The sixth seeded Eastern Mennonite University men’s volleyball team upset second seeded Roanoke College in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference semifinals last week. The Royals downed the Maroons, three sets to two, at the Cregger Center in Salem last Thursday to end Roanoke’s season.
After splitting the first two sets Roanoke started the fifth set strong, but the Royals caught fire. RC was able to close to within one point at 14-13 but EMU finished off the set, 15-13, to win the match.
Jackson Rutkowski topped the Maroons in kills with 18 and he also picked up three service aces in the match. Michael Cummins, Cade Kinne, and Pierce Faulcon also hit double digit kills with 12, 11, and 10 respectively.
With the loss Roanoke finished the season at 21-8 overall and 14-2 in the ODAC. The Maroons beat Eastern Mennonite twice during the regular season, 3-1 and 3-0.
The Royals improved to 13-18 ovearll and 6-10 in the ODAC with the win, advancing to Saturday’s championship match where they lost to top-seeded Randolph-Macon three sets to one.
