From Emory University Athletics
The No. 6-ranked Emory volleyball team battled its way to
the University Athletic Association Championship Saturday afternoon
after coming away with a hard-fought verdict over the University of
Chicago. The Eagles raised their overall record to 34-3 following a
3-1 triumph (24-26, 25-15, 25-18, 25-20) over the Maroons who
slipped to 26-12. Serving as the host institution of the
Championships was Carnegie Mellon University. The title
allows Emory to earn the league's automatic bid to the NCAA
Tournament which begins next week.
As was the case throughout the Championships, Emory displayed
a balanced attack with senior Leah
Jacobs along with sophomores Sarah
Maher and Jessica Holler all
tying for team honors with 13 kills. Jacobs hit .462
(13-1—26) on the day with Holler registering a solid .375
effort (13-1—32). In addition, Holler tied for the
squad's lead with four blocks (0-4). Senior Cat
McGrath hit .471 on the strength on nine kills with just
one error in 17 swing opportunities. For the match, the Eagles
posted an attack percentage of .307 (62-11—166), the fifth
time in the last seven contests and
18th time this year that they recorded
a hitting mark of .300 or higher.
Conversely, Chicago hit .178 (55-22—185), representing the 35th time this year that Emory had outhit its opposition. The Eagles turned in a stellar defensive effort against the Maroons, chalking up a season-high 98 digs that tied the 12th-highest match total in school history. Senior Kate Bowman led all players with 27 digs, her 10th contest of 20 or more this year, while sophomore Catalina Jimenez came through with a career-high 19 digs. Junior setter Sydney Miles was solid, doling out 50 assists, her sixth outing this year of reaching that number, and adding 13 digs and four blocks (0-4).