DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Embry-Riddle volleyball team took over sole possession of first place in the Sunshine State Conference standings on Friday night, improving to 5-0 in league play and 9-0 overall with a 3-1 (20-25, 25-19, 25-10, 25-19) win over visiting Palm Beach Atlantic. ERAU's win coupled with Lynn's loss at Saint Leo leaves the Blue and Gold as the lone remaining unbeaten team in SSC play this season.
 
The Eagles, who had lost in five sets each of the last three times they hosted the Sailfish, picked up their first victory over PBA since Embry-Riddle moved to NCAA II in 2015, after having lost the previous eight meetings over the last four seasons. ERAU did it in dominant fashion, hitting .339 as a team while limiting Palm Beach Atlantic to a .176 attack percentage.
 
Kristin vom Schemm led the way with 14 kills and nine digs, while Jordan Schumacher chipped in 13 kills and six digs and Theresa Jordan added 10 kills, eight digs, and four blocks. Alyssa Rudd racked up 46 assists and Olivia Roa led all players with 19 digs. Roa also passed Brooke Geiger (2000-03) on the all-time digs list in program history, moving up to third with 1729 career digs.
 
The Eagles got off to a good start, jumping out to an 8-5 lead early in the first set. The Sailfish would go on a 5-0 run to take a 12-10 lead, which would prove to be the last lead change of the frame. The Blue and Gold got to within a point on three separate occasions, including as late as 20-19, but the Sailfish closed the set on a 5-1 run to take the opening frame, 25-20.
 
Embry-Riddle scored the first three points in set two and never looked back. PBA closed to within two at 20-18, but back-to-back kills from Jordan and Jenna Bishop sparked a 5-1 rally to end the set at 25-19, knotting the match up at one set apiece.
 
ERAU dominated the third set, taking a commanding 8-1 lead early on and never letting the Sailfish get close for the rest of the set. A kill by Schumacher built the lead to double-digits at 14-4 and the Blue and Gold cruised from there to a 25-10 win, hitting .652 in the frame.
 
The Eagles started fast in the fourth set as well, running out to a 10-3 lead early on. Palm Beach Atlantic slowly chipped away at the deficit, eventually pulling to within two points at 21-19. At that point Josylnn Gallop called timeout and ERAU quickly righted the ship, scoring the final four points of the set and match to finish it off, 25-19, claiming the 3-1 win.
 
Embry-Riddle hosts Barry tomorrow afternoon in a 4 p.m. match to close out the weekend.