SIOUX CITY, Iowa – A hotly contested match for the first victory in Pool B at the 2018 NAIA Women's Volleyball National Championship emerged when (18) Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Ariz.) (0-1) took on (15) Westmont College (1-0) in four very tight sets that saw the Warriors come out with the win, 28-26, 25-22, 21-25,25-13.
This was an extremely exciting first set for both the Eagles and the Warriors as it was full of twists and turns. Early on it looked good for the Eagles as they jumped out to a solid three-point lead and eventually got it to five later in the set. 2018 California Pacific Conference Player of the Year, Caylee Robalin (SO/El Paso, Texas) was terrific and turned in 5 kills and 5 digs. Unfortunately for the Eagles after they got it to set point the Warriors came firing back and eventually forced a tie break after four set points. Jalin Yoder (SR/Fountain Hills, Ariz.) and Sharik Joseph (SO/San Diego, Calif.) were solid as well as each came out with 3 kills in the set. But things would not go the Eagles way after getting stuck at set point and the Warriors rallied and eventually would take the set 28-26.
Both teams were battling in the second set as well but it seemed that the Warriors were a little stronger. Robalin was big for ERAU again and killed 5 more and added six more digs. Riddle would fight and eventually get a 13-11 lead after trailing by three as Audrey Baldwin (JR/Santa Barbara, Calif.) already had 20+ assists combined in both sets. As time went on the Warriors got stronger although Kat Yung (FR/Phoenix, Ariz.) was digging balls left and right who had 14 by the end of the second. WC would take the second as well to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the best of five set match.
In their strongest set, the Eagles took command of the third from the first serve. They jumped out to a quick 8-4 lead and forced a time out. ERAU changed strategies a bit and featured Erin Clark (SO/Phoenix, Ariz.) and Yoder which proved to be too much for the Warriors. Clark would come up with a handful of crafty kills dinking and going through blockers at times. But it would be Yoder who would shut the door on the Warriors who came up with three of the last four points to get the Eagles to a fourth set. Eagles would win it 25-21 and never trailed in it.
WC bounced back from the third and came out with some very aggressive volleyball. Every serve and attack attempted were hit extremely hard and very accurately to the dismay of the Eagles who went down 7-3 early. Even after an Eagles timeout the Warriors had all the momentum and pushed their lead to 14 and simply held on to get the first win in pool B.
ERAU held their own and even though they lost the match they had a lead in all but one set. Riddle will have to bounce back as they play (2) Park University at 5:00 pm MST tomorrow in a match where the Eagles need to play well to have a chance at getting out of pool play.
