Royals Rally Falls Just Short at Kean

UNION, NJ – After almost a month at home, the Royals hit the road for a pair of CVC matches in New Jersey. They started the road trip on Friday with a matchup against Kean.

The Cougars won the first two sets before EMU rallied, taking the next two and forcing a decisive fifth set. Unfortunately for the Royals, Kean was able to take the set and the 3-2 (26-24, 25-23, 22-25, 14-25, 15-12) win.

Records: EMU 9-9, 0-2 CVC | Kean 10-7, 1-1 CVC

Highlights

• The Royals jumped out to a 7-4 lead to start the first set, picking up kills from Ben Childers, Walter Spurlock and Nate McGhee. They continued to lead for the majority of the set, at one point extending their lead to six at 18-12. With EMU ahead 19-14 after a Kean service error, the Cougars scored five straight to tie things at 19. EMU pulled back ahead 23-20 before Kean tied things once again. The Royals got to set point, 24-23, with an attack error, before KU rallied for three straight points to take set one.
• Kean got out in front in set two, pulling ahead 10-5. EMU then went on a 7-2 run, highlighted by points from kills from McGhee and David Ward, along with multiple Cougar errors. The teams traded points and EMU was able to take a slim one-point lead multiple times, including 21-20. But with things tied at 22 and 23, Kean picked up the final two points for a 2-0 match lead.
• In the third set, the Royals weren’t going down without a fight. Anytime Kean took a lead, EMU responded to tie things, working to avoid the sweep. With the Royals down 16-15, the scored six of the next 10 to take a 21-20 lead. After Kean tied things at 21, a Cougar error and a McGhee kill gave the Royals a 23-21 lead. Another McGhee kill forced a Kean timeout, down 24-22, before a kill from Jamaury Starks gave EMU the set.
• EMU came out swinging in set four, jumping out to an 11-2 lead quickly. The Cougars were able to pull within six at 16-10 but EMU went on a 7-2 run to take a commanding 23-12 lead. They were able to hold Kean to just two more points, taking the fourth set and forcing a fifth and final frame.
• Kean started the fifth set on a 10-3 run and it seemed like they would run away with the match. But kills from Ward and McGhee, a Ward ace and a block from Childers and Oaks, pulled EMU with one at 11-10 and forced a KU timeout. The Cougars would get to match point, 14-10, before EMU fired…