Preston Luniewski

Box Score

Nova Southeastern Nova 20-10,12-8 Sunshine

Embry-Riddle (FL) ERAU 22-10,13-7 Sunshine

Nova Southeastern Nova

20-10,12-8 Sunshine

Final

Nov. 30, 2023

Embry-Riddle (FL) ERAU

22-10,13-7 Sunshine

Set Scores
Team	1	2	3	4	F
Nova Southeastern Nova	21	25	29	25	(3)
Embry-Riddle (FL) ERAU	25	13	27	13	(1)

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball | 11/30/2023 3:24:00 PM | Kyrin Mayfield | @k_mayfield97

Volleyball’s Postseason Ends with 3-1 Loss to Sharks

TAMPA, Fla. - The No. 3-seed Embry-Riddle volleyball team opened up South Region play at the NCAA II National Tournament on Thursday afternoon. However, the Eagles' postseason experience was short-lived as they fell 3-1 to No. 6-seed Nova Southeastern.

Set one was tightly contested with neither team able to gain more than one point of separation early on. Tied at 7-7, Isabella Rujano registered two consecutive kills to send the Blue and Gold to a 9-7 lead. Soon after, ERAU compiled a 4-1 mini run with the help of back-to-back blocks by Dana Gibbons to stretch its lead up to four points at 13-9, but an NSU timeout allowed the Sharks to recompose and go on a 4-0 spurt to tie the set 13-13.

For the first time in the set, the Eagles fell behind 19-18 after dropping three straight points. Embry-Riddle fought back to even the score at 20-20 and from there outscored NSU 5-1 to win set one 25-21. ERAU hit well, registering a .294 hit percentage in set one compared to .211 for the Sharks.

The Eagles maintained the momentum at the start of the second set by claiming the first three points. Kills from five different members from the Blue and Gold allowed ERAU to maintain that three point lead at 9-6. However, the Sharks scored seven unanswered points to send the Eagles down 13-9. That run stretched into a 19-4 spurt as NSU took the last six points of the set to take it 25-13.

A pair of Eagle attacking errors put Nova Southeastern ahead 2-0 at the beginning of the third set. Cameron Gilleland responded with two straight kills to aid ERAU on a 4-0 run to lead 4-2. Then up 7-5, the Sharks strung together five straight points to lead 10-7, and it appeared as though NSU would get hot at the same time as it did in the second set. The Eagles made sure not to let Nova Southeastern get out of reach as ERAU used a 5-1 streak with consecutive kills from Gilleland to retake the lead at 14-13.

Both squads were neck-and-neck for the remainder of the set as each team was looking to grab the important third set to lead two sets to one. Unfortunately, ERAU failed to convert on four set points as the Sharks once again closed the set strong with three points in a row to win 29-27.

Sadly, set four was controlled by NSU. The Sharks opened up with an 8-2 lead from four Eagle miscues, and they controlled the rest of the set. A surprise appearance from Haley Manjack occurred with the score 13-7 in favor of NSU. It was her first action since Oct. 27 when she picked up an injury in a home match that was also against Nova Southeastern.

A 5-0 run by the Sharks pushed ERAU behind 13 points at 24-11. Though Gilleland did attempt to kickstart a comeback with a kill and a block, the Sharks took the 25th point to end the contest.

In her final collegiate match, Gilleland notched a double-double with 11 kills and 11 digs. Jaden McBride added 10 kills and three blocks and Rujano also reached double figures in kills with 10 to go with five digs. Grace Datil was the top setter with 21 assists while Devyn Petrowski followed with 19. Kailey Hrbek chipped in three blocks, and Gabriela Pagan led the team in digs with 12.

The Eagles close out the 2023 season with an overall record of 22-10, which is the program's second-most wins in a single season since 2014.

The 2023 Embry-Riddle volleyball season is presented by Radiology Associates.

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