DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Embry-Riddle volleyball team suffered a tough 3-2 loss to Lynn on Friday night, falling to the Fighting Knights 22-25, 25-19, 25-19, 23-25, 15-13. The defeat moves ERAU's season mark to 18-11, 9-10 in conference play, while Lynn improves to 16-13, 9-10 in league matches.
 
The Eagles were paced by McKenna James' 16 kills while Melanie Canfield and Erika Barbour each totaled 11 kills and 17 digs. Theresa Jordan chipped in nine kills and 15 digs while Olivia Roa picked up a match-leading 33 digs. Alyssa Rudd ran the offense and compiled 49 assists to go along with 15 digs.
 
ERAU fell behind early, trailing 8-3 in the early stages of set one. A Jordan kill brought the Eagles back to even at 12-12, but it wasn't until a Rudd service ace that Embry-Riddle was able to edge in front, 18-17. That ace came in the early part of what ended up being a 9-2 run that pushed ERAU to a 23-18 lead. Lynn made it interesting, winning the next three points to cut it to a two-point deficit (23-21), but Jordan and James put down kills on two of the next three rallies to secure the 25-23 win.
 
The Blue and Gold again found themselves trailing by an identical 8-3 score early in set two, but this time there would be no mid-set run that would get the home team a lead. The Fighting Knights kept Embry-Riddle at bay, building their lead to as many as 11 points at 19-8. A 10-3 spurt for the Eagles followed that, giving ERAU fans hope as their side pulled to within four points (22-18). But LU closed the door quickly, scoring three of the next four points to win the set, 25-19.
 
In the third set it was Embry-Riddle that found themselves holding an early lead, running out to a 9-4 advantage. Lynn wasted no time erasing the deficit as the Fighting Knights posted six consecutive points to take a 10-9 lead. ERAU responded with a 6-1 run to go up 15-11, but again Lynn answered, scoring nine of the next 10 to retake the lead, 20-16. This time there would be no rebuttal from the Blue and Gold as Lynn took the set, 25-19.
 
Set four saw ERAU score the opening five points only to then surrender seven straight to fall behind, 7-5. Embry-Riddle worked its way back in front, 15-14, and increased the lead to 21-18 later in the frame. LU rallied late, scoring four of five points to draw even at 23, but James scored consecutive kills on the final two points to end the set at 25-23, forcing a fifth frame.
 
James bookended an early 4-0 run with kills that helped push Embry-Riddle to a 6-4 lead in the fifth, but a 3-0 surge from the visitors quickly put Lynn ahead, 7-6. The lead swung back to the Eagles, 9-8, on a Lynn error, but that would prove to be the final point that ERAU was in front. The Fighting Knights scored the next two points and then inched away to a 13-11 lead as part of a 5-2 run. The Blue and Gold trimmed it to a one-point margin twice, but couldn't tie the set, and Lynn eventually clinched the match with a 15-13 win in the fifth set.
 
The Eagles are back on the court tomorrow at 6 p.m. as they host Barry in the regular season finale for both teams. ERAU will honor its three seniors, McKenna James, Erika Barbour, and Izah Deang, prior to the match.