ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – The Embry-Riddle volleyball team collected two more victories at the Flagler Saints Classic on Saturday, pushing its record to 8-0 on the young season. ERAU took care of Shorter in four sets (25-23, 18-25, 25-18, 25-14) before besting the hosts to close out the tournament, 3-1 (20-25, 25-12, 25-15, 25-21).
 
ERAU 3, Shorter 1
 
The Blue and Gold got off to a quick start against Shorter, winning five of the first six points. The Hawks scored four straight to tie it at five, and a few points later SU took a 9-8 lead. The Eagles never trailed by more than a point, and eventually a Cameron Gilleland kill followed by a Hawk attack error gave ERAU the lead once again at 19-18. An Emily Weaver service ace extended the lead to two points (21-19), and Embry-Riddle was content to trade sideouts for the rest of the set, with a Jaden McBride closing the door at 25-23.
 
The Hawks used a 4-0 run to take an 11-7 lead in set two and a 3-0 spurt increased their margin to 19-13. The Eagles couldn't string points together throughout the frame, and Shorter pulled away for a 25-18 win to tie the match at a set apiece.
 
Set three saw Shorter run out to a 7-3 lead before a McBride kill swung the momentum to the Eagles' side, sparking a 5-0 run that put ERAU in front, 8-7. The Hawks retook the lead momentarily, but a 6-1 rally pushed Embry-Riddle ahead, 15-12. A few points later the Blue and Gold rattled off five straight points thanks to four SU errors to take a 23-15 lead en route to a 25-18 set victory.
 
Shorter opened the fourth set with leads of 4-1 and 7-4, but like the third frame, ERAU went on a long run, this time an 8-1 run, to take control of the set at 12-8. Three points later a Gilleland kill initiated a 6-0 run that made in 18-10, and the Eagles sailed from there to a 25-14 triumph, securing the 3-1 match win.
 
McBride led all players with 21 kills while Gilleland recorded the second double-double of her career with 17 kills and 14 digs. Emily Weaver registered a match-high 37 assists and three service aces, while Kendyl Taylor picked up a match-leading 17 digs. Sam Lanning posted a match-best six blocks to go along with six kills.
 
ERAU 3, Flagler 1
 
The Eagles got off to a slow start in the opening set, falling behind 4-1. ERAU finally took its first lead on a McBride solo block that made it 9-8, but the Saints kept things close before retaking the lead at 15-14. A late 5-1 run put Flagler in the driver's seat at 23-18, and the Saints closed the first set out at 25-20 a few minutes later.
 
Set two saw ERAU hit .609 on the strength of 14 kills on only 23 attacks without a single attacking error. An early 7-0 run put the Blue and Gold in front, 9-3, and a 4-0 spurt later in the set extended the lead to double-digits at 19-9. Just for good measure, the Eagles won the final five points of the set to finish it off, 25-12.
 
Embry-Riddle began the third set winning four of the first five points, but a 6-1 run gave Flagler a 7-5 lead. The Eagles responded in a big way, going on a 17-5 run to take a commanding 22-10 lead. Despite a 5-1 rally for the hosts, ERAU's lead was never threatened as it took the set, 25-15.
 
FC opened set four with four straight points and continued to lead throughout a majority of the period. A Melanie Canfield kill began a 6-0 run that flipped the advantage to ERAU's side at 19-16. The Saints answered back with a 3-1 rally to close to within one (20-19), but back-to-back kills from Gilleland helped secure the lead as Embry-Riddle went on to win the set, 25-21, to finish off the match, 3-1.
 
Gilleland led all players with 20 kills and added 12 digs for her second double-double of the day and third of her career. McBride also tallied a double-double, the third of her career, with 17 kills, 12 digs, and four blocks (two solo). Weaver joined in on the double-double fun with the first of her career after totaling 37 assists and 10 digs. Taylor led all players in digs with 18 and Canfield chipped in with six kills and four blocks.
 
The Eagles will return to the court on Friday, Sept. 17, as they open up Sunshine State Conference play at Florida Tech at 7 p.m.