PENSACOLA, Fla. – Led by SSC and AVCA South Region Freshman of the Year Jaden McBride, the fourth-seeded Embry-Riddle volleyball team swept fifth-seeded Lynn 25-23, 25-18, 25-18 to record the program's first NCAA II Tournament victory on Thursday night. The Eagles improve to 26-6 on the season, while Lynn ends the year 19-12.
 
McBride posted a match-high 12 kills and hit .281 while picking up six digs. Cameron Gilleland chipped in with nine kills and 12 digs, which tied for the team high along with Aly Freeland. Emily Weaver distributed a match-leading 32 digs and Sam Lanning recorded a match-best four blocks to go along with six kills and a .444 attack percentage, while Amelia Hartnett posted seven kills and hit .385.
 
A Lanning kill got the match started and the Eagles quickly ran out to a 10-4 lead. After Lynn got to within three (12-9), another Lanning kill sparked a 5-0 run that built the lead up to 17-9. ERAU weathered a late 5-0 run from the Fighting Knights that got Lynn within a point (24-23) as McBride closed the set with a kill to clinch the 25-23 win.
 
Lynn jumped out to an early 7-4 lead in the second set, but the Blue and Gold battled back and eventually took the lead with a 4-0 run that made it 16-13. That run proved to be the opening act of a 12-4 rally that gave the Eagles multiple set points at 24-17. They would only need two chances thanks to a Weaver kill that closed the frame at 25-18.
 
Embry-Riddle opened set three by winning eight of the first 11 points and never looked back. A Gilleland kill increased the lead to 13-6 and a Lanning kill made it 23-17. A few points later, a Lynn attack error gave the Eagles the final point, securing a 25-18 win in the third and a 3-0 victory for the match.
 
The Eagles will take on the No. 1 seed West Florida on Friday, Dec. 3, in the semifinals of the South Region Tournament. The match is set to begin at 8:30 p.m. EST (7:30 p.m. CST).