ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Embry-Riddle volleyball team suffered a 3-1 setback at Eckerd on Friday night, falling to the Tritons 21-25, 25-19, 25-18, 25-14. With the loss, ERAU falls to 18-10 overall and 9-9 in SSC play, while Eckerd improves to 13-14, 5-12 in conference.
 
Erika Barbour led the Eagles with 15 kills and 16 digs, while McKenna James tallied 11 kills and Theresa Jordan notched 10 kills and 12 digs. Alyssa Rudd compiled 38 assists and 11 digs and Olivia Roa picked up 14 digs.
 
Embry-Riddle took its first lead of the opening set at 11-10 and increased it to as many as four points when Rudd and Sam Lanning combined for a block to make it 21-17. The Tritons came back to within a point (22-21), but the Blue and Gold recovered to score the final three points of the frame, winning 25-21.
 
A Roa service ace put Embry-Riddle in front in the second set, 5-2, and the Eagles would maintain an advantage until a 6-0 EC run put the Tritons in front, 16-12. ERAU couldn't trim the deficit and Eckerd pulled away late to win the second set, 25-19.
 
The Eagles fell behind 3-0 in set three and although they pulled even at 4-4 on a Barbour service ace, they never led in the frame. EC went on a 6-1 run midway through the set to extend the lead to 18-12 and the home team ended up winning the set by a 25-18 score.
 
Set four played out similarly to set three, with Eckerd scoring the first two points and never letting ERAU take a lead at any point. The Tritons closed out the match by scoring seven of the final eight points to win the fourth set, 25-14, taking the match, 3-1.
 
The Eagles return home next weekend to close out the regular season, beginning with a 7 p.m. match against Lynn on Friday, Nov. 9. The Blue and Gold will host No. 23 Barry in the regular season finale on Saturday, Nov. 10, in a match slated to begin at 6 p.m.