Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Athletics

Ackerman_090223_DSC06509
Nick Coy
0
Converse Conv 0-7,0-0 Conference C
3
Winner Embry-Riddle (FL) ERAU 5-2,0-0 Sunshine Sta
Converse Conv
0-7,0-0 Conference C
0
Final
3
Embry-Riddle (FL) ERAU
5-2,0-0 Sunshine Sta
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 F
Converse Conv 12 22 18 (0)
Embry-Riddle (FL) ERAU 25 25 25 (3)
3
Winner Embry-Riddle (FL) ERAU 6-2,0-0 Sunshine Sta
0
Flagler Flag 1-6,0-0 Peach Belt
Winner
Embry-Riddle (FL) ERAU
6-2,0-0 Sunshine Sta
3
Final
0
Flagler Flag
1-6,0-0 Peach Belt
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 F
Embry-Riddle (FL) ERAU 25 25 25 (3)
Flagler Flag 13 16 17 (0)

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball | | Kyrin Mayfield

Volleyball Uses Strong Defense to Sweep Converse, Flagler

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. - The Embry-Riddle volleyball team made quick work of Converse and Flagler, sweeping the two teams to end the Flagler Saints Classic on Saturday. A lot of credit should be given to the Eagles' stout defensive play as the Blue and Gold (6-2) held its two opponents to match hitting percentages of .132 and .000. Over six sets, ERAU averaged 15 digs and 3.7 blocks per set.
 

Eagles vs. Converse

The start of set one was completely one-sided as the Eagles grabbed the first seven points of the match, partly thanks to Hunter Ackerman who had an ace and two kills. Once Converse (0-7) got on the scoreboard, the Blue and Gold proceeded to add another four tallies to lead 11-1. The Eagles were firmly in control of the set the rest of the way as ERAU never let the lead shrink below eight points to handily win the first set on back-to-back Isabella Rujano kills 25-12.

Converse flipped the script to start the second set, taking three of the opening four points. Both squads traded blows until the score was 8-7 Converse when the Eagles went on a 7-2 spurt to lead 14-10. However, the Valkyries scored four unanswered points to tie it at 14-14, but that was short lived as ERAU proceeded to grab eight of the next 10 points to grow its advantage up to five points at 22-16. Another 4-0 run brought Converse back into the set, partly due to a trio of Eagle miscues, but the Blue and Gold managed to stave off the Valkyries and take set two 25-22. 

Embry-Riddle fell behind early in set three 10-8, but 10-straight points, which Rujano helped spark with a trio of kills, had the Eagles in control 18-10. Eventually, ERAU cruised to the finish with a 25-18 third set win and the team's third sweep of the season. The .417 set hitting percentage brought the Blue and Gold's match hitting percentage up to .317, the second contest in a row that the Eagles hit over .300. On the opposite side, ERAU held Converse's hitters to a .132 percentage.  

Jaden McBride once again played well both offensively and defensively, earning her fifth double-double in seven matches with a team-high 14 kills and 12 digs. Rujano followed up with 10 kills, Grace Datil added 23 assists, and Tamzen Wilson recorded 16 digs.

The win allowed Embry-Riddle to remain undefeated against Converse, leading the all-time series 2-0.


Eagles vs. Flagler

Embry-Riddle was looking for its sixth win in a row against Flagler (1-6), and the Eagles were well on their way to lengthening their win streak in the all-time series against the Saints. A 6-0 run helped propel the Blue and Gold out to a 12-5 lead in the first set. Half of those points came via McBride as the junior tallied four kills and two aces. 

As the set progressed, both squades traded three-point runs until the score was 19-12 Eagles. The ensuing Flagler timeout didn't do the home team any favors as ERAU grabbed six of the last seven points to take set one 25-13.

Embry-Riddle did well to keep the Saints' hitters in check, holding them to an .043 hitting percentage. Meanwhile, McBride found no trouble successfully spiking the ball, registering seven kills. 

Set two started with the Eagles up 6-2 early on with three Saints attacking errors. That lead increased up to 12-4 when ERAU went on a 6-0 spurt that started and ended with Rujano kills. Flagler forced a Blue and Gold timeout when it reduced the Eagles' lead to just four at 18-14. An attacking error out of the timeout brought the Saints to within three, but Embry-Riddle then stepped on the gas and pulled away to a 25-16 second-set win. 

ERAU's defense actually improved in the second set, putting up triple zeros in the hitting percentage column for Flagler. Haley Manjack played a major role, totaling five blocks at that point in the match. 

The Eagles dominated set three from start to finish to secure the sweep. A 6-0 ERAU run started the set, and the lead eventually ballooned to 13-2. The Eagles' advantage did trim down to single digits at 14-5, but a pair of Ackerman kills fueled a 5-0 run to push the lead back up to 18-5. Flagler did put up a fight at the end, fighting off four set points, but eventually ERAU captured that elusive 25th point to win set three 25-17.

This time, the Eagles pushed the Saints' hitting percentage into the negative at -.032 in the set and .000 on the match. 

McBride again led the Embry-Riddle attack with 14 kills. Ackerman added seven kills paired with 14 digs, Datil picked up 33 assists, and Manjack registered six blocks, two of which were solo.  

With the win, the Eagles evened the all-time series against the Saints at eight wins each. Embry-Riddle hasn't dropped a match to Flagler since 2013. 

Sunshine State Conference play begins on Tuesday, Sept. 12 as the Eagles travel to face Rollins at the Alfond Sports Center at 7 p.m.
The 2023 Embry-Riddle volleyball season is presented by Radiology Associates.
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