DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The eighth-ranked Embry-Riddle volleyball team lost to Flagler for the first time in three seasons on Tuesday night, falling in four sets (25-18, 22-25, 24-26, 18-25). The Eagles had defeated the Saints in five-set matches each of the last two years.
 
With the win, FC improves to 7-6 on the year while ERAU drops to 10-4.
 
The Eagles looked the better squad in the first set as Flagler committed nine attack errors en route to a 25-18 ERAU win. A 6-0 run for Embry-Riddle that included three Flagler errors and two Jordan Holcomb service aces put the set out of reach at 22-13.
 
The Blue and Gold held a 12-9 lead in set two only to see the Saints take a 14-13 lead after a 5-1 run. Another 5-1 run put Flagler ahead 22-17, and despite a quick 3-0 run coming out of a timeout, Embry-Riddle couldn't pull closer than two points as the Saints took the set, 25-22.
 
The third set saw 16 ties and four lead changes as neither side pulled ahead by more than two points for the duration of the set. A kill from Holcomb put the Eagles up 22-21, but the Saints scored three straight points, all on ERAU errors, to move ahead, 24-22. After Embry-Riddle scored two in a row to tie the set at 24, Flagler got a kill from Rachel Stacy and was the beneficiary of a double contact call against Adriana Vazquez to end the set, 26-24, giving the Saints a 2-1 lead in the match.
 
A 3-0 run capped by a kill from Taylor Martin put Embry-Riddle ahead 14-11 in the third set, but FC rallied back with an 11-2 run to gain control of the set, 22-16. The Eagles couldn't mount any sort of comeback and Flagler took the set, 25-18, winning the match, 3-1.
 
Martin led all players with 18 kills and added 14 digs, while Holcomb chipped in with 13 kills, 19 digs and three service aces. Hannah Gray picked up a team-best 22 digs and Veera Hietala added 18 digs and three blocks. Vazquez compiled 43 assists and nine digs.
 
Dianna Craine led Flagler with 17 kills and added 15 digs and three blocks. Emilee Taylor recorded 15 kills and 17 digs, while Abby Meyers contributed 11 kills. Casey Gnann anchored the defense with a match-high 24 digs and Amelia Morgan racked up a match-high 48 assists to go along with 13 digs.
 
The Eagles hit the road for two conference matches this weekend. ERAU will take on St. Thomas on Friday (Sept. 28) at 7 p.m. before battling Florida Memorial at 2 p.m. on Saturday (Sept. 29). Live stats for both matches will be available at www.erauathletics.com.