In a battle of undefeated teams, the No. 3-ranked Emory
University volleyball team was saddled with its first loss of the
2010 season this evening as it came out on the short end of a road
match at NAIA power Lee University. The Eagles saw their
record slip to 10-1 following a 21-25, 23-25, 19-25 setback to the
Flames who upped their record to 12-0.
Looking for the program's first-ever 11-0 start, Emory ended
the evening hitting 11.4 percent (34-21—14) compared to the
host Flames' effort of 22.4 percent (41-15-116). Emory held a
slight 51-50 advantage in digs while Lee posted an 8-6 margin in
total blocks.
In the first set of the match, the teams were tied at 20-20 before
the Flames chalked up two straight points to take a 22-20 lead.
Emory cut the gap to one following a successful put-away from
junior Ali Wright, however Lee responded by closing out the game
with three straight points.
The Eagles had a chance to knot the match in the second game,
erasing a 13-10 deficit with an 11-4 burst that put them up by a
21-17 count following a service ace by junior Natalie
Schonefeld. Lee put itself back in contention with a 4-0 run
that knotted the set at 21 apiece. A kill by Wright nudged
the Eagles ahead but three consecutive points gave the Flames 24-22
margin. Junior Jessica McAlvany averted set point by coming
up with a kill but Lee answered with a successful attack by
Stephanie Todd to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
Emory held the upper hand during the early stages of the third set,
battling to an 11-9 advantage. The Eagles then saw their
opposition rattle off a 10-0 blitz that, putting them in a 19-11
hole. To its credit, Emory did not go quietly, countering with a
6-1 run of its own, with senior Amelia McCall chipping in a pair of
kills, to narrow the score to 20-17. That would be as close as
Emory would get as Lee closed things out by registering five of the
game's next seven points.
Wright was a bright spot for the Emory offense, leading the club
with 13 kills while checking in with a 47.8 attack percentage
(13-2—23). McCall and Schonefeld tied for team honors
with 11 digs apiece while Schonefeld dished out 27 assists.
Emory's next action takes place the weekend of Sept. 24-25
when it plays at the UW-Whitewater
Tournament.
