Glendale, Ariz. – It was a good start for the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Ariz.) women's volleyball team at the Firestorm Classic hosted by Arizona Christian University. The Eagles got off to a started off against a familiar foe, Montana State -Northern, picking up their second win in as many tries over the Skylights this season with a 26-24, 25-23, 25-21 victory. In the second match of the day ERAU scored a come-from-behind, five-set victory over Lewis-Clark State, 16-25, 18-25, 25-18, 25-22, 17-15. Erin Clark (SR/Phoenix, Ariz.) totaled 26 kills over the two matches, while Katie Rolle (JR/Missoula, Mont.) had 31 assists and 16 digs for the Eagles.

Vs. Montana State-Northern
It was a close first set against the Skylights, one that was tied 10 times, including at 24-24. Clark then put away a pair of kills to put Embry-Riddle on top in the match. In the second set ERAU held a 16-13 advantage before MSUN ran off six straight to take a 19-16 lead. Embry-Riddle responded, getting consecutive kills from Rolle, Elisa Pauzer (SR/Campinas, Brazil), and Caylee Robalin (SR/El Paso, Texas) as it went on to take the set.

Falling behind 7-1 to start the third, the Eagles slowly chipped away at the deficit, tying it up at 14-14 on a Robalin ace. ERAU went on to take a 19-15 lead on a block by Rolle and Sharik Joseph (SR/San Diego, Calif.) and then held off the Skylights the rest of the way.

Vs. Lewis-Clark
A slow start cost Embry-Riddle (6-3) early against Lewis-Clark State as the Warriors built a two sets to none advantage. In the third set the Eagles trailed 17-14 but went on a 6-0 run that included an ace from Lily Figgins (FR/St. Charles, Mo.) to take a 20-17 lead. ERAU surrendered just one more point from there as it pulled itself back into the match with the set win.

Embry-Riddle fell behind in the fourth set as well, trailing 14-11 before a kill from Pauzer started a surge that put the Eagles on top, 17-15 on a kill from Clark. A block from Juliette van den Herik (SO/Arlington Heights, Ill.) and Pauzer kept the ERAU advantage at two at 23-21 before an attack error and a kill by Pauzer sent the match to a deciding fifth set.

Lewis-Clark State got out to a 12-9 lead, but a pair of kills from Robalin helped the Eagles come back and tie things up at 14-all. ERAU took a 16-15 lead after a block from Rolle and Joseph and then saw its comeback come to fruition on an attack error by the Warriors.