DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Embry-Riddle volleyball team returned to its winning ways on Tuesday, knocking off Florida Tech in four sets (25-11, 26-28, 25-16, 25-15) in ERAU's first home match of the 2016 season. With the win, the Eagles improve to 5-3, while the Panthers drop to 2-6.
 
Paola Virella led all players with 13 kills and added 14 digs while Laina Blanton chipped in nine kills, seven blocks and seven digs. Amanda Saunders led all players with nine blocks (two solo) and Maile Spenser picked up a match-leading 31 digs. Jordan Nakayama (22 assists, 11 digs) and Alyssa Rudd (16 assists, 11 digs) ran Embry-Riddle's 6-2 offense, which hit .189 for the match.
 
The Eagles dominated set one, jumping out to 9-2 lead and never looking back. ERAU racked up four blocks in the frame, limiting the Panthers to a -.085 hitting percentage, as the Blue and Gold won the set by a score of 25-11.
 
Set two was by far the most competitive of the four sets, with six ties and a pair of lead changes, including one very late in the frame. Embry-Riddle maintained a small lead through most of the set and had five set points at 24-19. But the Panthers stormed back to score six straight and take a 25-24 lead. After the teams traded sideouts for four rallies in a row, FIT won the set on an Olivia Hersey kill, 28-26.
 
Despite the disappointing end to the second set, Embry-Riddle bounced right back in set three, scoring seven of the first nine points to take command early. The lead ballooned to 17-9 on an FIT service error and the Blue and Gold cruised from that point to win the set, 25-16.
 
ERAU kept the momentum rolling in set four, running out to a 10-2 lead and never allowing the Panthers to claw back into the frame. A 6-1 run extended the lead to 19-11 and the Eagles went on to take the set, 25-15, finishing the match as 3-1 victors.
 
Next up for the Eagles is a road trip to Winter Park on Saturday, Sept. 17, for a 4 p.m. contest at Rollins.