The Case Western Reserve University volleyball team lost both of its matches on the first day of the University Athletic Association Round Robin #1, falling to #4 Emory University 3-0 and the University of Chicago 3-0 at the WU Field House in St. Louis, Missouri on the campus of Washington University in St. Louis.

The Spartans fell to 8-3 overall and 0-2 in conference play, while the Eagles finished the day at 7-2 and 2-0 in the UAA, and the Maroons improved to 7-5 and 2-0 in the UAA.

#4 Emory 3, CWRU 0 (25-13, 25-21, 25-21)

After falling behind 6-2 to begin the match, the Spartans rallied to within one, 8-7. Emory won 10 of the next 11 points to gain an 11-point advantage and win the set.

The teams battled early in the second set, before Emory led 12-6. CWRU cut the deficit to just two, 17-15, on a kill by junior middle blocker Jennifer Ngo. The Spartans remained close, keeping the deficit at two until late into the set, using kills by Ngo, sophomore outside hitter Rea Marfatia, and first-year outside hitter Kalli Wall. The Eagles closed the set with two straight points to go up 2-0 in the match.

With Case Western Reserve trailing 21-18 in the third set, a block by Ngo and senior outside/right side hitter Gianna Lambert ignited a 3-0 run for the Spartans to tie the score and force an Emory timeout. However, the Eagles won the next four points to clinch the match.

Wall led the team with eight kills in the match with Marfatia adding seven kills and six digs. Senior setter Sara Rogers led the team with 13 assists, while junior libero Alyssa Blessinger had a team-high 13 digs.

Chicago 3, CWRU 0 (25-18, 25-17, 25-21)

In the first set, with the score at 17-15 in favor of the Maroons, Chicago went on a 6-0 run to lead by eight and come within two of claiming the set. Despite three Spartan points, the Maroons won the first set by three.

The teams battled in the second set, with neither team leading by more than two points until Chicago led 15-11. CWRU rallied to get within two points, 18-16, but the Maroons ended the set on a 7-1 run to claim a 2-0 lead in the match.

After trailing by as many as three early in the third set, the Spartans claimed a 15-14 lead on a service ace by Blessinger. Chicago gained a two-point advantage, but CWRU regained the lead at 21-20 on a kill by Ngo. The Maroons finished the set with a 5-0 run to win the match.

Blessinger led the team with 14 digs, while sophomore defensive Maria Tuepker added a season-high 12. Marfatia (11) and sophomore setter Ansley Yamaato (10) each reached double-digit dig totals in the match.

The Spartans will look to rebound when the team wraps up the round robin on Sunday when the team faces the University of Rochester at 11 a.m.