Royals Split with Messiah, RMC

HARRISONBURG, Va. – The Royals welcomed a pair of high level teams to Yoder Arena on Saturday, taking on #7 Messiah and Randolph-Macon.

EMU battled against the Falcons, but ultimately fell, 3-1 (17-25, 25-22, 11-25, 25-27) before taking down Randolph-Macon 3-1 (29-27, 25-22, 22-25, 25-23).

EMU vs Messiah

Records: EMU 7-7, 0-0 CVC | Messiah 14-2, 1-0 MAC

Highlights

• A fast start for the Falcons gave them an 11-4 start in set one, forcing an EMU timeout. The Royals answered with a 4-2 run, with a kill from Nate McGhee, cut the lead to five before Messiah went on another run, 5-1. EMU went on a 7-3 tilt to cut the MU lead back to five but the Falcons were able to pick up the set win with four of the last five.
• EMU took a 5-3 lead in set two on points from McGhee and Ben Childers before MU stormed back with seven straight, taking a 10-5 lead. With Messiah leading 12-7, the Royals had their own run, 7-1, to take a 14-13 lead. The teams swapped points to 15-14 before another run, this time 6-1, gave EMU a four-point lead. A McGhee kill closed out the set, tying things at one.
• Messiah came out blazing in the third, not letting EMU grab any momentum. A 4-0 run and three different 3-0 runs highlighted Messiah’s third set. The Royals picked up two points at the end of the set, one on a kill from Childers, but Messiah used a kill to take a 2-1 lead.
• The Royals started out strong in set four, taking an 8-4 lead on points from David Ward, McGhee, AJ Bagby and Childers. They extended their lead to seven, 13-6, causing Messiah to take a timeout. Out of the break, EMU continued to lead, with the Falcons narrowing the gap. Late in the set, with EMU leading 23-20, Messiah went on a 6-1 tilt to take a slim 25-24 lead. A kill from Walter Spurlock tied things but the Falcons picked up two points to pick up the win.

Statistical Leaders

Ward – 13 kills, 5 digs

McGhee – 10 kills, 7 digs

Tyler Oaks – 32 digs

EMU vs Randolph-Macon

Records: EMU 8-7, 0-0 CVC | Randolph-Macon 8-7, 2-0 CVC

Highlights

• The teams traded points to start the first, until EMU pulled ahead with an 8-2 run, highlighted by a Christopher Webster ace, a Ward/Childers block and kills from McGhee and Childers, taking a 15-10 lead. RMC was able to keep it close, tying things late and taking a 25-24 lead. Then, with things tied at 27, a kill by Ward and a McGhee ace put…