Volleyball: Sweep of Gophers gives EMU split

The EMU volleyball women picked up a sweep over Goucher Friday night in Harrisonburg, finishing with a split on day one of the EMU Invitational. The eight-team, three-court extravaganza wraps up Saturday in Yoder Arena.

The Royals had the only 3-0 win out of the seven contests on the opening day. They also dropped a 3-1 decision to Salem.

Eastern Mennonite plays Catholic Saturday at noon followed by a 2:00pm date with Mary Baldwin University.

Salem 3, EMU 1
The Royals looked dominant in the first set, scoring the first three points and leading by as many as 11 en route to a 25-18 win. They repeated their start in the second with an 8-2 advantage before coughing up the lead at 18-17. The teams were deadlocked at 21-21 before Salem pushed out to a 25-22 decision.

Set three was tied at 13-13 until the Spirits took over for a 25-17 win. The momentum carried into the fourth as Salem clinched the win with a 25-19 score.

Janna Williams (Kenbridge, Va./Kenston Forest) pounded 10 kills, while Becca Hardy (Port Republic, Va./Eastern Mennonite) and Maria Yoder (Manheim, Pa./Hempfield) each added nine. The latter two each had four block assists with Hardy adding a solo stuff. Jasmine Johnson (Staunton, Va./Robert E. Lee) had 30 set assists.

Skyler Johnson (Harrisonburg, Va./Harrisonburg) led the back row with 11 digs. Freshman Meredith Stinnette (Lynch Station, Va./Altavista) had four of EMU’s 10 service aces.

EMU 3, Goucher 0
The women were ready in their second match, using a big run to grab a 17-10 margin. Stinnette finished the 25-20 opener with a kill.

Goucher came back in the second with the team’s trading barbs. The Gophers got to set point at 24-22, but a kill from Beck Hoskins (Danville, Va./Westover Christian Academy) turned the tide as EMU scored four in a row to steal a 26-24 win.

The visitors again had their moments in the third, using a 6-0 run for a 12-5 lead. But a 15-9 margin evaporated as Eastern Mennonite rattled off a 13-2 streak to build their own cushion at 22-17. A service ace fittingly ended the night in a 25-20 clincher, as the women had another nine aces.

Skyler Johnson had a match high 17 digs in the sweep while setter Jasmine Johnson had 19 assists and seven digs.

Williams led a very balanced attack with eight kills, followed by seven from Hardy and six each from Stinnette and Kait Miller(Sellersville, Pa./Christopher Dock).