The No. 2-ranked Emory volleyball team ran its win streak to seven matches on Friday following a pair of victories on the first day of the Emory National Invitational. The Eagles opened with a 3-0 verdict (25-15, 25-14, 25-15) over region foe Washington & Lee before treating a Senior Night crowd to an impressive performance in 3-0 triumph against No. 12 Juniata (25-15, 25-14, 25-10). Emory now stands 31-2 on the campaign.
Emory hit .240 (38-13—104) in the Washington & Lee match and used a strong defensive effort that limited the Generals to a .000 mark (22-22—110). Senior Amelia McAll and junior Breanah Bourque each rang up attack percentages of over .300 with McCall at .312 with a team-high 12 terminations and Bourque registering a .364 mark on the strength of 11 terminations. McCall also contributed nine digs while Bourque contributed three total blocks. Sophomore Molly Landers led all players with 21 digs in helping Emory to a 55-45 advantage in that category.
Emory trailed on just two occasions, both times early in the first set, during the entire Juniata contest and finished with a .340 attack percentage (42-10—94) while holding the visitors to a -.054 mark (14-19—93). Head Coach Jenny McDowell saw her squad register a 50-39 edge in digs and finish with a 6-2 margin in total blocks. Four players totaled seven or more kills for the victors, led by the junior duo of Alex Duhl and Bourque who each registered nine terminations. Bourque hit .571 (9-1—14) in the contest, the ninth time in her last 10 outings she has hit .400 or higher while Duhl notched a .467 attack percentage (9-2—15). McCall aided in the win with eight successful put-aways as did junior Alena Ransom who finished with seven kills.
Prior to the Juniata contest, Emory recognized its five-member senior class of Kelsey Freeman, Jessica McAlvany, Amelia McCall, Natalie Schonefeld and Ali Wright.
The Eagles wind up the Invitational on Saturday when they host No. 5 Heidelberg at 1:00 p.m. and NAIA power Lee University at 3:30 p.m.
No. 2 Emory Volleyball Rolls To A Pair Of Victories
Posted: Oct 28, 2011