The Emory University volleyball program opened the annual Emory Invitational with a doubleheader split on Friday afternoon before celebrating the seniors later in the evening.
 
The No. 4 ranked Eagles move to 21-2 on the season after defeating the Oglethorpe Stormy Petrels in Game 1. Emory fought a tough battle in Game 2 against the No. 10 ranked Washington and Lee Generals but fell after a close fifth set. Going into the matchup, the Eagles held a 17-game winning streak - the sixth-longest streak in program history.
 
Senior Alana Dawson led the Eagles offensively totaling 24 kills across the two games including 19 against the Generals, one shy of her career high. Fellow senior Lily Martin followed behind with 20 kills, 18 in game two. It was surely a night for the seniors with Sarah Luong posting 32 assists against Washington and Lee with junior Olivia Rabinowitz following suit.
 
Game 1: Emory 3, Oglethorpe 0
 
The Stormy Petrels put up a tough battle to start the first set of the matchup going point-for-point with the Eagles tying the set at 11 apiece. Emory answered with an 8-1 run highlighted by kills from Dawson and Martin followed by two service aces from Luong to take a 19-12 lead. Oglethorpe was not done fighting yet following with their own run to tie the set again at 21. Dawson finished the set with two kills and the Eagles were able to clinch the first set, 25-21.
 
Oglethorpe opened the second set with another back and forth battle at the net with four different Eagles seeking kills to help tie the match at 10 apiece. After Emory later took a 14-12 lead, they looked to pull away with another late 8-1 run holding a 22-12 advantage highlighted by kills from sophomore Gabija Staniskis. Staniskis finished the first match with a team-leading six kills. The Stormy Petrels looked for a late comeback, but the Eagles took the set two with a 25-19 line.
 
After the Stormy Petrels took a slight 9-8 advantage to start the third set, kills from sophomore Sophia Luo and junior Eliane Silberman helped Emory take back a 12-10 lead. With another point from Oglethorpe, the Eagles answered with eight straight points to hold a 20-11 lead with juniors Maggie Regan and Kaya Monrose entering the scoring line. The Stormy Petrels tried for another comeback towards the end of the set, but the Eagles clinched the win with a 25-17 score.
 
Game 2: Washington & Lee 3, Emory 2
 
After recognizing the seniors, the Eagles opened the first set with a back and forth battle with the Generals holding a slight 12-10 advantage towards the middle of the set. Following a tie at 12 apiece, Washington & Lee went on an 8-4 run to hold a slight 20-16 lead in the set. The Eagles continued to fight, but the Generals took set one, 25-21.
 
The Generals dominated the second set opening with a 12-8 lead taking advantage of attack errors from the Emory offense. The next 15 points went back and forth on both sides of the net with Washington & Lee holding eight of those points to take a five-point, 20-15 lead. The Generals finished with a 5-2 run taking set two with a 25-17 line.
 
The roles were reversed in the third set with the Eagles opening with a 12-9 lead over the Generals. Kills from Martin and Dawson helped Emory pull away with a 17-11 advantage. Washington & Lee answered with four points to cut into the Eagles' lead, but kills from senior Madison Cail and Luo helped clinch the set win, 25-17.
 
Emory never gave up the lead in set four, opening with a 7-2 with three kills from Martin. The next nine points from the Eagles all came from kills with the Generals keeping up with the scoring run. After cutting into Emory's lead, 21-14, Washington & Lee failed at a comeback and dropped the set, 25-14, to force a fifth set.
 
The fifth set kept everyone on their toes with the scoring being even between both teams. Emory was able to take the 8-7 lead into the switch before the Generals followed with two points to take the lead back from the Eagles. After Emory took a slight 11-10 lead, Washington & Lee finished the set with a 5-1 run to take set five, 15-12, and clinch the match.
 
The Eagles will return to the court tomorrow where they will face Randolph-Macon at 10:30 AM and Maryville College at 2:30 PM with both matches being played on Court 1.