DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Embry-Riddle volleyball team returned to the win column on Tuesday with a 3-0 (25-22, 25-20, 25-23) sweep of Saint Leo in Sunshine State Conference play. Playing just their third match at home this season, the Eagles improved their overall record 10-5 and moved to 4-4 in the league. The Lions drop to 5-10 overall and 1-6 in the SSC.
Cameron Gilleland paced the Eagle offense with 14 kills, while
Jaden McBride recorded her eighth double-double of the season with 10 kills and 10 digs.
Lexie Hage, in her first start of the season, tallied a career-high 32 assists.
The start of the first set was back and forth between the two sides resulting in 13 ties and six lead changes. With the game tied at 13-13, the Eagles took a one-point edge and a pair of attack errors by the Lions, as well as a Gilleland kill helped the Blue and Gold extend their advantage to 17-13. Saint Leo managed to battle back to take a 20-19 lead prompting an ERAU timeout. The timeout served its purpose as the Eagles scored six of the last seven points to win the set 25-22.
The Lions were unable to handle Gilleland's serve to start the second set as the sophomore recorded two aces and a kill to stake the Eagles to a 5-0 lead. Following a timeout, the Lions rallied to pull within two (9-7) and remained within striking distance until they tied things up at 16-16. The Eagles responded with three unanswered points and went on to take a 2-0 lead with a 25-20 win in the second.
After both teams traded points to tie the third set at 5-5, the Eagles scored four points in a row to go up 9-5 and were ahead 11-6 when Saint Leo put together an 8-1 run to move ahead 14-12. The Lions managed to widen the gap to five (22-17) and seemed destined to force a fourth set, but the Eagles were determined to secure the win in three. Behind the serve of
Kendyl Taylor, the Eagles rattled off seven straight points to overtake the visitors and claim the 25-23 victory in the third.
The Eagles are back on the road this weekend for a two-match road swing beginning with a 7 p.m. tilt against Nova Southeastern on Friday.
The 2022 Embry-Riddle volleyball season is presented by Radiology Associates.
