Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 The No. 6-ranked Emory volleyball team won a pair of Friday matches on the opening day of its National Invitational Tournament. The Eagles opened with a 3-0 decision (25-13, 25-22, 25-12) over SUNY-Cortland before battling to a 3-1 triumph (25-20, 25-23, 15-25, 25-12) over No. 9 Juniata. The two wins upped Emory's overall record to 26-3.
Junior Cat McGrath (St. Louis, MO) led the team in attacks in both matches, posting 10 terminations and hitting .500 (10-2—16) vs. Cortland before leading all performers with 13 kills and registering a solid .565 hitting effort (13-0—23) against Juniata. Junior Leah Jacobs (Linville, VA) was second on the squad with 11 successful attack attempts in the Juniata contest, her 14th match of double figures this year, while classmate Kate Bowman totaled 10 kills while chipping in 17 digs, her ninth double-double of the campaign. Junior Taylor Erwin (Woodlands Park, TX) turned in a solid defensive effort and led Emory in digs in both affairs, picking up 10 against the Red Dragons and a match-high 23 against Juniata, her ninth match of 20 or more this year.
The Emory defensive effort saw it limit its two opponents to a combined .071 hitting percentage (57-41—224).
The Eagles, 14-1 in home matches this year, close out play in their Invitational on Saturday when they tangle with Berry College (1:00 pm) and No. 15 Trinity University (3:30 pm).
