FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Embry-Riddle volleyball team suffered a tough five-set loss in Sunshine State Conference play on Friday, falling to Nova Southeastern 3-2 (27-25, 13-25, 21-25, 15-11) at the Rick Case Arena. The loss drops the Eagles to 10-6 overall and 4-4 in the SSC. MSU move to 10-5 and 4-4 in league play.
Cameron Gilleland led all players with a season-high 21 kills and her 13 digs gave her her fifth double-double of the season.
Jaden McBride tallied her team-leading eighth double-double with 18 kills, 15 digs and four total blocks.
Lexie Hage totaled a career-high 43 assists.
Midway through the first set, the Sharks led by three (15-12), but a pair of NSU errors and a kill by McBride helped the Eagles tie things up at 15-15. NSU was able to reclaim a three-point advantage and eventually went up 24-22. The Eagles staved off two match points and used a 3-0 run to go up 25-24, but the Sharks answered with a 3-0 spurt of their own to take the first set with a 27-25 edge.
The Eagles bounced back in a big way, dominating the second set. Play was even to start the frame as the teams were tied a 2-2, but an 11-1 run gave the Eagles a 10-point (13-3) advantage and they never looked back. They won the set 25-13 and tied the match 1-1.
The Eagles scored the first two points of the third set, but it was NSU who led by three (16-13) midway through the set. Undaunted, the Blue and Gold rattled off five unanswered to take back the lead and rode that momentum to a 25-21 win and a 2-1 lead.
The fourth set saw the Sharks hit 33.3 percent to top the Eagles 25-22 and force a fifth set.
The Sharks opened the fifth frame with a 4-0 run. The Eagles were able to chip away at the lead and knot the score a 9-9, but NSU scored six of the final eight points to secure the win.
The Eagles wrap up their South Florida stay at 4 p.m. on Saturday when they take on Lynn in another SSC contest.
The 2022 Embry-Riddle volleyball season is presented by Radiology Associates.
