DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The 18th-ranked and top-seeded Embry-Riddle volleyball rebounded from a slow start to capture a 3-1 victory (22-25, 25-20, 25-22, 25-11) over fifth-seeded Webber International in the semifinals of The Sun Conference tournament on Friday evening at the ICI Center. The Eagles move on to face third-seeded St. Thomas in the championship match, slated for Saturday at 2 p.m. at the ICI Center.
With the win, Embry-Riddle improved to 20-9 overall this season, while Webber International ends the year with an 18-12 record.
The Eagles were led by Jennifer Beatty, who recorded a match-high 15 kills, while Emily Jacobson chipped in with 12 kills and seven blocks (one solo). Jacobson also surpassed Susan Delahanty on the school's all-time blocks list, taking over the No. 1 spot with her fifth block of the match. Taylor Ruiz added 11 kills and Morgan Shattuck tallied 10 kills. Hannah Gray led all players with 33 digs while Tamires Ferreira racked up a team-high 39 assists.
Anitaka Knight led the Warriors with 13 kills while Taylor Eiken registered eight kills and 10 digs. Shauna Brown led the team with 12 digs and Katie Lindstrom compiled a match-best 40 assists.
The Blue and Gold got off to a rough start, falling behind 7-4 in the first set. ERAU rallied, and with a kill from Ruiz, the Eagles moved back in front, 12-11. The Warriors responded, tying the set at 14, and then taking the lead, 20-18, shortly thereafter. A service ace from Gray pulled the Eagles to within a point (22-21), but Webber rallied to end the set with three straight points, taking the frame, 25-22.
Embry-Riddle found its rhythm much earlier in the second set, racing out to an 11-3 lead. A kill from Ruiz pushed the margin to 18-11 before the Warriors began to mount a comeback, clawing to within three points (19-16). The teams traded blows before ERAU put together three straight points on three consecutive WIU errors, putting the Eagles ahead, 24-18. Three points later, Jacobson closed out the stanza with a kill, giving ERAU a 25-20 win that tied the match at one set apiece.
Set three saw WIU take a 2-0 lead and maintain a slim advantage for the first 10 points before Embry-Riddle put together a 5-1 run to take a 10-7 lead. Webber responded with a 5-1 run of their own to regain the lead, 12-11. The Warriors built the lead to as many as three points (20-17), only to see ERAU rally to finish the frame on an 8-2 spurt, keyed by three straight Ruiz kills that led to set point. The final point of the set was scored as a block for Ruiz and Jacobson, which was Jacobson's fifth block of the match and the 362nd of her career, making her the all-time career blocks leader in Embry-Riddle history. The Eagles took set three, 25-22, taking a 2-1 lead in the match.
The Blue and Gold carried the momentum from its come-from-behind set three win into the fourth set, jumping out to an 11-5 lead. A 5-0 spurt increased the lead to double-digits (17-7) and the Eagles sailed to a 25-11 win, clinching the match, three sets to one.
The Eagles will take on St. Thomas tomorrow afternoon in The Sun Conference Championship match at 2 p.m. inside the ICI Center. Live streaming audio and video along with live stats will be available at erauathletics.com/live. |
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Stats Comparison |
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Kills |
49 |
31 |
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Errors |
29 |
11 |
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Total Attacks |
148 |
91 |
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Attack Pct. |
.135 |
.220 |
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Assists |
45 |
27 |
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Digs |
52 |
39 |
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Blocks |
2 |
13 |
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Service Aces |
4 |
8 |
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Stat Leaders |
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Knight |
13 |
Kills |
15 |
Beatty |
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Lindstrom |
40 |
Assists |
39 |
Ferreira |
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Brown |
12 |
Digs |
33 |
Gray |
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Four players |
1 |
Blocks |
7 |
Jacobson |
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Parzygnat |
2 |
Aces |
2 |
Gray |
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