The Emory volleyball team put on a dominating display in rolling to the program's second-ever national title, sweeping No. 1-ranked Calvin College in the finals of the D-III Championship. The Eagles capped off their season at 30-6 following the 25-22. 25-16, 25-12 verdict over the Knights who closed out their year at 33-2.
Playing in its first title match since 2014, Emory hit on all cylinders, registering an attack percentage of .364 (46-10--99) while a relentless defense limited Calvin to an effort of just .125 (29-15--112). The Eagles held a 58-40 advantage in digs and finished with a 9-4 edge in total blocks.
Senior Karissa Dzurik led the Emory attack with 13 kills, her 23rd double-figure effort of the year, while classmate Seniorr Sydney Leimbach chalked up seven terminations, hit .545 (7-1—11) and added a team-high six total blocks. Senior setter Mady Arles, who was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Championships, dished out 35 assists while adding five kills, a team-high three service aces and five digs.
The Eagles, wo entered the postseason ranked 9th, began to take control of the match early in the second set, snapping a 5-5 tie with a 7-2 run, with Martin dialing up a pair of kills in that run, to post a 12-7 lead. Emory maintained a five-point advantage before scoring four straight points that enabled it claim a 21-13 cushion. An attacking error by the Knights put the Eagles one point shy of taking a 2-0 lead in the match, and that was accomplished courtesy of a kill by Wilkins.
Emory put on a clinic in the third set, hitting .400 (16-2—35) while the Knights could only muster a mark of .023 (7-6—44). Emory led by an 8-6 count before blowing the set wide open with 11 unanswered points with Leimbach doing a fair amount of damage in that blitz with three kills and a block solo while Dzurik also came through with three terminations. The Eagles extended their bulge to 14 points at 21-7 following a kill by Finn Wilkins before Calvin came up with three points to reach double figures. A kill by Leah Saunders followed by a Knights attack error put the Eagles one point shy of winning the crown, and Arles saw to that with a dump shot that found the mark.
Emory finished the year with a flourish, capturing wins in 17 of its last 18 matches.
Emory storms the court moments after winning the 2018 national title.