FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Embry-Riddle volleyball team survived a valiant comeback effort from the Nova Southeastern Sharks on Friday night, hanging on for a 3-2 (25-18, 25-20, 21-25, 20-25, 15-13) victory at the NSU Arena. The win pushes ERAU's season record to 12-11, while the Sharks fall to 11-14.
 
Asya Oguz led the Eagles with a career-high 23 kills and added 10 digs while Amanda Saunders also notched a career-high with 21 kills to go along with 13 digs and five blocks (one solo). McKenna James reached double-digits with 10 kills and Paola Virella tallied a season-high 20 digs and seven kills. Jordan Nakayama posted a career-best with 56 assists and added 12 digs and three blocks, while Maile Spenser collected a team-high 27 digs.
 
The Eagles used a 7-1 run midway through the first set to turn a 13-12 deficit into a comfortable 19-14 lead. After NSU fought back to make it a two-point margin (19-17), the Blue and Gold finished the frame scoring six of the final seven points to win 25-18.
 
Set two followed a similar plot line, with the Eagles going on an 8-1 run to pull ahead, 22-16. The Sharks couldn't muster much of a comeback as ERAU went on to claim the set, 25-20, taking a 2-0 lead in the match.
 
In the third set, Nova Southeastern didn't allow Embry-Riddle to go on a long scoring run, which enabled the home team to maintain a slim lead throughout the frame. The Sharks would hold on for a 25-21 win, sending the match to a fourth set with the Eagles leading 2-1.
 
Embry-Riddle looked to close things out in the fourth, using a 5-1 run to take a 14-12 lead, much like the first two sets. This time, however, Nova Southeastern came back with a 6-1 run of its own to retake the lead, 18-15. The Sharks maintained that advantage for the remainder of the set, winning the frame 25-20 to force a decisive fifth set.
 
The Eagles jumped out to a 7-4 lead in the fifth, only to see NSU fight back with a 7-2 spurt to take the lead, 11-9. The Sharks were three point away from victory, leading 12-10, when a kill from Oguz sparked a 5-1 run that pushed the Eagles into the win column, giving ERAU a 15-13 set win and a 3-2 match win.
 
ERAU will be back in action tomorrow afternoon for a 4 p.m. contest at No. 12 Palm Beach Atlantic.