The No.12-ranked Emory volleyball team ventured crosstown to Oglethorpe University on Sunday where it earned 3-0 wins over both Sewanee (25-13, 25-14, 30-28) and the host Stormy Petrels (25-9, 25-14, 25-11). The Eagles now stand 13-4 on the season.
Emory closed out the Sewanee contest hitting .330 (43-13—91) vs. the Tigers' mark of .065 (29-23—94). Senior Karissa Dzurik led the Eagles' offensive effort with a match-high 10 kills while turning in a .273 (10-4—2) attack percentage. Senior Sydney Leimbach was Emory's most efficient hitter with a .615 showing on the strength of nine terminations with just one error in 13 swings. Junior Morgan McKnight and sophomore Leah Saunders each chipped in seven kills with McKnight hitting .545 (7-1—11). After breezing through the opening two games, the Eagles had to rally to earn the sweep, falling behind by a 13-7 count in the third set. With Saunders picking up three kills and senior Mady Arles adding a pair, Emory rattled off a 10-1 run to take a 17-14 lead. However, the Tigers refused to bend, countering a with 6-2 charge that gave them a 20-19 advantage. After sophomore Finn Wilkins banged out a kill, knotting the score at 22-22, Sewanee edged closer to claiming the set after accounting for the next two points. However, Emory used a termination by Dzurik and a Tiger hitting miscue to tie things up at 24-25. The Eagles then had to fight off three Sewanee set point opportunities, using a 4-1 surge that wiped out a one-point deficit and that gave them the victory. Arles doled out 36 assists from her setter position while junior Elyse Thompson contributed 15 digs.
Emory continued its offensive efficiency against Oglethorpe, checking in with a .309 (34-13—68) hitting performance, its fifth match of the season of .300 or higher, while holding the Petrels to -.045 (14-17—67). Saunders produced a match-leading 10 kills, her sixth double-figure match of the season, while Dzurik added seven successful attack attempts. McKnight, Leimbach and Arles all totaled four terminations, with McKnight hitting .444 (4-0—9), Leimbach adding four block assists and Arles dishing out 25 assists.
Emory returns to action on Tuesday (Oct. 9) when it plays at No. 21 Berry College in a 6:00 pm start.