The Emory University volleyball program got a hot start to the 2024 NCAA Tournament opening with a 3-0 win against the Covenant Scots on Thursday afternoon.
 
The Eagles improve to 27-2 on the season with the win and advance to the Second Round of the tournament. Emory has yet to lose a first-round matchup in 28 straight consecutive trips to the dance. Junior Kate LaRocco and senior Madison Cail dominated the offense totaling 22 kills between the two of them while junior Olivia Rabinowitz and senior Sarah Luong helped the offense with 33 assists for the Eagles.


 
The Scots got off to a hot start opening with a 4-2 lead taking advantage of attack errors from Emory followed by seven straight points from the Eagles. Covenant answered with five points of their own to tie the set at nine apiece before later tying the set again at 11. After a 16-12 advantage from Emory, the Scots went on a 7-3 placing the set into a 19-19 tie before the Eagles finished with a 6-2 run to take set one, 25-21.
 
Set two started with a back and forth battle seeing five ties between the programs. Emory broke away with an 8-1 run highlighted by kills from LaRocco and Cail to give the Eagles a 13-6 advantage. Covenant looked for a comeback cutting into Emory's lead 16-12 while the scoring continued on both sides of the net. The Eagles were able to finish the set on top with a 25-17 line.
 
Sophomore Sophia Luo and senior Alana Dawson started the scoring for Emory in the third set helping take a slight 6-4 advantage. After the Eagles pulled away with an 11-4 lead, the Scots continued their fight going toe-to-toe with Emory keeping them to an eight-point advantage. Covenant outscored the Eagles in the final 11 points of the match going on a 6-5 run but the effort from the Scots fell short and Emory clinched the match with a 25-18 score.
 
The Eagles will face the Claremont-Mudd Scripps Athenas in the Second Round at the Woodruff P.E. Center in Atlanta, Georgia on Friday, November 22 at 7:00 PM.