EMU’s volleyball men hit .212 as a team and racked up 13 blocks as they picked up their second 3-2 win over Cairn University in the span of eight days. The Royals topped Cairn on the road last Friday, and this time outlasted the Highlanders in Harrisonburg to improve to 2-2 in CVC play.
The teams went back and forth this time around, trading sets. Eastern Mennonite fell behind in the first set, but took over the lead late and then scored the final three to win, 25-21. Cairn built up a big lead in the second set and made it stick in a 26-24 squeaker.
Set three was a different story, as the Royals quickly built up an 11-6 lead. The Highlanders made a few runs before the men closed the door, 25-18. Cairn forced the fifth set by making a small lead stick in the fourth, 25-22.
EMU fell behind early in the deciding set but then used a couple of short runs to get in front. A kill from Scott Brigham (Montpelier, Va./Patrick Henry) closed the day, winning 15-11.
Brigham led all players with 24 kills. Justin Spanka (Virginia Beach, Va./Salem) added 18 kills with a solid .263 attack percentage, and was second on the team with 15 digs. Tim Callahan (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) had 11 kills. Russell Long (Hampton, Va./Bethel) put up a hefty 55 set assists.
Defensively, libero Micah Buller (Richmond, Va./Douglas Freeman) led all players with 16 digs. Kyle Storc(Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Watterson) got his hands on seven blocks, and Dan Lutz (Greencastle, Pa./Greencastle-Antrim) had six, including two solos. Long helped out on five blocks.
Randall Colson led Cairn with 16 kills and six blocks.
The Royals, 5-3 overall, are at home again on Tuesday, hosting Bluefield College at 6:30pm.