The nightcap saw a matchup of two nationally-ranked programs, featuring the 10th-ranked Eagles and the 11th-ranked Crusaders, who had defeated fifth-ranked Oklahoma Baptist earlier in the day.
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Madonna got the early jump, taking an 8-4 lead in the first set. A Ruiz kill pulled the Eagles even at 14-14, but a 4-1 run by MU saw the Crusaders regain an 18-15 advantage. Embry-Riddle went on a 5-1 run late in the set to take a 24-22 lead only to commit three straight attack errors, giving Madonna a 25-24 advantage. Jacobson recorded a kill followed by a solo block to bring the Eagles back to the lead, 26-25, but a service error from Caitlyn Ballard knotted things up a 26. Jacobson put down another kill but followed that with a service error of her own, moving the score to 27-27. Two points later, Jacobson kept the Eagles alive with another kill to tie the set at 28. Ferreira picked up a kill to tie the set at 29, but back-to-back errors from Morgan Shattuck ended the first set with Madonna winning, 31-29.
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Neither side held a significant advantage in set two until the Crusaders went on a 7-2 run to take a 20-15 lead. Then Madonna committed four straight errors to allow the Eagles back into the set, which ERAU took full advantage of. Ruiz scored an ace to tie the set at 21 and back-to-back kills from Shattuck pushed the Blue and Gold ahead, 25-24. Ballard put down a kill to make it 26-25 and an MU error ended the set at 27-25, ERAU, tying the match at one set apiece.
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After playing nip and tuck for the first two set, the next two frames were less competitive. Madonna jumped out to an 11-4 lead in the third set and never looked back. Ruiz and Beatty scored back-to-back kills to pull ERAU to within six points at 23-17, but the Crusaders finished off the set victory, 25-18, taking a 2-1 lead in the match.
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Embry-Riddle responded in set four, using an 11-2 run to take a 22-11 lead, the largest lead for either side at any point in the match. Madonna went on a 5-1 run to make things interesting, but Jacobson closed out the set at 25-17 to give ERAU the win and send the match to a decisive fifth set.
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A service error by Breanna Geile gave the Eagles a 4-3 lead in the fifth set, but that would be the last lead ERAU would hold. A 3-0 run put MU back in front, 6-4. After that the teams traded sideouts for the next 12 points until Madonna led 12-10. At that point the Blue and Gold committed back-to-back errors and Samantha Geile finished off the match with a kill to give Madonna a 15-10 win in the set and a 3-2 win in the match.
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The Eagles had five players with double-digit kills, led by Jacobson who had 15 kills, a .433 hitting percentage and a match-high six blocks (one solo). Ruiz (13 kills, 13 digs) and Beatty (20 digs, 11 kills) each had double-doubles, while Ferreira registered the first triple-double in her ERAU career with 10 kills, 10 digs and a match-high 51 assists. Shattuck chipped in with 11 kills and four blocks and Hannah Gray led all players with a school-record 44 digs.
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Stacey Catalano led the Crusaders with 15 kills and added 24 digs, while Samantha Geile had 13 kills and 20 digs. Amanda Obrycki picked up a team-high 29 digs and Evia Prieditis led the team with 45 assists to go along with 12 digs and five blocks (one solo).
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The Eagles return to action tomorrow in the final day of the ERAU Labor Day Tournament. Embry-Riddle faces No. 5 Oklahoma Baptist at 2 p.m. before closing out the event with a 7 p.m. match against No. 21 Eastern Oregon. |
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Stats Comparison |
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Kills |
57 |
65 |
|
Errors |
29 |
39 |
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Total Attacks |
200 |
220 |
|
Attack Pct. |
.140 |
.118 |
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Assists |
53 |
61 |
|
Digs |
103 |
102 |
|
Blocks |
9 |
10 |
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Service Aces |
2 |
6 |
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Stat Leaders |
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Catalano |
15 |
Kills |
15 |
Jacobson |
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Prieditis |
45 |
Assists |
51 |
Ferreira |
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Obrycki |
29 |
Digs |
44 |
Gray |
Freeman/
Prieditis |
5 |
Blocks |
6 |
Jacobson |
S. Geile/
Duzey |
2 |
Aces |
4 |
Ruiz |
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