The Emory University volleyball program finished the regular season with back to back wins on Saturday afternoon against Randolph-Macon and Maryville to close the Emory Invitational in Atlanta, Georgia.
 
The No. 4 ranked Eagles improve to 23-2 on the season and post an 8-1 record at home this fall. The program was led by a number of different Eagles with sophomore Gabija Staniskis leading the way offensively posting a career-high 10 kills in each game giving her 26 kills on the weekend. Juniors Oliva Rabinowitz and Ioanna Copulos led the Eagles in assists totaling 22 and 20 respectively while fellow junior Eliane Siberman led Emory at the net with six blocks.
 
Game 1: Emory 3, Randolph-Macon 0
 
The Eagles came out swinging in the first set opening with a 6-3 lead highlighted by kills from junior Leneia Niko. After the first subs of the game came for Emory, the team notched four more points to take a 10-4 lead but the Yellow Jackets turned up the energy cutting into the Eagles' lead. Niko and senior Madison Cail teamed up to help take the Eagles to a 19-12 lead towards the end of the set but Randolph-Macon would look for another comeback. The effort fell short and kills from three different Eagles clinched a 25-18 win in the first set.
 
The Yellow Jackets were able to secure their first lead of the match to start set two holding a 6-4 lead taking advantage of attack errors from the Eagles. Emory answered with four points to regain the lead but Randolph-Macon wasn't done yet posting five straight points for an 11-8 advantage. The Yellow Jackets held onto the lead until the end of the set when the Eagles, down 21-19, went on a 6-2 run to take set two with a close 25-23 line.
 
Set three was a fight for both sides with each team opening with six points before Randolph-Macon ran with an 11-10 lead. The Yellow Jackets gained momentum looking to force a fourth set and went on a 9-2 run to hold a 20-12 lead over Emory. The Eagles responded with seven straight points to cut into Randolph-Macon's lead before later tying the set at 21 apiece. With the Yellow Jackets just one point away from taking the third set, Emory continued to fight going back and forth with Randolph-Macon before clinching the match with a 29-27 win in the third set.
 
Game 2: Emory 3, Maryville 0
 
After taking a break in the day, the Eagles returned with momentum to face the Maryville College Scots in the tournament finale. Emory opened strong with a 6-2 lead before the Scots later cut into the lead, 9-7. The Eagles responded with a 13-1 run highlighted by four kills from Staniskis and junior Sophie Zerrouki to take a 22-8 lead towards the end of the set. The Scots were able to score four more points in the set but fell 25-12 to open the match.
 
Cail and junior Kaya Monrose Monrose dominated the start of the second set posting three kills helping the Eagles to a 5-0 start. The Scots continued fighting holding onto a 7-5 score but Emory didn't keep that for long posting six straight points broadening its lead to 13-5. The scoring continued on both sides of the net heading to the end of the set but the Eagles finished with an 8-2 run to take set two, 25-13.
 
The Scots came for a fight in the third set keeping up with the Eagles' pace. After Emory opened with a 9-6 lead on kills from Staniskis and freshman Maria Flynn, Maryville tied the match at nine taking advantage of a service ace and a kill from its offense. The set saw three more ties but the Eagles finally pulled away with a 22-16 lead before taking the match with a 25-17 win in the third set.
 
The Eagles will compete at the UAA Championships next weekend beginning Friday, November 15 holding the No. 1 seed in the tournament after finishing conference play with a perfect 7-0 record.