The Emory volleyball team closed out a three-day, five-match stretch on a successful note on Saturday with two victories at its National Tournament. The Eagles started with a 3-1 (25-17, 22-25, 25-20, 26-24) triumph over Whitworth before posting 3-0 (25-19, 25-21, 26-24) outcome over Tufts.  Emory has won their last six outings and stands 7-1 on the year.

Emory closed out the spirited affair against Whitworth by hitting .241 (58-23—145) while the Pirates recorded a mark of .157 (48-23—159). Senior Karissa Dzurik led all players with a career-high 19 kills and registered a .471 attack percentage (19-3—34).  Sophomore Leah Saunders played a prominent role in the offensive game plan, pounding out 15 terminations, tying her second-highest career total. Senior setter Mady Arles came through with an all-around performance, tallying a career-high 46 assists, notching six kills and adding four block assists. Sophomore Finn Wilkins chipped in seven successful attack attempts and tied Arles and senior Carly Saitman for the team lead with four blocks (1-3).  Six Eagles posted two or more blocks against the Pirates, helping the squad to a 10-7 edge in that category.

Wilkins was the lone Eagle to register double figures in kills, as she rang up a career-high 11 en route to a .368 (11-4—19) hitting percentage.  Wilkins also topped the squad with five blocks (0-5), her sixth outing this year with multiple blocks to her credit. Junior Morgan McKnight was second on the team with nine terminations while Saunders totaled seven. Both teams finished with 37 digs with junior Elyse Thompson setting the pace for Emory with 10. After Emory captured the opening two sets, a fourth game appeared to be imminent when the Jumbos held a 24-21 edge in the third. However, a couple of kills from Dzurik helped knot the score at 24-24, while a termination by Wilkins put the Eagles one point from sealing the outcome. That took place as a result of a Tufts attack error. The Eagles outhit their opposition for the eighth straight match, recording an effort of .227 (38-16—97) vs. .119 (34-22—101) for Tufts.

Emory returns to action next Friday and Saturday (Sept.14-15) when it travels to No. 4 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps to compete in three matches at the East-West Classic.

Emory National Volleyball Tournament All-Tournament Team
Emily Hancock - Berry
Emily Rapach - Berry
Mady Arles - Emory
Hadley Sterett - Otterbein
Jessica Schmautz - Whitworth
Mackenzie Bright - Tufts
Leah Saunders - Emory
Karissa Dzurik - Emory (MVP)