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Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Athletics

Celebration_092724_DSC9009
Vinny O'Connor
2
Florida Tech FT 7-4,1-1 Sunshine State
3
Winner Embry-Riddle (FL) ERAU 8-2,1-0 Sunshine State
Florida Tech FT
7-4,1-1 Sunshine State
2
Final
3
Embry-Riddle (FL) ERAU
8-2,1-0 Sunshine State
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 5 F
Florida Tech FT 15 25 25 15 15 (2)
Embry-Riddle (FL) ERAU 25 23 16 25 17 (3)

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

Volleyball Uses Emphatic Comeback to Claim SSC Opener Against Panthers

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The Embry-Riddle volleyball team erased a four-point deficit late in the fifth set to mount an epic comeback against Florida Tech and beat the Panthers 17-15 in a decisive fifth set to start Sunshine State Conference play on Friday night. ERAU increased its lead in the all-time series to 18-16 and 11-5 at home with the win. On top of that, the Eagles have won 12 of the last 13 meetings. 

The energy of the crowd no doubt provided a boost to the Blue and Gold as 595 spectators were in attendance, the highest attendance since Sept. 1, 2023 at the Bahama House Labor Day Classic against Augusta.

It was a monumental team effort as the Eagles set season highs in kills (65), assists (63) and digs (91) while tying the team high in aces (10). Additionally, it was the most kills by the program in a match since Sept. 3, 2022, versus UNC Pembroke (66) and the most assists since Sept. 10, 2021, against Lindenwood (65). Also of note, the 91 digs were the most by an SSC member in a match this season.

The action started with Embry-Riddle firmly in control of set one with a 6-1 lead thanks to three consecutive aces by Isabella Rujano. Later on in the set, ERAU mounted a 5-0 spurt to shoot ahead 17-9. At the end of the set, Rujano tallied three kills in the Eagles' last five points to aid the Blue and Gold to a 25-15 opening-set win. 

However, the momentum changed in set two. While the Eagles started with a slim 5-4 advantage, Florida Tech tallied a pair of aces and kills to score four straight and send ERAU behind 8-5. The Eagles responded with four unanswered points of their own to regain the lead thanks to a trio of Panther attacking miscues. 

The scoring streaks continued as Florida Tech rattled off five straight a few rallies later to make the score 15-11 in favor of the visitors. Dana Gibbons and Rujano traded successful spikes to send the home team on a six-point run to reclaim the lead 20-19 and soon after 22-20. However, FT used four kills and a set-clinching ace to take five of the last six points and the set, 25-23. 

Embry-Riddle stayed within striking distance of the Panthers in set three, trailing 13-12, when Florida Tech captured six unanswered points to go up by seven. The Eagles were never able to recover, and the Panthers took a 2-1 set advantage with the 25-16 set win. 

Embry-Riddle sent a statement in set four, holding Florida Tech to just six kills compared to the Blue and Gold's 17 in the set. A 1-0 deficit was the only time ERAU trailed as Rujano, Ruby Owen and Jaden McBride tallied kills to get the Eagles ahead 4-1. It was a strong set from freshman Fifi Harvey, who racked up five kills that began with back-to-back points to give ERAU some cushion at 10-7. Combined with Rujano's two consecutive kills and two straight aces from Ashlyn Koerner, Embry-Riddle scored 10 of 12 to vault ahead 18-9 and easily send the match to a fifth set with the 25-15 set win. 

A boisterous crowd provided all the energy in the fifth set as every point scored by the Blue and Gold sent the building into an eruption of cheers. The Eagles needed that energy while facing deficits of 9-5 and 12-8. A kill by Owen got things going and Rujano and McBride followed to help ERAU tie the match 12-12 with four-straight points. Gibbons and Owen then posted a monstrous rejection to take a 13-12 lead and send a roar throughout the building. Both sides went back and forth, tying the score at 13, 14 and 15 each. An offensive error by the Panthers gave the Eagles a leg up, and McBride slammed the door shut for the 17-15 fifth-set win. 

Rujano had an all-star level performance, racking up a career-high 25 kills, 23 digs and six aces. Her 31 points tied for the 10th most in program history and were the most by an Eagle since Jennifer Beatty's 31 in 2014. The junior's 25 kills are the second most in a match in 2024 by an SSC student-athlete and her six aces tied for a single-match contest high in the conference. 

McBride also produced a hefty stat line with 15 kills and 19 digs. Koerner notched a double-double as well thanks to 21 assists and a personal-best 15 digs. Gabriela Pagan was just one assist shy of accomplishing the feat, finishing with a season-high nine assists and 18 digs. Lexie Hage had her best performance of the season, capturing 31 assists and five digs. Harvey recorded a personal-best 11 kills. Haley Manjack led the team in blocks with seven paired with four digs, and Owen ended with four blocks and three digs.

Next up, the Eagles make a short trip to Winter Park, Florida to face Rollins on Saturday at 4 p.m. Embry-Riddle has won the last 11 games against the Tars. 
The 2024 Embry-Riddle volleyball season is presented by Radiology Associates.
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