WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – The Embry-Riddle volleyball team suffered a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Alabama – Huntsville on Friday afternoon, falling 28-26, 25-19, 25-22. The loss drops ERAU's record to 16-4 on the year, while UAH improves to 14-6.
Jaden McBride led all players with 14 kills and
Cameron Gilleland chipped in with 10 kills and eight digs.
Emily Weaver had a match-leading 33 assists and
Tamzen Wilson picked up a team-high 11 digs.
UAH jumped out to a 7-3 lead early in the first set, but a 5-1 run brought the Eagles back to level at 8-8. Later on, a 3-0 spurt pushed Embry-Riddle in front for the first time at 16-15. The lead increased to three when a McBride kill made it 24-21, giving the Eagles three set points. The Chargers rallied to win those next three points to keep the set going, and they fought off two more set points at 25-24 and 26-25. A service ace gave Alabama – Huntsville its first set point at 27-26 and it capitalized on the opportunity, clinching the set, 28-26.
The Chargers ran out to a 9-1 lead to open set two, eventually building the lead to double digits at 16-6. The Blue and Gold battled back to get within five at 18-13, but that was the closest it would get as UAH took the set, 25-19.
Alabama – Huntsville once again started strong in the third, scoring the first seven points and eight of the first nine. But a 7-1 run quickly put Embry-Riddle back in the set, trailing by just a single point at 9-8. A little while later, a
Melanie Canfield service ace tied the set at 13 and then a Gilleland kill gave ERAU its first lead since the first set at 14-13. Two more kills from Gilleland made it 16-14, but UAH responded with a 3-0 run to retake the lead, 17-16. The Eagles briefly regained the advantage at 19-18, but the Chargers scored the next six points to take a 24-19 lead. The Blue and Gold scored on the next three points, including a pair of McBride kills, but the late rally fell short as UAH closed it out with a 25-22 win.
The Eagles are back in action tomorrow as they wrap up the South Region Crossover Tournament with a pair of matches, beginning with a 2:30 contest against Mississippi College. Then ERAU takes on Shorter at 7 p.m. to close out the weekend.
