2019 Emory Volleyball Recap

The Emory volleyball program turned in another memorable and exciting season, culminating with a second straight appearance in the finals of NCAA D-III Championship. The Eagles of Head Coach Jenny McDowell closed out 2019 with an overall record of 34-3, establishing a program record for winning percentage (.918) while the win total represented the 13th straight campaign of 30 or more victories.  Emory has made 24 straight trips to the NCAA postseason (25 overall). 

As usual, Emory played a daunting schedule that featured a total of 15 opponents who were ranked among the AVCA’s Top 25. Emory defended its University Athletic Association crown, disposing of Brandeis before registering nerve-racking five-set decisions over Washington University and Chicago in the semifinals and finals, respectively. The win over the Maroons of UC allowed the Eagles to earn the league’s automatic berth to the postseason.

Emory hosted the opening rounds of the NCAA Regionals and treated its fans to an excellent weekend of play. The Eagles swept Notre Dame of Maryland in its first match before battling to a 3-1 triumph over No. 20 Transylvania. No. 8-ranked Colorado College was the next obstacle that the Eagles faced and they met that challenge head on, sweeping the Tigers and advancing into the Championship round. With Cedar Rapids, Iowa, serving as the host of the national championships, Emory held off Clarkson in five sets before registering another 3-2 win against Carthage College in the semifinals with the final set decided by a 16-14 count. In the battle for the national crown, Emory came up short to Johns Hopkins.

Emory saw five players earn All-America honors, highlighted by junior Leah Saunders’ selection to the first team. Senior Morgan McKnight closed out an outstanding career with a second-team berth as did sophomore Tara Martin. Senior libero Elyse Thompson and freshman Cassie Srb were honorable-mention choices. McDowell was recognized as well by being selected as the U.S. Marine Corps/AVCA Division III Coach of the Year.

** Leading the UAA and ranking 11th nationally in hitting percentage (.249) -- Emory hit .300 or higher in 8 matches.

** Ranking fourth nationally in winning percentage (.919).

** Pounding out 13.61 kills per set with that mark good for second place in the league and 15th nationally. 

** Enjoying the edge in attack percentage in 30 of 37 matches.

** Compiling four contests with 10 or more service aces 

** Standing second in the UAA and 14th nationally in assists per set (12.58 aps)

** Topping the conference chart and ranking third nationally in total kills (1,838)

** Registering a home record of 19-0.  The Eagles stand 400-56 on their home court since the 1992 campaign, 71-6 since 2015.

Junior right side Leah Saunders headed up the team's All-America picks by landing frst-team acclaim.  The 5-foot-8 Saunders averaged 3.17 kills per set, good for the No. 2 spot on the team and third among UAA players.  She pounded out 419 total terminations with that total second on the squad's score sheet and 17th on the Eagles' seasonal ladder.  A four-time UAA Hitter of the Week, she ranked second on the club with 22 matches of double-figure kills and logged three matches with 20 or more successful attack attempts.  Saunders turned in a .264 hitting mark (419-175--925) that placed 11th in the league, and led or shared for team honors in kills on 13 occasions.  She finished No. 2 on the team and 16th on the conference ladder in digs average (2.52 dps), compiling 18 performances of 10 or more digs.  In addition, she doled out 50 service aces, second on the team, and her 0.38 per-set average in that category stood seventh in the UAA.

Morgan McKnight wrapped up her collegiate tenure with a big senior season, culminating with a second team All-America selection.  The dynamic outside hitter was a key component of a potent Emory attack, topping all UAA players with a 3.37 kills-per-set average.  The owner of a team-best 27 contests of double-figure kills, her 441 total terminations paced the league while ranking 14th on the school's seasonal list. She was tabbed as the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Atlanta Regional after setting the pace for all performers with an average of 5.0 kills over 10 sets and hitting a sizzling .414 (50-9--99). McKnight put together a 17-match streak (Oct. 18 - Nov. 22) with 10 or more kills and wound up the campaign leading or sharing for team honors in that department in 15 matches.

Outside hitter Tara Martin came through with another outstanding campaign, playing her way to a second-team All-America berth. The 5-foot-9 sophomore held down the No. 3 position on the team and was fourth in the league with a 3.13 kills-per-set average.  The team leader in hitting percentage (.303, 407-114--968), she amassed 24 matches of double-figure kills.  Martin hit .300 or higher on 18 occasions, including an eight-contest streak (Oct. 27-Nov. 15) that saw her post a .390 (115-22--238) effort.  Named as the UAA Hitter of the Week three times, she was named to the NCAA D-III Championships All-Tournament Team. She led or shared for team honors in terminations on 12 occasions including a career-high 25 kills vs. Washington University in the semifinals of the UAA Championships, which represented the high-water mark by an Emory player during the year. 

Senior libero Elyse Thompson was the anchor of the Emory defense and brought home AVCA Honorable Mention All-American  recognition for the second straight year.  A Second-Team All-UAA choice, she led the team and was fifth among UAA players in digs average (4.37 dps).  Thompson's total of 550 digs were good for the No. 3 spot on the UAA ladder, tied for 76th in the D-III ranks and stood eighth on the program's seasonal ladder.  She posted 28 matches of double-figure digs including 11 with 20 or more.  She hung up her jersey as the school's all-time leader in digs with 1,867.  In addition, her 62 service aces led all UAA players and tied for 15th on the Eagles' seasonal chart.

Freshman Cassie Srb stepped into the starting duty role at setter and performed admirably, which allowed her to capture Honorable Mention All-America status. The 5-foot-9 Srb kept the Emory attack humming throughout the year with her precise distribution skills helping the team rank 11th nationally in hitting percentage.  The  only Emory player to have played in all 135 of the team's sets,  Srb was named both the AVCA South Region and UAA Rookie of the Year. Her 1,477 assists represented the fifth-highest seasonal mark in program history and topped all D-III players.  She averaged 10.94 assists per set, good for second place in the UAA, sixth among all D-III players and 10th on the school's seasonal ladder.  She rang up nine matches of 50 or more assists, including a personal-best 62 against Washington University (Nov. 8) in the semifinals of the UAA Championships that tied the school's sixth-highest individual effort.

In addition to McKnight and Thompson, other seniors included Sara Carr, Kelsey Meins and Maureen Schick.

Honor and Awards