Royals Drop Midweek Matchup to Randolph-Macon

HARRISONBURG, Va. – After almost three weeks away from home, the EMU men’s volleyball team hit the court in Yoder Arena on Tuesday. 

They welcomed in CVC foe, Randolph-Macon, in a rematch from an earlier season matchup. The Yellow Jackets were able to pick up the 3-0 (25-17, 25-23, 25-15) win over EMU. The loss sends EMU to 2-10, 1-2 CVC. Macon improves to 11-3, 1-2 CVC. 

Highlights

• EMU and RMC played the first set close through the first 18 points. With Randolph-Macon leading 9-6, the Royals took advantage of a pair of RMC errors along with a Jacob Durren block to tie things at nine apiece. The two teams traded points to 13-12, RMC, before the Yellow Jackets went on a 6-0 run to pull ahead by seven. EMU picked up points from a pair of Macon errors along with a Durren/Tyler Oaks block to pull back within four but Randolph-Macon scored six of the next eight points to take set one. 
• The Royals started out hot in set two, taking a 9-2 lead off a Durren/Christopher Webster block, a Wyatt Bollinger kill, a Bollinger block, two kills from Nate McGhee, a Durren kill and a block from Ben Childers. EMU continued to hold a lead, even through an 8-1 Macon run. An error and a Durren kill put EMU back up by three, and the two teams would trade jabs until late. After EMU pulled ahead 21-18 thanks to an error, a McGhee ace and a Oaks/Childers block, RMC scored four straight to go up by one. EMU responded with two of their own, an error and a kill from Childers, but Macon put the set away with a 3-0 run to go ahead 2-0. 
• Randolph-Macon took an 8-5 lead to start set three before EMU ripped off four straight points, with kills from Childers and McGhee along with a pair of blocks from Durren and Oaks, to take a 9-8 lead. Macon would retake the lead but the Royals were able to keep things close, using a Yellow Jacket service error to pull within one, 11-12. Macon then went on a 9-1 run to pull ahead 21-12. EMU picked up three more points, including another kill from Childers, but RMC finished the set, and the match, with a kill. 
• McGhee led the way for the Royals with 11 kills to go along with six digs. Childers finished with five kills and a pair of blocks while Durren added four kills and six total blocks. Oaks finished with a match-high 24 assists. 

What’s Next

EMU’s slate won’t get any easier as they’ll take on #10 Juniata on Saturday…