From Split to Sweep: Eagles Claim 1st 2026 Win in Paradise
Embry-Riddle Eagles Split Doubleheader in Hawaii: One Loss, One Big Win!
What Happened in Honolulu?
The Embry-Riddle women’s volleyball team traveled to Honolulu, Hawaii for a tournament called the Shark Tank Classic. They played two matches in one day on Saturday — a "doubleheader" in sports talk. Think of it like playing two big games back-to-back with only a short break in between.
The result? One loss, one win — and the win was their first victory of the 2026 season!
Match 1: A Tough Battle Against Oregon Tech vs.
The Final Score
Oregon Tech 3, Embry-Riddle 1
Set scores: 25-21, 25-23, 17-25, 25-18
Volleyball 101: A match is won by the first team to win 3 sets. Each set goes to 25 points (you must win by 2). So a 3-1 score means Oregon Tech won three sets, Embry-Riddle won one.
How the Game Went
- First two sets: Super close! The Eagles fought hard but came up just short (25-21, 25-23).
- Third set: Embry-Riddle broke through! They hit the ball really well (.258 hitting percentage — more on that below) and won 25-17 to stay alive.
- Fourth set: Oregon Tech went on a late scoring run and closed it out 25-18.
Eagle Stars of the Match
| Player | What They Did | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Anela Chew | 12 kills + 13 digs | A double-double! That means she got 10+ in two stats. Kills = points scored on attack. Digs = saving tough hits from the other team. |
| Brooke Eglinton | 11 kills + 4 block assists | Blocks = stopping the ball at the net. "Assists" means she teamed up with a teammate. |
| Abbylynn Farrell | 8 kills | Solid attacker! |
| Hannah Clear | 7 kills on .357 hitting % | Hitting percentage = (kills – errors) ÷ total attempts. .357 is really good — like getting a B+ on a test where most get C’s. |
| Alice Tuci (Setter) | 25 assists + 3 service aces | Setter = the quarterback of volleyball. She decides who gets the ball. Assists = setting up a kill. Aces = serves the other team can’t return. |
| Sydney Sniffen | 16 digs (team high!) | The defensive anchor — she saved the most balls. Team had 63 digs total! |
Match 2: Eagles Soar Past Doane vs.
The Final Score
Embry-Riddle 3, Doane 0
Set scores: 25-19, 25-10, 25-18
Sweep! Winning 3-0 is called a "sweep" — like cleaning the table in one go.
Why This Win Felt So Good
- First win of the season!
- Total control from the first serve.
- Team hitting: .167% (not amazing, but Doane hit -.044% — yes, negative! That means more errors than kills.)
- Serving domination: 10 aces vs. only 2 for Doane.
- Blocking wall: 15 total blocks vs. 11 for Doane.
- Defense: Held Doane to just 19 kills in the entire match (across 3 sets!).
Eagle Stars of the Match
| Player | What They Did | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Hannah Clear | 9 kills, .692 hitting %, ZERO errors | .692 is elite! Like an A++ — almost every swing scored. No mistakes! |
| Abbylynn Farrell | 9 kills | Matched Clear kill-for-kill. |
| Anela Chew | 8 kills + 13 digs (team high) | Another double-double machine! |
| Alexsandra Rodriguez | 4 kills on 8 swings, no errors | Super efficient — 50% kill rate, no mistakes. |
| Sydney Sniffen | 2 service aces | Back-to-back aces? Momentum changer! |
| Brooke Eglinton | 2 service aces | Same! |
| Destiny Matthews | 5 total blocks | The block party queen at the net. |
Important Points to Remember
- Doubleheader = two matches in one day. Tough on the body!
- Hitting % = (Kills − Errors) ÷ Attempts. Positive = good. Negative = bad. Over .300 = excellent.
- Double-double = 10+ in two stats (usually kills + digs, or assists + digs).
- Sweep (3-0) = dominant win. 3-1 = competitive but lost.
- First win of 2026 = huge confidence booster for a young season.
What’s Next for the Eagles?
| Next Match | Opponent | Date & Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Season | University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy in St. Louis | Friday, August 21, 2026 @ 12:00 PM | TBD (Check schedule) |
Want to see history? The teams have played before! View past matchups here.
Quick Summary
- Embry-Riddle played two matches in Hawaii on Saturday.
- Match 1: Lost 3-1 to Oregon Tech in a tight battle. Anela Chew had a double-double. Hannah Clear hit .357.
- Match 2: WON 3-0 over Doane — first win of 2026! Hannah Clear was nearly perfect (.692, no errors). Team served 10 aces, blocked 15 times, held Doane to 19 kills total.
- Next up: Friday, Aug 21 vs. University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy at 12 PM.
FAQ
1. What is a "kill" in volleyball?
A kill is when a player hits the ball over the net and it lands in bounds or the other team can’t return it — it’s an immediate point. Think of it like a home run in baseball or a touchdown in football.
2. What does "hitting percentage" mean? Is .692 good?
Yes, .692 is amazing!
Formula: (Kills − Errors) ÷ Total Attempts
- Hannah Clear: 9 kills, 0 errors, 13 attempts →
(9-0)/13 = .692 - .300+ = great | .200-.300 = solid | Below .100 = struggling | Negative = more errors than kills.
3. What’s a "double-double"?
When a player gets 10 or more in two different stat categories in one match.
Most common: Kills + Digs (for hitters) or Assists + Digs (for setters).
Anela Chew did it in BOTH matches! That’s rare and impressive.
4. Why is a negative hitting percentage possible?
If a player has more hitting errors than kills, the math gives a negative number.
Example: 3 kills, 5 errors, 15 attempts → (3-5)/15 = -.133
Doane hit -.044 as a TEAM — that means they basically beat themselves with mistakes.
5. What does the setter do? Why are assists important?
The setter (Alice Tuci) is like the quarterback. She touches the ball second (after the pass) and decides who gets to attack.
Assists = setting up a teammate for a kill. 25 assists means she ran the offense for 25 scoring plays. She also had 3 aces — setters can score too!
Go Eagles!
First win in the books — now let’s build a streak!