(Photo by Steve Haase)

RIVERSIDE, CALIF. – The Embry-Riddle volleyball team played an unusually late game for a Saturday, and looked to be on the ropes after dropping two of the first three sets against La Sierra. The Eagles never quit, erasing a three-point deficit late in the fourth set to bring up a fifth and final game, one that ERAU took 16-14, and a 3-2 win away from California.

Down two sets to one, Embry-Riddle trailed 20-17 in what could have been the match-deciding set. The Eagles came all the way back, putting together a 5-0 run from that point, and eventually clinching the fourth game 28-26.

The Eagles fell behind in the fifth set again, but did not let its deficit get out of reach. Embry-Riddle was never on the trailing end of a match-point situation, and was eventually able to put the match away with kills from Dalia Haase and Emma Barber.

In the two sets it lost (first and third), the Eagles committed 11 and 10 attack errors, respectively. In the sets it won, the Eagles had a combined 12 attack errors, and had a kill percentage over .250 in each of those. Embry-Riddle finished with 68 kills, nine more than La Sierra on the night.

Adiva Joseph led the way again attacking, finishing with a season-high 20 kills in her first game back at La Sierra, where she played four years prior to joining Embry-Riddle. Barber finished with 15 kills on a .308 kill percentage, and Haase had 13 with a .370 kill percentage.

Katie Rolle dished out a whopping 55 assists on Saturday, a career high for the senior from Montana. In fact, Rolle had 55 of the 67 Eagle assists, plus had eight kills and 17 digs.

Lily Figgins led the team with 19 digs on Saturday, plus a pair of assists and a kill. Maliah Juker had four solo blocks in her second collegiate game, and also had a block assist.

The Eagles will finally play its first home match next week, the first of three consecutive to start its Prescott Cal Pac schedule. Embry-Riddle will host Saint Katherine next Thursday, with the first serve scheduled for 6 p.m.