CLEVELAND, Tenn. -- The Embry-Riddle volleyball team picked up its second loss of the season as the Mobile Rams defeated the Eagles, 3-1, in ERAU's opening match of the Lee University Invitational in Cleveland, Tenn.
UM's outside hitter Whitney Knight led the Rams to a 32-30 win in set one, picking up seven kills in only 13 attempts. The Eagles and Rams battled back and forth in the final points of the set, but Knight's back-to-back kills closed set one with the Rams on top.
Set two saw the score tied 10 times, with the final tie coming at the 21-21 mark. ERAU's Taylor Martin put a ball to the floor, giving the Eagles a one-point advantage over the Rams and the momentum to hold onto the lead for the remainder of the set. The Eagles capitalized on back-to-back errors committed by UM, and finally secured the set at 25-22 after Jordan Holcomb connected on a set from Adriana Vazquez.
The Rams opened up the third set with an early 12-6 lead and halted the Eagles at six as Melody Tenney of UM served six straight points for Mobile, giving UM a 19-6 advantage. A kill by ERAU's Lauren Anastase sparked a five-point run for the Eagles bringing the team within eight, but the Rams were too much for the Eagles, as they captured the second set 25-19.
The fourth and final set of the match saw the Eagles offensive intensity pick up, as Holcomb tallied seven kills and Martin followed closed behind with five. However, the Rams managed to battle their way to a victory and closed out the match 26-24, after UM's Knight served the way in the final three points of the contest.
Holcomb guided the Eagles offensively, tallying 17 kills while also picking up seven digs and four blocks. Martin notched 10 kills and Gloria Kemp added eight. Adriana Vazquez recorded 45 assists in the match, and Julia Frassetto picked up 21 digs for the Eagles.
Two of the five teams in the Lee Tournament are ranked in the top-25
NAIA Coaches Poll, including No. 15 Lubbock Christian and No. 20 SCAD,
while the other three are currently receiving votes (Embry-Riddle, Lee,
and Mobile).
The Blue and Gold take on the home team, Lee University, tonight at 7 p.m. in its second match of the Lee Invitational. The Eagles will then play No. 15 Lubbock Christian tomorrow at 11:15 a.m. in their final match of the Invitational.
