The No. 4-ranked Emory volleyball team finished off a perfect weekend with a pair of wins on the final day of action at the Doc Partin, defeating Birmingham Southern, 3-0 (25-17, 28-26, 25-15), and No. 5-ranked Eastern University, 3-1 (25-20, 24-26, 25-23, 25-13).  The Eagles took home first place honors at the Classic, posting a 4-0 record and in the process boosting its season mark to 7-1.

Against the Panthers of BSC, the Eagles finished with a .280 attack percentage (47-17-107) and used a strong defensive effort that held the visitors to .097 (27-17—103).  Emory chalked up a 55-39 edge in digs and enjoyed a 10-5 cushion in total blocks.  Senior Amelia McCall led all players with 18 kills, a .417 hitting percentage (18-3—36) and 16 digs.    The Eagles spread out their offensive opportunities with 11 players recording kills in the match.  Junior Alena Ransom was next up among the team's leaders in terminations with six put-aways. 

McCall continued her torrid play in the finale against Eastern, blasting away for a career-high 23 kills along with a .400 attack percentage (23-3—50).  McCall also contributed nine digs and three block assists.  McCall had plenty of help offensively with junior Breanah Bourque hammering out a season-high 17 terminations and senior Jessica McAlvany peppering the opposition with 15 kills and a match-leading 22 digs.  In the decisive fourth set, McCall was successful on five- of-seven attempts while Bourque put down five-of-six tries.  As a team, the Eagles pounded out a .560 hitting mark (15-1—25), by far its best effort in a set this season.   Senior setter Natalie Schonefeld played a heady floor game with her 56 assists tying her fourth-highest career total.

McCall was named MVP of the Classic after playing in all of the squad's 13 sets and posting a team-leading 72 successful attacks, a team-best 5.54 kills-per-set average, a .395 attack percentage and 43 digs (3.31 dps).   Other Eagles landing Partin Classic All-Tournament honors were McAlvany and Bourque.

Doc Partin Classic All-Tournament Team
Neysa Hernandez – Faulkner
Jenna McCallister – Wheaton
Kearby Benak – Eastern University
Courtney Reinhold – Eastern University
Jessica McAlvany – Emory
Breanah Bourque – Emory
Amelia McCall (MVP) -- Emory
 
Emory returns to action next Friday and Saturday (Sept. 16-17) when it travels to Thousan Oaks, CA, to play four opponents hosted by Cal Lutheran University.