The No. 4-ranked Emory volleyball team closed out a successful weekend with a pair of Saturday wins on the final day of competition at the Emory Invitational.
The Eagles boosted their record to 14-1 after notching a 3-0 decision (25-16, 25-9, 25-11) over Covenant College and a 3-1 verdict (23-25, 25-15, 25-15, 25-9) over Wellesley College.
The Emory freshman class shined in the Covenant match, accounting for all 45 of the squad's kills while establishing a team season best with a .429 hitting percentage (45-9—84). Sarah Maher (Orange, CA) was one of two Eagles to record double digits in kills with 11 terminations while Jessica Holler (Roswell, GA) finished with a 1.000 hitting effort with 10 kills and no miscues in 10 opportunities. Junior Olivia Volarich dished out 23 assists and contributed three services and five digs to aid in the win while sophomore Taylor Erwin (Woodlands, TX) and freshman Ashley Cozart (Tampa, FL) finished with 11 and 10 digs, respectively. Emory held CC to a .000 attack percentage (16-16—86) and enjoyed a 45-27 margin in digs.
After getting out the gate slowly and dropping the initial set to Wellesley, Emory regrouped and dominated the final three games, registering an impressive .438 hitting percentage (37-5—73) over that stretch compared to The Blue's effort of .010 (25-24—96). The Eagles finished with a 59-50 advantage in digs and an 8-4 edge in total blocks. Junior Leah Jacobs (Linville, VA) tied for match honors with 16 kills, tying her second-highest career total, and concluded the contest with a .452 hitting performance (16-2—31). Bowman totaled nine terminations and chipped in 15 digs while Holler capped off a fine weekend with seven successful attack attempts and a team-high tying five blocks (1-4). Sophomore Sydney Miles (Oklahoma City, OK) helped Emory to a final hitting mark of .342 (52-12—17) by doling out 39 assists while adding six kills and five blocks.
The Eagles return to action next Friday and Saturday (Sept. 27-28) when the host the Emory Tournament.
EMORY INVITATIONAL ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Kate Bowman – Bowman (MVP)
Leah Jacobs – Emory
Sydney Miles – Emory
Traci Hamanaka – Wellesley
Sydney Carfagno -- Wellesley
Mary Kate White – Maryville
Nicole Tesh – Emory and Henry