The Emory University volleyball team turned in a successful result in its opening match of the 2021 campaign Wednesday evening, treating a home crowd at the Woodruff PE Center with a sweep of crosstown foe Oglethorpe. The Eagles notched their 20^th straight win on their home floor following a 25-12, 25-18, 25-11 verdict over the Stormy Petrels who were making their season debut as well.

Senior Tara Martin led the Emory attack with a match-high 12 kills, six coming in the final set, hitting .333 on the evening (12-3—27).  In addition, she totaled three digs and added a pair of service aces.  Freshman Carly Wallace enjoyed an auspicious collegiate debut, hitting a keen .600 on the strength of nine terminations with no errors in 15 swings. Wallace also topped the Eagles with 11 digs.  Freshman Alana Dawson registered six successful attack attempts while senior Roisin O'Dowd chipped in four kills.

Using a strong defensive effort in the first set that saw it limit Oglethorpe to a -.276 hitting percentage, Emory got its offense into high gear in the second game, posting a hitting mark of .400 (17-3—35).  Wallace accounted for six kills while O'Dowd and senior Charlese Blair pocketed three apiece.  In third set, Emory raced out to a 7-0 advantage, keyed by a pair of aces by Wallace, and never looked back.  Holding a 10-4 cushion, Emory further distanced itself from the visitors with three unanswered points, a pair of kills by Wallace and one by Dawson, to build a 13-4 lead.

For the match, Emory hit .299 (39-13—87) vs. Oglethorpe's -.034 (19-22—89).  The Eagles held a 9-0 bulge in service aces with seven different players finding their way into that column.

Next up for Head Coach Jenny McDowell and her squad is the Emory Classic this Friday and Saturday (Sept. 3-4).  On the opening day of play, the Eagles tangle with Brevard College (4:30 pm) and Willamette University (7:00 pm).