SIOUX CITY, Iowa - The 12th-ranked Embry-Riddle women's volleyball team opened pool play at the 2010 NAIA National Championship with a hard-fought 3-0 sweep (26-24, 25-22, 25-23) of No. 14 Southern Oregon. Abby Hall led the way with 19 kills while Nina Kontrec anchored the defense with 20 digs.
Playing in the program's first-ever National Championship match, the Eagles dug themselves an early hole, falling behind 7-3 in the first set. Back-to-back kills from Emily Jacobson pulled ERAU to within one at 13-12, and a block from Jacobson and Taylor Martin brought the Eagles even with the Raiders at 15-15. Jordan Holcomb's service ace gave the Blue and Gold their first lead of the match at 17-16, but it would be short-lived, as Southern Oregon rallied back to take a 21-18 lead. After an ERAU timeout, the Eagles strung together four straight points to regain the lead, 22-21. The teams then traded sideouts for the next six points until Gloria Kemp put down a kill to finish the set at 26-24 in favor of Embry-Riddle.
The Eagles again found themselves behind in the early stages of the second set, though the deficit was never more than two points until the Raiders went on a 3-0 run to take a 19-16 lead. After ERAU head coach Joslynn Gallop called for a timeout, her team rallied to win eight of the next 10 points, taking a commanding 24-21 lead. Two points later, Hall ended the set with a kill, giving ERAU a 25-22 win and a 2-0 lead in the match.
In the third set, the Blue and Gold were able to gain the advantage much earlier than they had in the previous two sets, using a 4-0 run to take a 7-4 lead in the early going. The Eagles maintained a slight edge until a 4-0 SOU run put the Raiders in front, 17-16. ERAU responded with three consecutive points to regain the lead, 19-17. Southern Oregon fought back to tie things at 22, but a kill from Hall followed by a block from Holcomb and Jacobson put the Eagles in position to take the match. Two points later, Hall finished off the Raiders with her 19th kill, clinching the set at 25-23 and giving the Eagles their 24th 3-0 sweep of the season.
Hall led all players with 19 kills to go along with nine digs and three blocks, while Jacobson added nine kills and six blocks. Holcomb chipped in with eight kills and Martin added seven kills. Adriana Vazquez ran the offense with 43 assists as the Eagles hit .258 for the match. Defensively, Kontrec recorded a match-high 20 digs while Julia Frassetto added 12 digs.
Sarah Holgen paced the Raiders with 16 kills while Megan Bartling added 10 kills. Leanne Stennett registered a team-high 18 digs and Becky Johnstone tallied 17 digs.
The Eagles continue pool play tomorrow night when they take on Briar Cliff (Iowa) at 8 p.m. CST. Embry-Riddle will wrap up pool play on Thursday night with a match against No. 1 Lee (Tenn.) at 8 p.m. CST. The top two teams from each pool will advance to the single-elimination bracket, which begins on Friday morning.
