The Emory University volleyball team put on a show, winning the first match of the Emory Invitational Tournament against the Birmingham-Southern Panthers on Friday night.
The No. 11 ranked Eagles (16-6, 4-3 UAA) defeated the Panthers in four sets 25-18, 25-11, 23-25, 25-8 on a night where Emory honored the two seniors on their roster: Lauren Bandera and Caitlyn Reynolds. The Eagles defense was the story of the night as they held the Panthers to a .000 hitting percentage while also recording 14 blocks, one shy of the team's season-high.
Freshman Olivia Rabinowitz showed off her skill set in the setter position recording 47 assists, which is the most in a single match by any Eagle this season. Junior Amanda Meyer is a full-blown problem for opposing teams, this time recording eight blocks, the most by any Eagle in a match this season, as well as 11 kills on a team-high .421 hitting percentage (11-3--19). Junior Carly Wallace led the team in terminations with 14 on .237 hitting (14-5--38) while also posting eight digs. On their senior night, Bandera and Reynolds were the only two Eagles to record double-digit kills with 24 and 11, respectively.
The Eagles began the match on an 8-3 run which was in large part fueled by three consecutive points in which Meyer was involved on a block, setting the tone for the remainder of the match. Despite solid play from the Panthers to cut the Eagles lead to two later in the set, a 6-1 run from the Eagles, highlighted by three kills from sophomore Madison Cail, slammed the door shut on Birmingham-Southern giving the Eagles a one set lead.
The second set started with sheer domination from the Eagles, as a speedy service run by Wallace in which she dictated the pace of play put Emory out to a 6-0 lead. Strong offensive play in the second set, highlighted by a .478 hitting percentage in the set, led the Eagles to a 25-11 set win and a 2-0 match lead.
The third set was the tightest of the match with the Eagles finding themselves down 18-24 in the latter stages of the set. The Eagles battled back with a 5-0 run on the back of another Wallace service run but fell just short as the Panthers won the set 25-23. Emory came out with a fire lit under them in the fourth set, quickly opening up a 12-5 lead as every individual on the court was clicking on all cylinders before finally putting the finishing touches on the match to the tune of a 25-8 fourth set victory.
The Eagles will play the final two matches of the Emory Invitational tomorrow against Berry at 1:00 PM and then close play against Oglethorpe at 4:00 PM.