DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The 12th-ranked Embry-Riddle volleyball team completed its second consecutive undefeated conference regular season with a 3-0 (25-22, 25-15, 25-21) victory over Southeastern on Saturday afternoon at the ICI Center. The Blue and Gold improved to 27-2, 12-0 in conference, while the Fire fell to 21-11, 8-4 in conference.
Before the match, seniors Lauren Anastase and Hannah Rasmussen were honored, and both earned the start in the first set. Anastase served the first four points of the match as ERAU opened the set on a 3-0 run. The Fire responded quickly, going on a 10-3 run to take a 10-6 lead. Jordan Holcomb put down a kill to end the run, and the Eagles won the next three points, capped by a block from Anastase and Emily Jacobson, tying the set at 10. The two teams traded points for awhile, with neither side able to take a lead of more than two points, until Abby Hall's kill put Embry-Riddle ahead, 21-18. The Fire battled back to tie things at 22, but a kill from Holcomb and a pair of kills from Gloria Kemp ended the set at 25-22 in favor of the Eagles.
The second set saw Southeastern take a 3-0 lead only to have ERAU rattle off nine of the next 10 points to take the lead, 9-4. With the Eagles leading 12-9, the Blue and Gold went on an 8-0 run to blow the set open, 20-9. Embry-Riddle closed out the set with a triple block from Holcomb, Jacobson and Hall, winning 25-15 to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
In the third set, both sides matched each other point-for-point, keeping things close throughout the set. Hall's kill tied things at 13 and Jacobson's kill put the home team ahead for good at 18-17. Holcomb clinched the set and match with a service ace, giving the Eagles the final set, 25-21.
Hall led all players with 20 kills and a .472 hitting percentage. Taylor Martin picked up six kills and seven digs, while Jacobson chipped in with five kills and five blocks. Nina Kontrec anchored the back row with 11 digs, and Adriana Vazquez compiled 41 assists and six digs.
Heather Johnson led the Fire with eight kills while Karina Mambuca and Ruthie Glover each recorded a team-high eight digs.
The Eagles will travel to St. Augustine, Fla. to close out the regular season with a match at Flagler on Wednesday, Nov. 10. The match is set to begin at 7 p.m. Embry-Riddle will then travel to Savannah, Ga. for The Sun Conference Tournament which will take place at SCAD Savannah Nov. 12-13. The Blue and Gold have clinched the No. 1 seed and will play the winner of the Warner/Southeastern match on Friday, Nov. 12 at 7 p.m.
