Box Score Embry-Riddle beat Simpson University in 5 sets tonight as they finished off the first half of Cal Pac play 8-2.
In the first set, the teams traded points until Embry-Riddle was able to take a 14-12 lead on a kill by Kelly Hansen (El Dorado Hills, Calif.). It was the first lead greater than a point by either team on the night. The Eagles then got back to back blocks from Hansen and Dalia Haase (Tucson, Ariz.) as they went up 16-12. Emma Barber (Goodyear, Ariz.) then put ERAU up by five points with a kill before Simpson scored on an Eagle error. The Red Hawks tried to keep the set close, but Embry-Riddle played well both offensively and defensively as the won the first set 25-19.
Simpson jumped out to an early lead in the second set and ERAU worked hard to get themselves back into it but couldn't quite catch up. Hannah Clear (Fort Worth, Texas) had a kill that made the score 8-6 in favor of the Red Hawks and Alexis Creager (Berthoud, Colo.) tied the score at 8-8 with a service ace. SU used a few Eagle errors and some good defense on their part to take a 21-13 lead but the Eagles didn't go down easy. Embry-Riddle used a 6-2 run to get within three points, but were unable to get any closer as Simpson finished out the second set with a win and the score of 25-21.
Haase started off the third set with a kill for ERAU and then Katie Rolle (Missoula, Mont.) added one of her own to make the score 2-0 in favor of the Eagles. After another Hansen kill, Embry-Riddle was up 7-5, but the Red Hawks tied the score at 8-8. Simpson used another 6-2 run to take the lead at 16-12 as they led by three until Alexsandra Rodriguez (Phoenix, Ariz.) put down a kill to once again tie the score at 18-18. SU however regained momentum and were able to win the set 25-23 and go up 2-1 in the match.
Much like the first set, the fourth set was very back and forth with multiple ties and lead changes as each time a team would get up by a point or two, the other would work their way back to even the score. Haase led Embry-Riddle with four kills in the 4th set as Clear added three herself. Embry-Riddle went on to win the set 25-21 and even the match at two apiece.
ERAU got out to an early three point thanks to back to back kills from Haase and they never let the Red Hawks get within two points the rest of the way. After Simpson made the score close at 7-5, Embry-Riddle used a 4-0 run as they went up 11-5. The Eagles got three more kills from Haase in the set as they went on to win 15-7.
As the first half of conference play comes to a close, Embry-Riddle currently is in third place. The Eagles are off next week, but will be home again on October 12th when they take on Antelope Valley at 6pm in the Eagle Gym.
