WINTER PARK, Fla. – The Embry-Riddle volleyball team bounced back after a slow start on Saturday afternoon, winning the final three sets to defeat Rollins 3-1 (18-25, 25-20, 25-13, 25-21). With the win, ERAU improves to 6-3 on the season, while the Tars drop to 7-3 and see their seven-match winning streak come to an end.
Paola Virella led the Eagles with 14 kills and added nine digs while
Amanda Saunders tallied 13 kills and 14 digs.
McKenna James also reached double-figures in kills with 10 and had four blocks (one solo).
Jordan Nakayama (21 assists) and
Alyssa Rudd (17 assists, 11 digs) ran the Eagle offense while
Maile Spenser (18 digs) anchored ERAU's defense.
Rollins started strong, taking a 13-7 lead in the first set that prompted
Joslynn Gallop to call a timeout. After the timeout, the Eagles went on a 7-1 run to tie the set at 14-14, but the Blue and Gold couldn't wrestle the lead away from the Tars. RC won the final four points of the set to win the opening frame, 25-18.
The Eagles bounced back in set two, using a 9-2 run to establish a comfortable 15-7 advantage in the middle stages of the set. Rollins tried to mount a comeback but the effort was fruitless as ERAU took the frame, 25-20, tying the match at one set apiece.
Embry-Riddle kept the momentum rolling after the break between sets two and three, jumping all over Rollins in the third set to the tune of a 17-7 lead. The Eagles never allowed the Tars to score more than two consecutive points at any time during the set, hitting .414 as a team while limiting RC to a .000 attack percentage. ERAU cruised to a 25-13 win, taking a 2-1 lead in the match.
The Blue and Gold took a large early lead once again in set four, winning seven of the first nine points. The lead grew as large as eight points (18-10) before the Tars started to claw their way back. A 9-4 spurt for the home team pulled Rollins to within three points (22-19), but that was as close as ERAU would allow; Embry-Riddle finished off the set with a 25-21 win, clinching the match three sets to one.
The Eagles are back on the road next weekend with a two-match trip to the Gulf Coast of Florida. ERAU will face No. 16 Tampa on Friday night before visiting Saint Leo on Saturday afternoon.
