DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Embry-Riddle volleyball team took down the 17th-ranked Nova Southeastern Sharks in impressive fashion on Saturday afternoon, taking the match 3-1 (26-24, 29-27, 23-25, 25-12) and setting a program record for most blocks in a single match in the process. The victory improves the Eagle record to 22-4 overall and 12-3 in conference play, while NSU drops to 21-4, 13-3 in SSC matches.
The Eagles, who came into the match as the third-best blocking team in NCAA II and tops in the Sunshine State Conference, racked up 20 blocks on Saturday, surpassing the program's previous record of 19 blocks, which came at Palm Beach Atlantic over 20 years ago on Nov. 7, 1998. Prior to Saturday, ERAU's highest single-match block total in the NCAA II era was 18, which had been done twice, most recently against Saint Leo on Oct. 26, 2018.
Jenna Bishop led all players with 10 blocks (one solo), which is tied for the sixth-highest single-match block total in school history. She also had five kills and hit .556 for the match.
Sam Lanning, who continues to lead the nation in blocks/set, recorded eight blocks (two) solo) to go along with eight kills.
Cameron Gilleland had a team-high 14 kills and three service aces in addition to picking up 13 digs, while
Jaden McBride chipped in with 13 kills, nine digs, and five blocks.
Melanie Canfield also registered five blocks, while
Amelia Hartnett notched four.
Emily Weaver led all players with 40 assists in addition to a season-high three blocks, and
Aly Freeland collected a career- and match-high 21 digs.
The Eagles came out of the gates quickly, scoring the first nine points of the match. The lead grew as large as 13 (17-4), and the Blue and Gold held a double-digit lead as late as 22-12. At that point, Nova Southeastern mounted a furious comeback, scoring on 11 of the next 12 rallies to tie the set at 23. An NSU service error gave Embry-Riddle set point at 24-23, but the Sharks stayed alive with a kill to make it 24-24. A Gilleland kill made it 25-24 and a Shark error ended the frame with the Eagles taking it, 26-24.
Set two saw the Eagles lead early, 7-5, and use a 4-0 run a short while later to push the lead to 13-9. ERAU maintained a comfortable lead until NSU stormed ahead late with a 7-1 run to take a 24-22 lead. An NSU service error followed by a Weaver service ace staved off the first two NSU set points, but the Sharks earned three more set points over the next few rallies. Each time the Eagles answered back, and eventually the tide turned in the favor of the home team. ERAU scored three consecutive points, all coming on NSU errors, to clinch the set, 29-27.
Nova Southeastern took an early 6-3 lead in set two and then went on an 8-0 run a few minutes later to build the lead to 16-6. The Blue and Gold chipped away, going on a 10-3 run to cut the deficit to 19-16, and then using a 6-2 spurt to trim the margin to a single point at 24-23. The comeback came up short, however, as a service error gave the Sharks the set, 25-23.
Embry-Riddle bounced back after the set three loss in a big way, opening the fourth set on a 5-2 run and then blowing things open with a 12-3 spurt that increased the advantage to 18-7. This time the Sharks had no answer, as ERAU easily cruised to a 25-12 win to complete the 3-1 victory.
Embry-Riddle will be back on the court on Wednesday, Nov. 10, when the Eagles travel to Saint Leo for a 7 p.m. midweek SSC showdown.
