Emory vs. LaGrange

Emory vs. Berry

The Emory University volleyball team was firing on all cylinders Friday as it rolled to a pair of victories on the opening day of action at the Emory Halloween Tournament.  The No. 4-ranked Eagles opened play with a 3-0 triumph over LaGrange College (25-12, 25-15, 25-8) before registering a decisive 3-0 verdict against Berry (25-7, 25-21, 25-18).  The two wins ran the team's win streak to seven and upped Emory's record to 28-5.

Head coach Jenny McDowell opted to rest the bulk of her starters against LaGrange, but the squad did not miss a beat as it finished with an impressive 39.5 hitting percentage (44-10-86).   The Eagles enjoyed a 41-30 edge in digs and notched five total blocks to the Panthers' two.  Freshman Alena Ransom led the offensive fireworks with a season-best 11 kills while classmate Breanah Bourque and junior Allison Sharpe rang up nine terminations apiece.  Bourque also totaled four aces and 10 digs.  Freshman Emily Reiser dished out 35 assists and contributed seven digs in the triumph.

Emory pounced on the Vikings of Berry early in the Senior Night encounter and never let up, blasting away for a season-high 48.9 hitting percentage (49-6-88) while holding the visitors to 12.2 percent (30-18-98).  Bourque turned in another stellar effort, coming through with a blazing 72.2 hitting percentage, a high for an Emory player this year, on the strength of 13 kills in 18 hitting attempts. Junior Amelia McCall paced all players with 14 put-aways, tying her second-highest effort of the campaign, en route to a 59.1 hitting percentage (14-1-22).  Sophomore Jessica McAlvany rounded out the team's double-figure kills performers with 10.  Sophomore Natalie Schonefeld doled out 39 assists and led the squad with nine digs.

Emory seniors who were recognized included Alysse Meyer, Kaitlin Westfall and Vista Murphy.

Emory hosts Randolph-Macon (1:00 p.m.) and Birmingham Southern (3:30 p.m.) on Saturday.