Royals Fall to #3 Juniata

HARRISONBURG, Va. – The Royals welcomed #3 nationally-ranked, Juniata, to Yoder Arena on Friday, in EMU’s penultimate home match. 

EMU battled, but Juniata lived up to the hype as they picked up a 3-0 (25-15, 25-12, 25-21) win over the Royals. 

Records: EMU 9-11, 0-4 CVC | Juniata 21-2, 3-1 CVC

Highlights

• The Royals got down 5-2 to open the first set before coming back with two straight, one on a service error and the other on a block from Ben Childers and Tyler Oaks. Later in the set, with EMU down by five, they rallied to pull within three with a kill from Nate McGhee and a block from David Ward and AJ Bagby. Juniata scored four of the next five to force an EMU timeout, trailing 15-9. Out of the break, EMU picked up kills from Ward and blocks from McGhee/Childers and Bagby/Oaks but an attack error and block ended the set for the Eagles, putting them ahead 1-0. 
• The Eagles started set two on a 10-1 run before EMU was able to grab some of the momentum back. Errors and a kill from Ward pulled EMU within seven before Juniata extended their lead to eight, causing an EMU timeout. Eight would be the closest the Royals would get, however, as JC ended the set by scoring the last three points and taking a 2-0 lead. 
• Set three was tight throughout, with EMU holding a slim lead, 9-7 and 10-8, thanks to points from McGhee, Ward and Childers. The teams continued to trade points to 15-15 before the Eagles went on a 4-1 tilt to take a three-point lead. They would extend their lead to five and had match point, 24-19, before EMU rallied with points from an error and a kill from Walter Spurlock to pull within three. But a kill ended the set and gave Juniata the 3-0 win. 

Statistical Leaders

Ward – 8 kills

McGhee – 4 kills, 5 digs, 4 blocks

Oaks – 15 assists, 3 digs, 2 blocks

What’s Next

EMU will wrap up its 2023 home slate on Saturday when they take on Elizabethtown for a 2 pm matchup. They’ll also celebrate their senior, McGhee, in pre-match festivities. 

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