Although the games in this year’s Emory Halloween Volleyball Tournament did not have the same stakes as it did last year when the Eagles’ triumphed over then-No.1-ranked Juniata, plenty was at stake for the team as they entered the weekend.

On the line for the team was a No. 1 seed in the Southeast Region, which the Eagles must first win to advance to the NCAA Tournament. Emory was up to the challenge, sweeping its matches for a 4-0 weekend.

In additions to taking steps toward securing a No. 1 seed in the region, the Eagles finished the season with a 30-5 record, which marks the program’s third consecutive 30-win season.

The Eagles first match was a three-set, 25-12, 25-15, 25-8 victory over LaGrange College (Ga.). Freshman outside hitter Alena Ransom, freshman middle hitter Breanah Bourque and junior outside hitter Allison Sharp led the attack with 11, nine and nine kills, respectively. Freshman setter Emily Reiser took advantage of her opportunity to set up the offense by dishing out 35 assists. Bourque also had a game-high four service aces. She and senior defensive specialist Vista Murphy led the ground defense with 10 digs each.

In their second match, the Eagles’ Senior Night, was a 25-7, 25-21, 25-18 sweep of Berry College (Ga.).

“We were very happy to honor our three outstanding seniors: Kaitlin [Westfall], Alysse [Meyer] and Vista [Murphy],” Head Coach Jenny McDowell said. “We talked about this being our last weekend on our home court and we wanted to send them out with a bang and did so with four great matches.”

Junior outside hitter Amelia McCall, Bourque and sophomore outside hitter Jessica McAlvany led the way with 14, 13 and 10 kills, respectively. Bourque also boasted a .722 hitting percentage. Sophomore setter Natalie Schonefeld was back in charge as she had a game-high 39 assists. She also led the team in digs with nine.

The next day, the Eagles continued their winning ways, defeating Randolph-Macon College (Va.) 25-17, 25-16, 25-22. McAlvany led the way with 21 kills, her career-high in three-set matches; McCall also chipped in with 11. Schonefeld doled out 42 assists, one shy of tying her career-high in three-set matches. Murphy and Bourque kept points alive for the Eagles with 17 and 13 digs, respectively.

The final match of the weekend pitted the Eagles against a Birmingham-Southern College team that simply played with nothing to lose.

Although the Eagles defeated the Panthers 25-20, 25-21, 21-25, 25-18, the Panthers gave the Eagles their greatest challenge of the weekend, as they were the only team to take a set from Emory.

McAlvany led all hitters with 19 kills and senior Alysse Meyer followed her with 12 kills, despite playing in only three of the four sets. Schonefeld had a game-high 45 assists and Murphy, in her last ever regular-season match, set a career-high (for regular season matches) with 20 digs. Sophomores Brannan O’Neill and Kelsey Krzyston each added 11. Sophomore Ali Wright was a tough opponent at the net, as she tied BSC’s Shelby Moore for game-high honors with four blocks.

In reflecting on the regular season and looking ahead to the postseason, McDowell, the reigning National Coach of the Year, is content with how her team is playing.

“I feel like we are coming together at the perfect time and that we are playing our best volleyball now going into tournament time,” she said. “The progress we’ve made in passing and defense, which have been major points of emphasis, really showed this weekend ... I feel really good about where we are.”

The team will head into the UAA Championship Tournament in Chicago this weekend looking to improve on its second-place finish in the event last year.

The Eagles will enter the tournament with the No. 2 seed and the top draw in Pool B.

Barring an upset, the Eagles will have defeat conference rival Wash. U to win the title.

The Bears defeated the Eagles in the UAA Championship’s Finals last season, and are the only UAA team to beat the Eagles in 2009.

Emory’s first match of the tournament will be on Friday at noon against the Brandeis University Judges.

— Contact Marc Miller.