HONOLULU, Hawaii. – The Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott volleyball team opened the 2026 season Friday afternoon at The Shark Tank in Honolulu, falling to Dakota State (S.D.) in four sets, 25-9, 25-21, 22-25, 25-18.
After a challenging opening set, the Eagles settled into the match and responded with a strong effort over the final three frames. ERAU earned its first set victory of the season in the third stanza, overcoming multiple lead changes and holding off the Trojans for a 25-22 win.
The Eagles were led offensively by Brooke Eglinton, who recorded a team-high eight kills, while Abbylynn Farrell added six kills and Ronni Lyons chipped in five. Freshman setter Alice Tuci directed the offense with 20 assists and also contributed three service aces.
Defensively, Sydney Sniffen paced ERAU with a match-high 17 digs. Tuci, Maya Dominguez and Anela Chew each added four digs, while the Eagles collected nine total team blocks, highlighted by Hannah Clear's three block assists and contributions from several others at the net.
Dakota State used a balanced attack and capitalized on 15 Eagle reception errors, finishing with a .218 hitting percentage compared to ERAU's .062 clip. The Trojans were led by Tristyn Maras with 11 kills and Lauryn Kloth with nine kills and seven total blocks.
Despite the season-opening setback, ERAU showed resilience after dropping the first two sets, battling back to claim the third and remaining competitive throughout the fourth. The Eagles finished the match with 33 kills, 32 assists, 48 digs and 10 service aces.
The Eagles are back in action tomorrow with a double-header against Oregen Tech and Doane.
