TAMPA, Fla. – The Embry-Riddle volleyball team fell on the road at Tampa on Friday night, three sets to one (24-26, 17-25, 25-22, 20-25). With the loss, ERAU moves to 19-5 overall and 12-5 in conference play, while Tampa goes to 21-8, 14-4 in SSC matches.
 
Jordan Schumacher led the Eagles with 16 kills while Amelia Hartnett added 10 kills and three blocks. Alyssa Rudd recorded a double-double with 37 assists and 10 digs and Olivia Roa picked up a match-best 26 digs. Roa now trails Hannah Gray for the all-time program lead in career digs by only 11.
 
Tampa used a 10-3 spurt early in the first set to jump out to a 14-6 lead. The Eagles battled back and got to within a single point (19-18) on a Hartnett kill, and eventually drew even at 24 on a block from Rudd and Jenna Bishop. The Spartans bounced back after the block with back-to-back kills to clinch the opening set, 26-24.
 
UT scored four of the first five points in set two, but the Blue and Gold quickly rallied to tie it at 8-8 on a kill from Schumacher. With the score tied at nine, Tampa went on a 14-5 run to pull away to a 23-14 lead en route to a 25-17 set win.
 
Embry-Riddle got off to a strong start in the third, taking an early 5-2 lead. The Spartans responded, pulling out to an 11-6 advantage after scoring eight consecutive points. The Eagles maintained their composure and worked to get back on level footing at 13-13. After a Spartan kill, ERAU rattled off five straight points to take an 18-14 lead. The Blue and Gold wrapped up the frame by scoring five of the final eight points to claim a 25-22 win, sending the match to a fourth set.
 
The Spartans jumped out to a 6-2 lead in the fourth and maintained an advantage throughout the rest of the set. A 4-0 rally got the Eagles to within a point at 9-8 before UT built the lead back to five (13-8), and the Blue and Gold fought back to within two points at 18-16, but it wasn't enough as Tampa held on for a 25-20 set win to earn the 3-1 victory in the match.
 
The Eagles will be back in action tomorrow afternoon as they play their final road contest of the season at Saint Leo. The match is scheduled for a 6 p.m. start.