The Emory University volleyball program opened conference play with back-to-back victories over Carnegie Mellon and Brandeis on Saturday afternoon in Atlanta, Georgia at the WoodPEC.
 
The No. 9 ranked Eagles took the first match of the day against the No. 25 ranked Carnegie Mellon Tartans, 3-1, before sweeping the Brandeis Judges in the afternoon match, 3-0 to hold a 10-2 record on the season. Emory will face off with the Case Western Reserve Spartans on Sunday at 12:00 PM in the final matchup of the first UAA Round Robin.
 
Game 1: Emory 3, Carnegie Mellon 1
 
After a toe-to-toe battle started the first set of the match, the Eagles went on a 6-1 run to hold a 12-7 advantage towards the middle of the set. The Tartans continued fighting taking advantage of kills of their own to later come within a two-point deficit of Emory. Kills from senior Kate LaRocco started an offensive movement for the Eagles pulling away with a 24-20 lead. After Carnegie Mellon took their 21st point of the match, a kill from senior Eliane Silberman clinched the first set of the match, 25-21, for Emory.
 
Set two started in similar fashion to set one with the Tartans being the one to pull away with the slight 5-4 led at the start of the set. The Eagles were able to tie the set at seven apiece while using attack errors from Carnegie Mellon but the Tartans continued to pull away with the lead point-by-point. Following a 15-10 lead from Carnegie Mellon, the Eagles went on a 6-1 run to tie the set at 16 apiece followed by three more ties. The Tartans were able to pull away and finish the second set with a 25-21 score to even the match at 1-1.
 
The start of set three was all Emory as kills from senior Kaya Monrose and Silberman helped the Eagles to a 10-5 lead to start the set. Carnegie Mellon added two more point to their total before Emory scored seven straight points with kills from teammates Maggie Regan and Sophia Luo to take a 17-7 lead. The conclusion of the set was all Eagles as they took the third set 25-11.
 
The momentum from the ending of the third set carried right into the second with Emory opening with a 9-6 lead with kills from Monrose and junior Gabija Staniskis. The Eagles then went on an 8-2 scoring run for their biggest lead of the set, 17-9. The Tartans continued fighting towards the end of the set but the offensive momentum from Emory was too much and the Eagles clinched the match with a 25-14 win in the fourth set.
 
Game 2: Emory 3, Brandeis 0
 
Emory's offense started strong in the first set of game two taking an early 5-2 advantage on four kills. The Judges looked for an early comeback but it was again denied by the Eagles who scored six straight points, four coming on consecutive service aces from LaRocco. Emory continued to pull away with the lead holding a 10-point advantage before finishing the set with a 6-1 run to take the first set, 25-10.
 
Three kills and a service ace opened the scoring for the Eagles in set two helping to a 6-1 lead before Brandeis fought its way back to a tie at seven apiece. The next few points went back and forth between the two programs before Emory pulled away with a 15-10 lead. The Judges continued to battle but the Eagles hit the 20 point mark with a seven point advantage. Brandeis had a strong ending to the second set going on a 7-5 run but Emory was able to take the set, 25-20.
 
Once again, the Eagles opened with a 9-3 advantage due to a strong offensive performance from LaRocco and senior Caroline Coyle. The Judges continued putting up two points at a time and eventually brought the score to a 14-11 Emory lead. The Eagles stayed consistent with Brandeis on the scoring side eventually holding a 19-16 lead before finishing with a 6-1 run to clinch the match with a 25-17 score in the third set.
 
The Eagles will face off with Case Western Reserve on Sunday, September 28 at 12:00 PM for the final day of the opening UAA Round Robin Tournament.