one position and that’s a good position to be in.”

After the season-opener tomorrow night in Yoder Arena, the Royals will have to forge their identity on the road, playing six straight away from home.

EMU 3, Coker 2
The first match was a back-and-forth thriller, with the men winning in five. They broke open a close game one when freshman (Chester, Va./Thomas Dale) landed five aces within six serves to build a 19-10 lead.听 Coker wouldn’t recover in a 25-17 decision.

The Cobras built a small lead in game two, and withstood a late EMU run for a 25-21 win.听 Eastern Mennonite broke off a 24-24 tie in game three for a 26-24 win, but gave up the final two to Coker in game four to lose 25-23.

The teams were locked up at 10-10 apiece in game five, but the Royals got back-to-back kills to turn momentum into a 15-12 clincher.

EMU hit .242 as a team and landed 10 service aces, headed by Dolan. EMU’s freshman setter lofted 50 assists in his first collegiate effort and had six aces.

(Richmond, Va./Highland Springs) had 21 kills, while (Montpelier, Va./Patrick Henry) had 19 kills.听 Brigham also had 11 digs. Libero (Creighton, Pa./Deer Lakes) also had 11 good passes. Garret Delph (Berryville, Va./.Leesburg Christian) contributed to six blocks, while (Columbus, Oh./Bishop Watterson) had five stuffs.

Coker 3, EMU 1
The Cobras regrouped by the time the two teams met again Saturday night. They led much of game one, but had to score the final four to steal a 25-23 decision.

EMU played from behind in game two, and forced a number of late ties, but fell 25-22. A big 9-3 run in the middle of the third game gave the Royals the legs for a 25-21 win. But Coker jumped to a 9-2 lead in game four and ran away with a 25-14 win.

Brigham had another double double, notching 13 kills with just three errors while adding 11 digs. Moore led all players with 16 kills. (Lancaster, Pa./J.P. McCaskey) added eight kills. Dolan had another 39 assists.

Guiciardi had a match high 12 digs. Storc was again a force at the net with six blocks.

The Royals are now 1-1 as they prepare for a Monday exhibition against a club team from Liberty University. Start time in Yoder Arena is 7 p.m. No stats will be kept for the exhibition, although there will be a live video webcast.

An all-conference performer during his collegiate playing days, Porter continued improving after college and went on to play professionally in Germany and also with the U.S. National Team. He has been an assistant coach with EMU the past two seasons and also coached at Eastern Mennonite High School.

“EMU was my platform to play professionally overseas and I am extremely excited to take everything I have learned and implement it at EMU,” Porter said. “I look forward to being back where my volleyball career started and to give back.”

Director of Athletics Dave King said Porter brings a unique perspective on what can be accomplished with hard work.

“I am very excited to bring Dom on staff to lead the men’s volleyball program,” King explained. “While by his own admission he was only an average player when he arrived at EMU, Dom used the opportunity to develop to his fullest potential, reaching the professional level of play which so few college athletes do.听 Having played at the highest levels, he will be able to demonstrate and transfer that knowledge to the team and help them reach their greatest potential as players and persons.”

Porter played during the most successful four-year span in program history, totaling a record of 67-36 and playing in the national Final Four in 2004. He graduated fifth in career kills and second in career blocks, and still holds the EMU record for career hitting percentage at .385. He said the progression he made as a player during and after his time at Eastern Mennonite will be a signature for the teams he coaches.

“You can expect growth out of my teams,” he said. “When I came to EMU as a player I didn’t have the best skill set or technical training, but what I learned by being on the team was that volleyball is about progression no matter an athlete’s skill set. Positive repetitions and a clear vision can mold any level of player to greatness. Approaching our training sessions with a vision individually and as a team will be our baseline for success.”

King pointed out that while Porter understands he faces a learning curve as a first-time head coach, he is also ready to grow as a coach just as he was as a player.

“I am pleased that he is eager to learn, willing to be mentored and is committed to bringing stability to the program,” said King. “While he hasn’t had much experience with recruiting, he is very familiar with the volleyball programs in both Virginia and Pennsylvania and I’m confident in his ability to build relationships with coaches and prospective student athletes. His experiences as a student athlete at EMU give him a unique perspective to share with recruits. He understands and is committed to EMU and I know that he will work hard to build a program that will support the values and mission of the university and help young men develop their full potential as players and persons.”

While previous head coach Gary Moore worked to bring in a solid recruiting class, Porter is left with the challenge of rebuilding a program which is on its fourth head coach in four years and also graduated five seniors from a roster of ten. He said he has plans for how to bring in new players.

“I’d like to reach out to Pennsylvania more than we have in the past,” Porter said. “We have a great base here with Richmond and Virginia Beach having an abundance of players. To expand that reach up north is a challenge I am up for.”

The Royals are founding members of the Continental Volleyball Conference, although they have narrowly missed the CVC Tournament each of the first two seasons. Porter inherits a team which finished 14-13 last spring and averaged an impressive 207 fans per home match. He is excited about the supportive crowds in Yoder Arena.

“EMU has always been unique in having a men’s volleyball program and it makes us stand out from most colleges in the area,” he said. “I enjoy the community coming out to watch the men’s team in action because for some people this is their first time seeing it.”

The schedule for the 2014 season, which starts in January, will be released this fall.

Revenge has been on Jason Axford