The No. 2-ranked Emory volleyball team notched a pair of wins on the opening day of the University Athletic Association Championships, defeating Brandeis University, 3-0 (25-22, 25-18, 25-11), in the quarterfinals before registering a 3-0 triumph (25-18, 25-15, 25-16) over Case Western in the semifinals. The two wins boosted the Eagles' overall record to 34-3 (9-0 UAA) and into the conference's title match on Saturday at 1:00 p.m., against No. 3-ranked Washington University.
Emory posted a .341 hitting percentage (40-10—88) against Brandeis and used a strong defensive effort in limiting the Judges to just .046 percent (20-16—87). The Eagles held a 43-34 advantage in digs and finished with a 10-4 cushion in total blocks. Senior Amelia McCall and junior Breanah Bourque totaled over half of the squad's kills with McCall racking up 11 and Bourque 10 terminations, respectively. Bourque, who entered the weekend as the league leader in hitting percentage, finished with a .600 mark (10-1—15) while McCall came through with a .375 effort (11-2—24). Senior Jessica McAlvany came through with a strong showing, picking up seven kills with no errors in 11 attempts. (.636). Senior setter Natalie Schonefeld doled out 39 assists while sophomore Molly Landers topped the club with a dozen digs.
Emory kept its offense rolling in high gear against Case, peppering away at the Spartans to the tune of a .422 hitting percentage (47-9—90), the seventh time this season that the Eagles had hit .400 or higher. A decided 44-29 edge in digs helped the Emory hold the opposition to just a .136 attack percentage as did a 6-3 margin in total blocks. McCall led all players with 13 kills, her 25th match of double figures in that category this season, with McAlvany chipping in 11 terminations, her sixth double-digit outing of the season, and seven digs. In the two matches today, McAlvany finished with a glittering .582 hitting percentage (18-1—29). Landers again led the team with 11 digs and dished out three service aces in the victory.
The Eagles, winners of 10 of their last 11 matches, will face a Wash U team that stands 31-1 overall (8-1 UAA). The Bears advanced to the championship match after upending Carnegie Mellon and No. 16 Chicago. Saturday's clash will mark the eighth straight year that the two programs have met for the league title. The winner earns the UAA's automatic bid the NCAA Championships which starts next week. The Emory-Wash U affair will be webcast. To access the video stream, go to: http://www.nyuathletics.tv/broadcasts/index.cfm?fuseaction=usrbrd&broadcasterid=59125&mobi=0
Emory Volleyball Earns Two Wins At UAA Championships -- Will Meet Wash U For Conference Crown On Saturday
Posted: Nov 04, 2011