The No. 1-ranked Emory University volleyball team hosted and battled its way to a pair of Sunday wins at the University Athletic Association Round Robin II. The Eagles registered 3-1 decisions over Washington University (25-12, 25-18, 12-25, 25-21) and New York University (25-10, 25-19, 16-25, 25-17), raising their overall record to 15-1, 5-0 in the conference.
Junior Leah Saunders paced the Emory offensive attack in the contest vs. WU, tying her career high with 21 kills and hitting a keen .342 (21-8—38). Senior Morgan McKnight totaled 13 successful attack attempts, her ninth double-figure effort of the year in that category. Freshman setter Cassie Srb helped Emory to a .273 attack percentage (56-21—128), doling out a season-high 50 assists while adding six digs. The Eagles' defense held the Bears to a .147 hitting mark (33-17—109), thanks in part to a 55-42 edge in digs that saw senior Elyse Thompson lead all performers with 19.
Thompson, who entered Sunday needing 34 digs to become the program's all-time leader in that category, moved into the No. 1 position with a match-high 22 digs in the NYU bout. Thompson, who now has 1,519 digs during her Emory tenure, surpassed the previous standard of 1,511 held by Kate Bowman (2011-14). Junior Maggie Rimmel came through with a huge offensive effort, dialing up a career-best 14 terminations, which led all players, and turning in an attack percentage of .423 (14-3—26). Saunders closed out a productive day by placing second on the squad's score sheet with 13 knockouts, adding four service aces and 11 digs. For the 15th time this year, the Eagles held the advantage in hitting, checking in with a .241 (55-22—137) performance compared to the Violets' .210 (39-13-124). Emory held a decisive 64-47 cushion in digs with junior Jessica Schwenke complementing Thompson's total by racking up a career-high 14. Emory doled out 16 service aces, spearheaded by Thompson's seven, while NYU pocketed a pair.
Emory, 7-0 at the Woodruff PE Center this season, returns to action on Thursday (Oct. 10) when it plays host to South Region foe Birmingham Southern in a 6:00 pm start.