FERRUM, Virginia -- Ferrum College dropped a nail biter in Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) volleyball action tonight to Eastern Mennonite University, falling 3-2 at Swartz Gym. Set scores were 25-17, 19-25, 25-19, 21-25, 15-12.

RECORDS
Eastern Mennonite (4-6, 1-2 ODAC)
Ferrum (4-9, 0-2 ODAC)

THE BASICS
The first set was tight until Eastern Mennonite pulled away at the end to grab the set on Lizzy Kirkton's kills. Ferrum battled back in the second set, with Shelby Waltrip's kill off a Taylor Joyner tying the match at a set each.

The Royals used a 4-1 rally to close out the third set and grab the 2-1 lead, ending the set on a Ferrum setting error. The Panthers roared back to take the fourth set, closing things out on a kill by Makaila Veney and a service ace by Savanna Walker.

The fifth set was give and take all the way. Ferrum opened a 2-0 lead, only tyo see EMU use a 5-0 run to surge in front 5-2. The Panthers called timeout, then evened the score at 5-5 on a pair of attack errors by the Royals. Waltrip's kill and another EMU attack error put Ferrum in front 10-8, but the Royals used a 7-2 run to close out the match.

KEY STATS
EMU: Kirkton 12 kills; Mehan Miller 38 asst; Laney Cline 10 kills; Bri Leeper 10 kills
Ferrum: Joyner 17 kills, 11 digs; Waltrip 18 asst, 11 digs; Sami Kircher 9 kkills, 13 digs; Kalee Bunn 16 asst, 9 digs

NEXT UP
Coach Shelbylynn Adair's team will be back in Swartz Gym Saturday in a tri-meet. The Panthers face ODAC opponent at 11:00 a.m., then take on Johnson & Wales University at 3:00 p.m.