LEXINGTON, Va.–Eastern University Women's Volleyball settled for a split at the Washington and Lee Invitational on what became a very long day. Bus troubles put the Eagles behind schedule from the start, and the team's opening match against Southern Virginia did not start until nearly an hour and a half after its scheduled time. Eastern battled to a three-set win against the Knights before falling in four sets to the host W & L Generals (4-1). 

The Eagles, playing without junior standout Sarah Roberts, won the final three points of the first set to grab the early edge against Southern Virginia. Eastern ran out to a 24-13 lead in the second set, but the Knights scored six points before the Eagles could close out the set. First-year outside hitter Caroline Shelby had six of her match-high 14 kills in the second set to lead the Eastern attack. 

The Eagles hit an impressive .333 in the final set to claim the team's fourth win of the year. Shelby hit .257 in the match. Michelle Paulsen put down six kills on only 12 attacks. Morgan Shemonski and Ally Spillane also had six kills. 

With two more games on the court, the Eagles (4-2)  had only a short rest before taking on the tournament hosts. 

After both teams had runs early, Eastern scored two consecutive points to tie the first set at 22-22. Both teams made strong stands to fight off set points as the serrve went back and forth for the next ten points. W & L finally broke through with two consecutive points to take the opening set, 29-27. 

Eastern ran out to a 20-11 lead in the second set before W & L closed the gap with seven points in an eight-point stretch. The Eagles held on to take the set 25-21, but the Generals found their offensive rhythm and hit .414 in the third set and .308 in the fourth to claim the four-set win. 

Shelby had 16 kills, but she needed 67 swings against a W & L defense that sent multiple blockers her way for most of the night. Spillane added nine kills and Paulsen had eight, but the Eagles, without the presence of the injured Roberts in the middle, hit only .098 for the match. Shelby has 99 kills in her first six collegiate matches. 

W & L finished in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Championship Match last year. 

Eastern will play Meredith College and Maryville University at W & L  tomorrow.