Emory Volleyball Drops Five-Set Decision To North Alabama

The Emory University volleyball team suffered its first home setback of the season Tuesday night as Division II member North Alabama rallied for a five-set decision over the Eagles.  The Lions of UNA raised their record to 4-8 following a 19-25, 23-25, 28-26, 25-23, 15-9 victory over Emory who saw its record slip to 8-2.

North Alabama finished the contest with a 20.6 hitting percentage compared to Emory's 18.8 percent mark.  The Lions held a slim 68-62 edge in digs while the Eagles posted 12 total blocks vs. 10 for UNA.

Emory grabbed the first set of the contest despite falling behind by an 8-1 margin in the early stages.   A kill by freshman Alex Duhl gave Emory a 16-15 lead and the Eagles would close out the game on a 4-0 run with sophomore Alexandra Wright picking up two of her five first-set kills in that stretch.

Emory played from behind for the majority of the second set but stayed within striking distance of Lions.  The Eagles faced a 15-12 deficit but tied the game at 20-20 following a service ace by Aysse Meyer. With the score knotted at 23-23, Emory made the most of a pair of UNA attack errors to escape with the win and a 2-0 edge in the match.

UNA jumped on Emory in the third set and held what seemed to be a comfortable 23-16 lead.  However, an 8-1 spurt by the Eagles tied the game, 24-24.  Emory eventually grabbed its first lead of the game at 26-25 following a kill by Duhl and was serving for the match.  However, the Lions fought off the Eagles' charge and emerged with a 28-26 win.

The third set win by the Lions breathed new life into them and when they held on to claim game four by a 25-23 margin, they rode that momentum in game five en route to a 15-9 decision, holding Emory to zero percent in the hitting department while registering a 38.9 hitting percentage.

Meyer led all players with 16 kills while tying for team honors with four blocks.  Sophomore Jessica McAlvany totaled 11 kills while Wright rounded out the double-figure terminators with 10.  Senior Vista Murphy chipped in 18 digs in the cause while sophomore Natalie Schonefeld doled out 46 assists along with three aces.   

Emory returns to action on Friday, Sept. 18, when it entertains LaGrange College at 4:30 p.m. and Maryville College at 7:00 p.m.