Royals Drop Midweek Contest to Nationally-Ranked Knights

BUENA VISTA, Va. – EMU had a tall task ahead of it on Wednesday, traveling down 81 for a CVC showdown with #7 Southern Virginia. 

The Royals had some solid play but weren’t able to dethrone the reigning conference champs as SVU picked up a 3-0 (25-15, 25-14, 25-19) win. EMU falls to 2-12, 1-3 CVC. 

Highlights

• EMU played it tight with SVU through the first 18 points, picking up kills from Nate McGhee and Christopher Webster, as well as a block from Jacob Durren, Wyatt Bollinger and Webster, to tie things at nine apiece. The Knights responded with an 11-1 run to pull ahead 20-10 but a kill from Bollinger and an SVU error cut the lead to eight. The teams traded points to 23-15 but SVU picked up the set win with an error and an ace. 
• SVU jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the second and maintained a lead, keeping it as high as seven, to 15-8. The Royals then used a Durren kill and ace along with a McGhee kill and ace to pull within six at 19-13. SVU responded to EMU’s run with one of their own, a 6-1 tilt, to take set two, 25-14. 
• The Knights once again started out on top, leading 8-4. But EMU tied things at eight with a 4-0 run, highlighted by points from Webster, Durren and Ben Childers. A 5-0 SVU run forced a Royals timeout and out of the break, EMU took advantage of three Knight errors and a Durren/McGhee block to pull within two. Later in the set, with SVU ahead 19-13, EMU went on a 4-1 run with kills from McGhee and Childers, to cut into the lead and make it 20-17. SVU was able to finish things with five of the next seven points to take set three and the match. 
• McGhee led the way with eight kills and a pair of aces. Durren and Webster had three kills apiece with Durren leading the charge at the net with four total blocks. Bollinger dished out 15 assists. 

What’s Next

EMU will celebrate its three seniors, Durren, Josh White and Drew Bennett, on Saturday when they welcome Elizabethtown to Yoder Arena. That match is also Rowdy Royals for EMU. First serve is scheduled for 2 pm. 

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