ASHLAND, Va. (EMU Athletics) – EMU made history on Saturday, traveling down to Ashland to take on top-seeded and #10 nationally-ranked Randolph Macon.
It was an absolute slugfest between two teams that left it all out on the court. But in the end, Randolph Macon was able to emerge as the ODAC Champions, picking up a 3-1 (25-21, 25-18, 23-25, 25-22) win over EMU.
Records: EMU 13-19, 6-10 ODAC | Randolph Macon 30-4, 16-0 ODAC
Highlights
Set One: RMC 25, EMU 21
• With things tied at two early in the opener, Macon went on a 4-0 run to pull ahead 6-2. After a Yellow Jackets error, RMC then went on a 5-2 tilt, extending their lead to 11-5, forcing an EMU timeout.
• Out of the break, EMU went on 7-3 run, highlighted by kills from Jose Melendez and Daeman Odom, blocks from James Powell, Pierce Donnelly and Odom and a Powell ace.
• The Yellow Jackets were able to extend their lead to six, 18-12, but kills from Odom, Donnelly and Derek Diaz, a triple block from Powell, Donnelly and Odom and an Awkward ace pulled the Royals within one 22-21, But unfortunately for EMU, Randolph Macon would finish out the set by winning the final three points on an ace and two Royals errors.
Set Two: RMC 25, EMU 18
• The start of set two was tied at four through the first eight points after an Awkward kill and a Diaz/Powell block. The Yellow Jackets followed that up with a 5-0 run, taking a 9-4 lead and causing an EMU timeout.
• Macon continued to maintain a five-point lead to 15-10 and was able to extend it to 18-11 before the Royals got back within five, 18-13 with a Yellow Jacket error and a Donnelly kill.
• Late in the set, with RMC leading 22-14, EMU went on a 4-1 run, highlighted by a Powell solo block, to cut their deficit to 23-18. But the Yellow Jackets finished out the set with a kill and an EMU error to take a 2-0 lead.
Set Three: EMU 25, RMC 23
• A Diaz ace and an Awkward kill gave EMU a slim 2-1 lead to start the third before a 6-1 Macon run gave them a 7-3 lead. EMU clawed back in with four straight points, including an Awkward ace and a block from Odom and Melendez.
• RMC would retake the lead, holding an 11-10 advantage before winning two straight to push their lead to 13-10. Both teams continued to battle, but EMU went on a run, 9-5, using two kills from Diaz and a Powell/Melendez block to take a 19-18 lead.
• Macon pulled ahead 22-21 with a 4-2 tilt, but EMU kept fighting and held the Yellow Jackets to just one more point over the next five, as the Royals pulled within one, 2-1.
Set Four: RMC 25, EMU 22
• Two kills from Awkward and one apiece from Odom and Melendez put EMU ahead 4-1 to start the third set. A 10-6 Macon run put them in front 11-10 before a kill from Donnelly tied things at 11.
• The Yellow Jackets responded with four straight kills to take a 15-11 lead but once again, the Royals kept battling, going on a 6-2 tilt, using two kills from Melendez, a Jonas Stafford ace and a block from Odom and Melendez to tie things at 17.
• With things tied at 17, RMC went on a 4-1 run, pulling ahead 21-18. After a kill from Awkward pulled the Royals back within two, Macon and EMU traded points, which was not what EMU wanted as the Yellow Jackets picked up a kill to claim the ODAC Championship.
After the match, Diaz and Awkward were named to the All-Tournament Team.
Statistical Leaders
Kills: Awkward (13), Diaz (9)
Assists: Ricky Fernandez (15), Stafford (13)
Digs: Rey De La Cruz (8)
Aces: Awkward (2)
Blocks: Odom (7), Powell (6), Melendez and Donnelly (5)
What’s Next
This wraps up the Royals 2026 season. But EMU should be right back in this position in 2027, as they graduate just two seniors and will return everyone else from this year’s squad.
— EMU Athletics —
