ARLINGTON, Va. — Playing away from home for tenth-straight date to start the season, Eastern University Volleyball (7-7) settled for a split in a try-match at Marymount University. The Eagles earned a three-set win over Eastern Mennonite University before falling in three close sets to the host Saints. Grace Cooper had 32 digs in the two matches and Josie Arezina led the Eagles with 10 kills in their win over EMU.
In the opener, Olivia McGowan served the Eagles wot a 4-0 lead. Piper Xeller had two kills in the opening run. That lead, however, did not last. The Royals led 13-12 and again at 19-18 before the Eagles finally took a lead with Alyssa Heffner serving. Veronica Faber and Xeller combined on a block for a 22-19 lead. Faber combined with Arezina for another block and finished the final two balls for a 25-21 opening set win. Xeller and Faber each had three kills and the team had five blocks for points in the first set.
Eastern needed to fight off a pair of set points in the second set. Alexis Standford tied the set at 24-24, and a service error from the Royals tied the score at 25 before McGowan served for a pair of points and a 27-25 win. Arezina had four kills in the second set.
After the third set started close at 7-7, the Eagles did not give up a point in serve receive and got good serving runs from Faber, Cooper, and Alanna Johnson to build a 23-13 lead. Lane McLaughlin delivered the final kill for a 25-15 win.
Arezina had six kills on eight swings in the third and Heffner had eight of her 18 assists. Cooper finished the match with 13 digs.
Against the hosts, the Eagles led 20-18 in the opening set. Marymount got to a rotation with a setter serving and took the lead with back-to-back aces. Two kills and a point by block put the hosts up 24-20. Eastern fought off two set points, but the Saints found the pass they needed and closed out the first with a 25-22 win. Cooper had nine digs and Xeller had five kills in the first set.
In the second set, both teams had big serving runs early. With the score tied at 15, the Saints got back-to-back aces to force a timeout and a third ace after the break to seize control of the set. The two teams traded sideouts down the stretch and the Saints took the second set, 25-21.
A strong start with Cooper serving in the third was not an enough to overcome a lackluster hitting third set, and the Eagles fell 25-20.
Cooper had 19 digs in the match, and Sarah Furey had 11 digs and 20 assists. Xeller had eight kills and 10 digs.
This was the first time Eastern and Marymount have played since the Eagles claimed a five-set win in the opening round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament
The Eagles have one more road test before starting their home season on Friday against Widener. They are at Hood College on Wednesday evening. The Blazers are 2-1 in the league with wins over Albright and Widener and a five-set loss to Neumann.
