SAINT LEO, Fla. – The Embry-Riddle volleyball team struggled offensively on Saturday, hitting .010 as a team in a 3-0 loss (25-20, 25-16, 25-17) at Saint Leo. With the defeat, ERAU now stands at 6-5 on the season while the Lions improve to 8-4.
 
Asya Oguz led the Eagles with six kills and picked up four digs in limited action, while Laina Blanton chipped in four kills and a team-high three blocks (one solo). Olivia Roa got her first start at libero and tallied a team-best eight digs while Jordan Nakayama (11 assists, seven digs) and Alyssa Rudd (six assists, five digs) ran the offense.
 
The Eagles quickly found themselves down 6-2 early in the first set before five consecutive Saint Leo errors put ERAU in front, 7-6. SLU quickly retook the lead but a service ace from Laina Blanton gave Embry-Riddle an 11-10 advantage. That would prove to be the last time ERAU led in the frame as Saint Leo scored three straight points to take a 13-10 lead and slowly pulled away to win the first set, 25-20.
 
ERAU got off to another slow start in the second set, falling behind 7-1. A quick 4-1 spurt brought the Blue and Gold to within three (8-5), but the Lions didn't waste any time regaining a sizable lead, winning four of the next five rallies to make it a 12-6 score. SLU maintained its comfortable advantage through the rest of the frame, winning by a 25-16 score to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
 
Set three saw the Eagles take a slim 5-3 lead early, the best start of any of the three sets in the match. Unfortunately for ERAU, Saint Leo swung the momentum back to its side of the net and went on an 11-3 run to take a 14-8 lead and didn't look back. The Lions went on to win the final frame, 25-17, completing the 3-0 sweep.
 
The Eagles land back at home next Friday to kick off the first of four straight home matches. ERAU will host Palm Beach Atlantic, currently ranked 16th in the AVCA NCAA II Coaches' Poll, Friday night at 7 p.m. inside the ICI Center.