BOCA RATON, Fla. - In a match filled with momentum swings, relentless rallies and a heart-stopping finish, the No. 8 Lynn University volleyball team survived a five-set thriller against Embry-Riddle, 25-17, 23-25, 25-22, 19-25, 16-14, in Sunshine State Conference action Friday evening inside the de Hoernle Sports & Cultural Center.
 
The Fighting Knights and Eagles battled through an astonishing 43 ties and 22 lead changes, with neither side willing to surrender in a back-and-forth contest that came down to the final points. After splitting the opening four sets, the two teams pushed the decisive fifth frame to its limit, reaching a 14-14 deadlock before Lynn captured two consecutive points to escape with a dramatic victory.
 
Lillia Neill delivered a dominant performance with a career-high 19 kills on an impressive .500 hitting percentage, while the Fighting Knights' defense recorded a season-high 16 total blocks to help secure their third consecutive victory.
 
The win improves Lynn to 20-3 overall and 12-2 in SSC play.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Set One: Lynn 25, Embry-Riddle 17
- Embry-Riddle struck first with a 2-0 lead, but Lynn quickly responded with kills from Alexia Radulovic and Audrey Shaw to even the score
- The two teams traded blows throughout the opening stages before the Fighting Knights broke a 15-15 deadlock with three consecutive points, highlighted by a kill from Ula Gorjup and a service ace from Zara Rendic
- Leading 18-16, Lynn erupted for five straight points, including three kills from Lira Pukl Verdel and a block from Shaw, to seize a commanding 23-16 advantage
- Gorjup delivered the finishing touch with a service ace, securing a 25-17 opening-set victory as the Fighting Knights hit .314 with 16 kills
 
Set Two: Embry-Riddle 25, Lynn 23
- Lynn carried its momentum into the second set, jumping out to an 8-4 advantage behind a kill from Neill and a service ace from Rendic
- The Eagles answered with a six-point surge to take a 10-9 lead, but Lynn responded with a four-point run of its own to reclaim a 13-10 advantage
- Embry-Riddle continued to battle, erasing an 18-15 deficit before eventually pulling ahead 21-20
- Trailing 21-20, the Fighting Knights rallied behind a block from Gorjup and Neill, followed by a kill from Neill and a block from Shaw to take a narrow 22-21 lead
- However, Embry-Riddle mounted up to come back and steal the set, 25-23, evening the match at one set apiece
 
Set Three: Lynn 25, Embry-Riddle 22
- With the match tied at one set apiece, Lynn came out determined to regain control, using early kills from Shaw, Rendic and Gorjup to establish a 7-6 advantage
- The Fighting Knights began to create separation midway through the frame, as a kill from Shaw and a block from Radulovic helped stretch the lead to 12-9
- Lynn continued to apply pressure, building a 19-15 advantage before Embry-Riddle responded with three consecutive points to pull within one
- Radulovic halted the Eagles' momentum with a crucial kill, sparking a three-point run that included a kill from Neill and a block from Rendic to push Lynn ahead 22-18
- Embry-Riddle refused to go quietly, trimming the deficit to 23-21, but the Fighting Knights held firm to secure a 25-22 victory and take a 2-1 match lead
 
Set Four: Embry-Riddle 25, Lynn 19
- The fourth set featured another tightly contested battle, with neither team able to establish early separation as the score remained tied at 13-13
- Lynn appeared poised to take control when a kill from Amaya Roberson, a strike from Shaw and consecutive Embry-Riddle errors fueled a four-point run, giving the Fighting Knights a 17-13 advantage
- The Eagles responded with a furious rally, eventually erasing a 19-16 deficit and scoring the final nine points of the set
- Embry-Riddle's late surge secured a 25-19 victory, forcing a decisive fifth set.
 
Set Five: Lynn 16, Embry-Riddle 14
- Facing a winner-take-all fifth set, Lynn found itself in immediate trouble as Embry-Riddle stormed out to a 6-1 advantage
- Refusing to surrender, the Fighting Knights began chipping away at the deficit behind kills from Pukl Verdel, Neill and Shaw, along with a service ace from Madison Jones, cutting the Eagles' lead to 7-6
- After Embry-Riddle took an 8-6 advantage, Lynn answered with a kill from Pukl Verdel and a strike from Radulovic to even the score at 8-8
- Gorjup followed with a clutch service ace to give Lynn its first lead of the set at 9-8, igniting the home crowd as the two teams entered a back-and-forth battle
- The Eagles eventually reclaimed a 13-12 advantage, but Neill delivered a timely kill to tie the score at 13-13
- Embry-Riddle moved within one point of victory at 14-13 following a Lynn attack error, putting the Fighting Knights on the brink of defeat
- With the match on the line, Pukl Verdel rose to the occasion, delivering back-to-back kills to erase match point and put Lynn ahead 15-14
- On the ensuing rally, Pukl Verdel and Shaw combined for a massive block to seal a thrilling 16-14 victory, completing the five-set comeback and sending the Fighting Knights to their 20th victory of the season
 
FIGHTING KNIGHT STATS:
- Neill led the Fighting Knights with a career-high 19 kills on an outstanding .500 hitting percentage, committing just two attacking errors on 34 attempts while adding two solo blocks and two block assists
- Pukl Verdel recorded a double-double with 14 kills and 16 digs, while adding three assists, three solo blocks and one block assist
- Radulovic contributed nine kills, one solo block and three block assists
- Shaw delivered eight kills on .333 hitting, while adding two solo blocks and four block assists
- Rendic finished with five kills, 11 digs, three service aces and one solo block
- Gorjup directed Lynn's offense with a double-double of 46 assists and 10 digs, while adding four kills, two service aces and two block assists
- Clara Maidantchik collected 15 digs and an assist, while Ella Voorhees contributed 10 digs
- Roberson added two kills and a solo block, while Jones contributed a service ace
- Lynn finished with 61 kills, 55 assists, 73 digs, six service aces and 16 total blocks
- The Fighting Knights hit .167 for the match, while Embry-Riddle finished with 58 kills on .169 hitting
- The Blue and White held a 61-58 advantage in kills, a 55-54 edge in assists and a 16-11 advantage in total blocks
 
UP NEXT:
The Fighting Knights are back in action at the de Hoernle Sports and Cultural Center on Saturday for a Halloween matchup against Rollins at 4:00 pm.