PRESCOTT, Ariz. – In its first two matches of its own ERAU Invitational, the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Ariz.) women's volleyball team faced the same opponent, Hope International. The result was the same in both matches, with the Eagles prevailing in four sets each. In the opener ERAU won by scores of 23-25, 25-23, 25-16, 25-20. In the second matchup the scores were 25-12, 17-25, 25-20, 26-24.
In the opener the two teams split a pair of close sets to open play, but as the match wore on the Embry-Riddle (5-1) offense saw its hitting percentage increase in every set while its defense held Hope International (3-4) at 0.071 or lower over the final two sets to clinch it.
Caylee Robalin (SO/El Paso, Texas) finished off the match with her 20th kill, leading all players in the match. Erin Clark (SO/Phoenix, Ariz.) also reached double figures in kills with 10 for the Eagles, adding 14 digs on defense. Jalin Yoder (SR/Fountain Hills, Ariz.) and Kat Yung (FR/Phoenix, Ariz.) led ERAU with 17 digs, with Veronica Norkus (JR/Prescott, Ariz.) in on seven of the team's blocks.
Match two was much the same as the first at the start, with each side grabbing a set. In the third set the Eagles closed out a win with three straight points, two on Robalin kills. The fourth set saw the Royals jump out to a 9-1 lead, but the Eagles whittled away at the deficit and eventually tied it at 15-15 on a Royal ball handling error. It stayed close the rest of the way until ERAU picked up two straight points after the score was tied at 24-all, on kills from Clark and Robalin, that put it in the win column for the Eagles.
Clark led the way in the second match with 18 kills, with Robalin adding 10 and Lyndsey Weiler (SR/Phoenix, Ariz.) adding nine for the Eagles. Clark was also one of four players in double-figures in digs with a team-high 20. Setter Audrey Baldwin (JR/Santa Barbara, Calif.) totaled 90 assists over the two matches.
Embry-Riddle will be in action again on Saturday, when it takes on in-state rival Arizona Christian at 6:00 p.m.
