Royals Drop Tight Match at Arcadia

GLENSIDE, Pa. – After more than a week off, the EMU men’s volleyball team returned to action on Saturday, taking on Arcadia.

The Royals battled, and were extremely close to taking a 2-1 match lead, but, ultimately, the Knights prevailed with a 3-1 (25-21, 23-25, 26-24, 25-21) win over EMU.

Records: EMU 4-5, 0-0 CVC | Arcadia 6-5, 2-0 Middle Atlantic

Highlights

Set One

EMU picked up points from an error and a kill from David Ward to tie things at two with Arcadia before the Knights went on a 7-2 run and take a 9-4 lead. They maintained a lead and took the set to 19-11 before EMU responded with kills from Ben Childers and Walter Spurlock, along with blocks from AJ Bagby, Nate McGhee and Tyler Oaks, to pull with four. The Royals scored six of the next eight points to cut the Knights lead to 24-21, but Arcadia closed out the set on a service error.

Set Two

Things started pretty evenly in set two, with the score tied at eight apiece. But EMU went on a small run, with two Knight errors and a block from Spurlock, to take an 11-8 lead. They held the slim lead until, later in the set, AU went on a 4-0 run to pull ahead 18-16 and cause an EMU timeout. Out of the break, EMU took eight of the next 11 points to take a 24-21 lead. The Knights were able to pull within one, but McGhee’s kill tied the match at one set apiece.

Set Three

A 6-0 run highlighted the start of the set for Arcadia before EMU fought back and took a 10-9 lead. Later, with AU ahead 16-14, the Royals went on a 6-1 run with points from Bagby, Ward, Childers and Spurlock, to take a two-point lead. A service error gave EMU a 24-23 lead, serving for the set, but Arcadia responded with three straight points to take the set and a 2-1 lead.

Set Four

The Royals once again used a run in the middle of the set to take a one-point lead, 15-14. Arcadia was able to pull back in front by one, but EMU continued to tie things until, with the match tied at 19, AU went on a 4-1 tilt. Childers came up with a kill to cut EMU’s deficit to two, but back-to-back kills from the Knights gave them the 3-1 win.

Statistical Leaders

Ward – 16 kills, 1 ace, 2 digs, 1 block

Oaks – 37 assists, 9 digs, 2 blocks

Childers – 12 kills, 2 digs, 1 block

Postmatch Words from Coach Hoyos

Tough loss tonight. We played hard and, for moments, at a high level. We were up in set three 24-22 and could not…