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Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Athletics

Scream_090624_DSC6018
Vinny O'Connor
0
Nova Southeastern Nova 11-2,2-1 Sunshine State
3
Winner Embry-Riddle (FL) ERAU 10-2,3-0 Sunshine State
Nova Southeastern Nova
11-2,2-1 Sunshine State
0
Final
3
Embry-Riddle (FL) ERAU
10-2,3-0 Sunshine State
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 F
Nova Southeastern Nova 11 19 19 (0)
Embry-Riddle (FL) ERAU 25 25 25 (3)

Game Recap: RV Women's Volleyball | | Kyrin Mayfield | @k_mayfield97

Volleyball Upsets No. T-24 Sharks, 3-0

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - In a completely one-sided affair, the Embry-Riddle volleyball team shocked No. T-24 Nova Southeastern on Tuesday night inside the ICI Center, defeating the Sharks in straight sets. It was the third time in the program's NCAA II era the Eagles downed a ranked opponent, with the most recent occurrence coming in 2021, which was also against the then-No. 17 Sharks. 

The victory snapped Nova Southeastern's five-match winning streak and its streak of 15 consecutive sets won. On the other hand, it increased ERAU's unbeaten run to five matches. Of Embry-Riddle's 10 wins in 2024, eight have been sweeps. The Eagles have won three of the last four matches at home against the Sharks. 

It was a lopsided contest from start to finish. Despite entering the match with the fifth-highest hit percentage in the NCAA II (.302), NSU was held to a season-low .097 clip while the Eagles mashed for a season-best .427. That mark was the team's highest attacking percentage against a conference foe since Sept. 27, 2019, versus Florida Southern. On top of that, ERAU limited the Sharks, who also ranked fifth in the division in blocks per set, to four rejections on the night compared to eight for the Blue and Gold. 

Set one was a block party as six of the team's eight blocks occurred in the set. The score was tight until a trio of NSU miscues sent ERAU on a 5-1 streak to lead 13-8. The lead continued to steadily increase as back-to-back blocks from Dana Gibbons ignited a set-ending 11-1 spurt. The Eagles took the last eight points of the set, partially thanks to two consecutive aces by Ashley Lunt and two blocks in a row courtesy of Fifi Harvey and Haley Manjack, for a 25-11 win. ERAU held the Sharks to a -.026 hit percentage in the set.

Set two was a battle. Embry-Riddle trailed 9-8 when a 5-1 streak sent the home team ahead 13-10, which concluded with two-consecutive Isabella Rujano kills. Then, NSU responded with four unanswered points to retake the lead at 14-13. However, ERAU inched ahead and separated itself from the Sharks as the set progressed. Five different Eagles recorded kills in the team's last nine points of the set to help the Blue and Gold take set two 25-19. 

Tied at 8-8 in set three, a Jaden McBride kill was sandwiched between a pair of successful spikes from Manjack to get the Eagles three straight points and lead 11-8. Nova Southeastern cut that advantage to one, but McBride and Manjack continued with the kill barrage to once again make it a three-point contest (13-10). That lead held up until the end, with Rujano capturing three of ERAU's last four points to secure the sweep with another 25-19 set win. Offensively, the last set was the best for the Eagles, who hit .483 with 18 kills.  

The Eagles' .427 match attacking percentage ranked fifth-highest in the Sunshine State Conference this season. Of the six Eagles who registered five attacks or more, five possessed a hit percentage at .357 or above. This included Rujano (.357), McBride (.364), Harvery (.455), Gibbons (.600), and Manjack (.857). Setter Ashlyn Koerner also connected one her lone attempt. 

Rujano, the owner of the SSC's third-highest points per set rate (4.92), led the team with 14 points, 13 kills and 10 digs for her seventh double-double of the season. She also tallied two block assists. McBride contributed 10 kills, seven digs and two blocks for 12 points. 

Manjack, who is fourth in the league in blocks per set (1.33), tied for the team high in blocks with Gibbons (4). Koerner amassed a team-best 23 assists while Lexie Hage grabbed 18. Lunt captured three aces, and Gabriela Pagan notched eight digs. 

The Eagles are scheduled to spend the weekend on the road, which begins with a match at Florida Southern on Friday at 7 p.m.
The 2024 Embry-Riddle volleyball season is presented by Radiology Associates.
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