SAINT LEO, Fla. – The Embry-Riddle volleyball team lost its second straight match for the first time this season, falling to Saint Leo 3-1 (26-24, 25-18, 17-25, 25-16) on Saturday evening. The Eagles drop to 19-6 on the season, 12-6 in conference play, while the Lions improve to 20-10, 11-8 in SSC matches.
Olivia Roa recorded 21 digs, giving her 2,117 for her career, which moved her past Hannah Gray (2012-14) to become the program's new all-time leader in digs.
Melanie Canfield led the Eagles with 10 kills while
Amelia Hartnett added nine kills and six blocks and
Alyssa Rudd tallied a double-double with 31 assists and 18 digs.
Saint Leo took an early 4-1 lead in the first set and maintained an advantage until the final few points of the frame. The Eagles mounted a furious comeback late in the set, going on a 12-3 run to turn a 19-10 deficit into a 22-22 tie score. After an SLU timeout, the teams traded sideouts until the Lions were able to string together two in a row to claim a 26-24 victory.
In set two, ERAU used an early 5-0 run to take a 6-3 lead and didn't trail until the Lions went on a 6-1 run to pull ahead, 17-15. A kill by
Aly Freeland cut the deficit to one point (18-17), but Saint Leo won seven of the final eight points to take the set, 25-18.
Both sides played even volleyball in the third set through the first 16 points. With the score tied at eight,
Jordan Schumacher put down a kill the sparked a 15-4 spurt to put the Eagles comfortably in front, 23-12. Saint Leo fought off four set points before a
Theresa Jordan finished off the set at 25-17.
Set four saw the Lions score the first three points and quickly build an 11-3 advantage. Back-to-back blocks from Rudd and
Jenna Bishop capped a 7-1 rally that brought ERAU to within two points (12-10), but SLU responded with four straight points as part of a 10-2 run that essentially put the set out of reach at 22-12. The Eagles scored four of the next six points but couldn't get any closer as Saint Leo won the set, 25-16, to clinch the match, 3-1.
The Eagles return home for the final two matches of the regular season, beginning with a Thursday matchup with the top team in the Sunshine State Conference, as Lynn pays a visit to the ICI Center at 7 p.m. on Nov. 21.
