The fourth-ranked volleyball team was defeated Sunday in a 3-2 (14-25, 26-24, 24-26, 25-12, 15-11) decision against the fifth-ranked Christopher Newport University (Va.) Captains in the NCAA regional finals. The Eagles finished the season with a 33-6 record.
"The loss is disappointing because we were capable of winning this match," Head Coach Jenny McDowell said. "But I could not be more proud of my team and the way they competed."
The match was a back-and-forth affair. The Eagles jumped out to an early lead, grabbing the advantage with a dominant first set behind three kills apiece from senior co-captain middle hitter Alex Duhl, senior middle hitter co-captain Breanah Bourque and sophomore right-side hitter Hannah Everett. The Eagles held the Captains to just a .060 attack percentage and used a 15-3 run to gain control.
"We were focusing on attacking and playing fearlessly going into the match, and I feel like we did that," Duhl said. "We did what we set out to do."
CNU rebounded in the second set, using a 6-0 run to tie the score at 19-19. A 4-0 run on the part of the Eagles put them within a point of taking a 2-0 lead in the match, but a 3-0 streak for the Captains with decisive kills from senior outside hitter Cory Harris knotted the match at one set apiece.
The Eagles never trailed in the third set, helped by back-to-back kills from Bourque and a .286 team hitting percentage. At this point, confidence ran high for the Eagles.
"I thought we were going to win the match," McDowell said. "Volleyball is such a crazy sport because we won the first set, we had the ball in our hands to win the second and won game three. We were one swing away from winning [the match] 3-0."
However, the Captains bounced back once again, building a quick 10-2 lead in the fourth set to tie the game at two and set up a decisive fifth set for a berth in the NCAA quarterfinals.
CNU posted a .478 hitting percentage in the final set compared to the Eagles' .240, grabbing an early 9-4 lead and holding on to edge for the win.
Despite the loss, the Eagles felt like they played their toughest and left everything on the court.
"We were hungry, we wanted it, and we fought hard until the last point," Duhl said. "It was one of those games that could have gone either way. This is the end of an awesome season and an amazing team."
Emory posted a .200 attack percentage as compared to CNU's .230. They held a 10-8 advantage in blocks but were edged by the Captains in digs, 86-83.
"CNU had six seniors on the court, and their experience showed in games four and five," McDowell said. "They made the national championship with those kids [last season], and they know how to win. They closed it out with great defense, but our players gave it everything they had until the very end."
Bourque turned in another impressive performance, leading all players with 19 kills and hitting at a .381 mark.
Sunday marked her 29th match with double-digit kills and gave her 511 terminations on the season, good for second place in team single-season history.
Duhl contributed 11 terminations and four blocks, while sophomore outside hitter Cami Silverman added 14 digs.
Freshman setter Sydney Miles had 50 assists, finishing the season with 1,385 and the eighth best single-season total in Eagles history.
Bourque and Duhl were both named to the Regional All-Tournament team.
"Breanah and Alex were a great one-two combination in the middle," McDowell said. "They will both be named All-Americans, and they exemplify everything we hope for in Emory student-athletes."
The loss closes out a fantastic season for the Eagles, who followed an upset over top-ranked Washington University in St. Louis in the University Athletic Association (UAA) championship with two breezy wins in the opening rounds of the NCAA Tournament against Salem College (N.C.) and Juniata College (Pa.).
"We had an incredible season and exceeded everyone's expectations, except our own," McDowell said.
The Eagles opened the 2012 season with a relatively inexperienced roster, but the team gelled quickly and reeled off several huge winning streaks en route to 33 wins on the year, including an 8-1 record in conference play and a UAA championship.
With so much experience returning – including Miles at setter and Taylor Erwin at libero, both of whom are freshmen – the squad's future looks bright.
"We have some questions to answer, but we have a very strong sophomore class, and it is their chance now," said McDowell. "It is their time to take over and keep our program where it is or even elevate us."
The Eagles fell short of a national title, but the 2012 squad soared above expectations and leaves behind a legacy of hard work and success.
"I wanted to win the NCAA title, but my biggest disappointment is that I will not get to spend another week with the team," McDowell said. "This team was a joy, honor and privilege to coach this season."
Assistant Sports Editor Bennett Ostdiek contributed reporting.
– By Ryan Smith
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