The Emory University volleyball team defeated the Meredith College Avenging Angels in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday afternoon in Mount Berry, Georgia.

The No. 1 seeded Eagles improve to 25-2 after their 25-16, 25-17, 25-10 win over the No. 8 seeded Angels and will face the No. 5 seeded Covenant Scots in the second round match after the Scots' win over Mt. St. Joseph on Thursday. Three Eagles led the day offensively with juniors Madison Cail and Lily Martin and senior Carly Wallace all totaling nine kills on the day. Junior Alana Dawson followed right behind with eight of her own. Junior Deborah Hong continued her impressive season with 16 digs followed by 10 from Wallace while junior Sarah Luong posted 19 assists on the day and sophomore Olivia Rabinowitz recorded 16.

Emory dominated the first set starting with a 9-4 lead forcing the Angels into their first timeout of the set. The set continued with the Eagles going on an 11-10 run to hold a 20-14 lead highlighted by kills from sophomore Kaya Monrose and Wallace. Late in the set, Emory posted four consecutive points to take the first set 25-16.

Another 9-4 lead to start the second set put the pressure on Meredith to take an early timeout before the scoring continued from the Eagles to take a 15-6 lead. Later in the second set with a 23-13 lead, the Angels attempted a comeback attempt scoring four points, but the Eagles held on to take set two 25-17.

The Eagles were on fire in the third set taking an early 6-4 lead by the first substitutions of the set. A 10-1 run from Emory gave them a 16-5 lead towards the end of the set highlighted by kills from Monrose and Cail. The domination continued from the Eagles to help take the third set 25-10 to advance to the second round.

The Eagles and Scots will face off on Friday, November 17 at 4:30 pm in the second round match with the winner advancing to the regional final on Saturday.