The No. 8-ranked Emory volleyball team continued its late-season surge Friday evening, winning two games at its National Invitational Tournament. The Eagles swept both Salem College (25-13, 25-7, 25-9) and Randolph-Macon (25-20, 25-21, 25-20) to raise their win streak to seven matches and overall record to 20-5.
The Eagles hit .329 (38-10—85) while holding Salem to -.025 (17-19—80). Senior Karissa Dzurik closed out the match hitting .474, her second-highest mark of the season, on the strength of a match-high 11 kills with two miscues in 19 swings. Dzurik also accounted for five of the team's season-high tying 12 service aces, the fourth time in five matches it reached double figures in that category. Senior Sydney Leimbach chipped in seven terminations while sophomore Leah Saunders added six successful attack attempts. Senior Carly Saitman played a key defensive role, helping Emory to a 9-1 bulge in total blocks with a season-high five (1-4).
In a Senior Night contest, the Eagles outhit the opposition for the 20th time this season in the RMC bout, posting an attack percentage of .283 (43-13—106) vs. the Yellow Jackets' .112 (30-19—98). Dzurik once again paced the offensive effort with a match-best 11 kills, her 17th double-figure outing of the campaign, while ranking second on the club with eight digs. Freshman Tara Martin hit .533, blasting away for nine terminations with a single error in 15 attempts while Saunders added seven kills to the cause. Sophomore Finn Wilkins and Leimbach each finished with six kills, with Wilkins pacing the team with three blocks.
Prior to the RMC match, the volleyball program recognized the contributions of the senior class of Mady Arles, Mila Barzdukas, Beck Breuer, Karissa Dzurik, Sydney Leimbach and Carly Saitman.
The Eagles close out the Invitational on Saturday, starting with a 10:30 am match-up against Washington and Lee followed by a 3:00 pm encounter vs. Birmingham Southern.
Prior to the Randolph-Macon match, Emory Volleyball recognized its 2018 Senior Class.