DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - A record total of 1,113 fans packed the ICI Center on Friday night to witness a clash between two Sunshine State Conference powers as Embry-Riddle volleyball fell to No. 8 Tampa 3-2 in an instant classic. The record attendance bested a mark of 945 set back in 2013 when ERAU faced Milligan. The Eagles, who are receiving votes in the latest national coaches' poll, were on the cusp of defeating the Spartans for the first time in history. Just like last year, the Blue and Gold took a 2-1 set lead. However, ERAU dropped the last two sets and suffered a narrow defeat. 

Despite the result, multiple Eagles shined on the court. Setter Ashlyn Koerner posted a single-game personal best in assists for the fourth time in the last five matches, assisting with 50 of Embry-Riddle's 62 kills on Friday. For the first time in her career, Jaden McBride tallied over 20 kills (25) and digs (24) in a match. Her 24 digs were also a career high. Isabella Rujano also posted a double-double with 16 kills and 17 digs. On the back row, Gabriela Pagan accumulated over 20 or more digs for the second time this season with 20 against Tampa. 

Prior to the start of the match, Head Coach Joslynn Gallop was honored for her 400th career win with a proclamation issued by Ormond Beach Mayor Bill Partington, who also presented her with a key to the city. 

Tampa grabbed the momentum early on by claiming the first three points in set one. Embry-Riddle battled back later on as Fifi Harvey sent back-to-back spikes to the Spartans' side of the court to start a 3-0 run and tie the set 11-11. Tampa regained the lead soon after, but the Blue and Gold stayed within striking distance. However, Tampa closed the set by capturing five of the last six points, all of which were a result of kills, to win 25-19. 

McBride contributed with two straight aces in set two to push the home team ahead 3-2. Tampa then took six of the next seven tallies before Embry-Riddle scored 11 unanswered points to leap out in front 15-8 and send the packed arena into a frenzy. Improbably, the Spartans erased the deficit with a 9-2 run to level the score at 17-17. The Eagles regrouped as McBride took charge with five kills over the next six points to lift her team up by four points (22-18). Rujano captured the last two points for ERAU to win the set 25-22. 

A 4-2 deficit transformed into a 6-4 lead in set three. Tampa, though, responded with a 6-1 spurt to put the Blue and Gold down 10-7. Embry-Riddle kept the deficit to three points or less for the remainder of the set. With ERAU behind 16-14, the two sides traded the next 10 points when three kills and an ace gave the Eagles a 23-21 advantage and later a 25-22 third-set win. 

Embry-Riddle appeared to be well on its way to a victory when the Eagles raced out to a 5-1 lead in the fourth. Approaching the midway point of the set, the Spartans received eight consecutive points to put ERAU behind 11-7. McBride answered the call once again as the senior notched three straight kills to help the Blue and Gold tie the set at 11-11. The scoring streaks continued as a 6-2 spurt with five kills put Tampa up by five (17-12). The deficit for the Eagles continued to grow when a 7-2 run by the visitors made the score 24-17. Embry-Riddle continued to show signs of life by fighting off four consecutive set points, but the Spartans eventually claimed the set 25-20 to send the match to a fifth set. 

The fifth set was deadlocked. Neither side could gain more than a point of separation for the first half. Embry-Riddle achieved a slim 9-8 lead, but Tampa earned seven of the final eight points to end ERAU's upset bid with a 15-10 fifth-set win.

The Eagles have a quick turnaround before their next match as Embry-Riddle hosts Florida Southern on Saturday at 4 p.m.

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The 2024 Embry-Riddle volleyball season is presented by Radiology Associates.