Fullerton, Calif. – It was finally back on the court for the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Ariz.) women's volleyball team, with the Eagles opening the 2021 season with a pair of matches at the Hope International University Summer Slam. ERAU came out on top in a five-set thriller against The Masters; 29-31, 25-20, 21-25, 25-15, 15-9. In the second match of the day the Eagles came up short against No. 9 Westmont; 25-21, 25-21, 25-22.

Vs. The Masters
In the first match of the day ERAU's first set against The Masters was a close one that saw 21 ties before the Mustangs put away the final two points to take the close win. In set two the Eagles jumped out to a 6-1 lead with Erin Clark (SR/Phoenix, Ariz.) and Julia Kjenstad (SR/Tacoma, Wash.) getting a pair of kills apiece as they knotted the match at a set apiece.

After The Masters came back to take the third set, Embry-Riddle came back again with another hot start in the fourth set, jumping out to a 5-0 advantage. The Eagles went on to stretch their lead to 17-10 on an ace by Caylee Robalin (SR/El Paso, Texas) as they went on to the win to force a decisive fifth set.

That set stayed close and was tied at 9-all before the Eagles rallied to the victory by scoring the final six points, three of which came on Robalin put aways. Clark, Robalin, and Elisa Pauzer (SR/Campinas, Brazil) all reached double figures in kills, with Clark pacing the group with 17 and completed a double-double with 17 digs.

Vs. Westmont
Against Westmont (2-0) all three sets were close, but the Eagles could not come up with a run when they needed it as the Warriors took the match in three sets. In each set ERAU was within three towards the end, only to see Westmont hold them off each time. Clark led the Eagles with 13 kills and three aces, with Kat Yung (SR/Phoenix, Ariz.) pacing the defense with 11 digs.