SAVANNAH, Ga. - One day after seeing their 16-match winning streak snapped, the No. 11 Embry-Riddle volleyball team returned to their winning ways with a pair of sweeps on Saturday at the SCAD Invitational. The Eagles knocked off Bellevue (Neb.) 3-0 (25-21, 25-21, 25-18) before defeating Mobile 3-0 (25-12, 25-22, 25-16), moving their record to 22-2 on the season.
ERAU opened the day taking on Bellevue, who came in to the match with a 22-8 record on the year. A double block from Gloria Kemp and Taylor Martin put the Eagles ahead 10-5 in the first set, and a kill from Adriana Vazquez extended the lead to 17-11. But the Bruins rallied back, cutting the deficit to a single point at 20-19. Another double block, this time from Kemp and Vazquez, put the Blue and Gold one point from the set at 24-20, and a kill from Abby Hall two points later clinched the set, 25-21.
The Eagles opened the second set with a quick 5-0 burst to establish an early cushion, and they would lead throughout nearly the entire set. Bellevue used a 5-0 run of their own to tie things at 18-18, but ERAU responded with back-to-back kills from Emily Jacobson and Hall to regain the momentum, eventually taking the set by a score of 25-21.
The third set saw Embry-Riddle take a 6-2 lead in the early going thanks to a pair of kills each from Jacobson and Hall. A service ace from Martin built the margin up to 13-7, but the Bruins came back to cut the lead to 14-13. Holding a one-point lead (16-15), the Eagles finished up with a 9-3 run to close out the set, 25-18, and the match, 3-0.
Hall led the way with 12 kills to go along with 10 digs, while Jordan Holcomb added nine kills, seven digs, and four blocks. Kemp chipped in with six kills, six blocks, and two service aces.
Maureen Wardian recorded a match-high 13 kills for the Bruins, and Meghan Evans picked up 10 digs.
The Eagles' final match of the tournament came against Mobile, who brought a 12-10 record into the match. Kemp notched a pair of service aces early in the first set to help the Blue and Gold take a 7-0 lead, prompting Mobile to take a timeout. A kill from Martin brought the lead to double-digits at 16-6, and a kill from Hall finished the first set, 25-12.
In the second set, Embry-Riddle again took a quick lead, opening up a 7-3 margin on a double block from Jacobson and Martin. But the Lady Rams rallied back with a 7-1 run to take their first lead of the match at 10-8. ERAU regained the lead at 12-11 on a double block from Kemp and Vazquez, only to see Mobile take the lead right back at 15-14. The Lady Rams maintained a slim lead throughout a majority of the remainder of the set, but the Eagles battled back at the very end. Trailing 22-21, the Blue and Gold rattled off four straight points, including two double blocks from Kemp and Hall, to win the set, 25-22.
The third set saw the Eagles gain an early 8-2 lead, thanks to four Mobile attack errors. A kill from Martin elevated the cushion to nine points (18-9), and Embry-Riddle cruised to a 25-16 win in the set, taking the match, 3-0.
Once again, Hall led the team with 13 kills along with three blocks, while Martin registered 10 kills (.389 hitting percentage) and a match-high three service aces. Kemp hit .556 (6-1-9) and added two aces and three blocks. Vazquez recorded eight digs and 34 assists, helping the team to a .337 hitting percentage.
Kelly Sherling tallied a match-high 14 kills for Mobile, while Katy McCollister picked up 12 digs.
The Eagles wrap up their lengthy road swing with a pair of conference matches next weekend. The Blue and Gold travel to Northwood on Friday, Oct. 22, for a 7 p.m. match, followed by a visit to Ave Maria on Saturday, Oct. 23, for a 2 p.m. match.
