Emory Volleyball Falls At Lee University -- Suffers First Loss Of Season

In a battle of undefeated teams, the No. 3-ranked Emory University volleyball team was saddled with its first loss of the 2010 season this evening as it came out on the short end of a road match at NAIA power Lee University.  The Eagles saw their record slip to 10-1 following a 21-25, 23-25, 19-25 setback to the Flames who upped their record to 12-0.

Looking for the program’s first-ever 11-0 start, Emory ended the evening hitting 11.4 percent (34-21—14) compared to the host Flames’ effort of 22.4 percent (41-15-116). Emory held a slight 51-50 advantage in digs while Lee posted an 8-6 margin in total blocks.

In the first set of the match, the teams were tied at 20-20 before the Flames chalked up two straight points to take a 22-20 lead.  Emory cut the gap to one following a successful put-away from junior Ali Wright, however Lee responded by closing out the game with three straight points.

The Eagles had a chance to knot the match in the second game, erasing a 13-10 deficit with an 11-4 burst that put them up by a 21-17 count following a service ace by junior Natalie Schonefeld.  Lee put itself back in contention with a 4-0 run that knotted the set at 21 apiece.  A kill by Wright nudged the Eagles ahead but three consecutive points gave the Flames 24-22 margin.  Junior Jessica McAlvany averted set point by coming up with a kill but Lee answered with a successful attack by Stephanie Todd to take a 2-0 lead in the match.

Emory held the upper hand during the early stages of the third set, battling to an 11-9 advantage.  The Eagles then saw their opposition rattle off a 10-0 blitz that, putting them in a 19-11 hole. To its credit, Emory did not go quietly, countering with a 6-1 run of its own, with senior Amelia McCall chipping in a pair of kills, to narrow the score to 20-17. That would be as close as Emory would get as Lee closed things out by registering five of the game’s next seven points.

Wright was a bright spot for the Emory offense, leading the club with 13 kills while checking in with a 47.8 attack percentage (13-2—23).  McCall and Schonefeld tied for team honors with 11 digs apiece while Schonefeld dished out 27 assists.

Emory’s next action takes place the weekend of Sept. 24-25 when it plays at the UW-Whitewater Tournament.