HUNTINGDON, Pa.--Eastern Volleyball (No. 23) fell to No. 6 Emory University 3-1 early Saturday afternoon but bounced back to sweep No. 21 Juniata College a few hours later.
The Eastern Eagles dropped the opening match to the Emory Eagles 25-20, 15-25, 19-25, 20-25, but defeated the Juniata Eagles 25-21, 26-24, 25-18. By taking two of three games at the Wid Guisler Tournament, Eastern improved to 22-5 this season.
Eastern's Kearby Benak and Kelly Groff were named to the all-tournament team. Over the three games, Benak put down 35 kills while Groff recorded 49 digs and eight aces.
Against Emory, Eastern jumped to an early lead in the first set and led the entire set, leading by as many as seven points in the set. However, through the next three sets, Eastern had the lead for just eight points.
Eastern hit .280 for the match while Emory hit .330. Benak led Eastern with 17 kills, Katrina Pisch added 14 and freshman Erin Hillman added 10.
In the 5 p.m. game, a grudge match of last season's NCAA regional marathon, Eastern's Benak and Hillman again hit 17 and 10 kills, respectively. In the first set, Eastern trailed for just the opening point and finished the 25-21 set victory with one of Katrina Pisch's seven kills.
Juniata had set point in the second set, but Eastern rallied for three straight points with a kill by Hillman, an ace by Kelly Groff and a kill by Pisch to take the second set 26-24.
With the third set score 18-15 in Eastern's favor, Eastern freshman Sadie Beckenhauer served for six straight points (including two aces) to put Eastern at match point, 24-15. Juniata strung together three consecutive points, but Benak thwarted the comeback with a spike down the right sideline to give Eastern the match.
Eastern plays at DeSales University at 7 p.m. on Wednesday.
Emory Box Score
Juniata Box Score
