HARROGATE, Tenn. – Evan Cory tied a career high with 24 kills as the Lincoln Memorial University men's volleyball team took down Emmanuel (7-10) in five sets (23-25, 25-18, 21-25, 25-21, 16-14) Friday night at Shaw Athletic Center. The Railsplitters (8-8) evened their record back at .500 and picked up their first win of the season away from Mary Mars Gymnasium.
 
Cory's 24 kills and 49 attempts were the second-highest totals in program history. The sophomore also set a career high with nine total blocks, all of which came in solo fashion. He also contributed three service aces and hit .306.
 
Joshua Riblett added 11 kills. Pedro Carvalho totaled 10 blocks—nine solo—and added seven kills. AJ Risavy set a new career high with 44 assists. Logan Kerley tied a career high with 15 digs.
 
Carvalho's 10 blocks are tied for the second-highest mark in program history behind his 13-block performance three nights ago.
 
Alejandro Robles posted 13 kills for the Lions while Manuel Melenciano had 11 and Ackeem West 10.
 
Emmanuel had more kills at 56-49, but LMU had the advantage in blocks (16-9), service aces (6-3) and digs (42-39). Attack percentage was nearly even with the Lions holding a slight .193-.189 edge.
 
The Lions raced to a 5-1 lead to open the match though LMU battled back to tie the first set at nine. The Railsplitters used a 4-0 spurt to take their only lead of the set at 17-16, but Emmanuel took five of the next six points to go back up for good. LMU was able to work the score to 24-23, but a Cory service error clinched the set for Emmanuel 25-23. Melenciano had five kills for the Lions.
 
Lincoln Memorial never trailed in set two after opening on a 7-0 run. Emmanuel was able to pull within three points on several occasions, but a 3-0 LMU spurt expanded the lead back to seven at 23-16. The Railsplitters went on to take the set 25-18 to even the match. Cory totaled six kills. LMU had a 12-10 edge in kills and hit a match-best .348 while Emmanuel hit .154.
 
The two teams found themselves tied at 13 to open the third set after several ties and lead changes. Emmanuel took the next point, but LMU used a 7-2 run to go ahead 20-17. After trading the next two points, Emmanuel closed on an 8-0 run to take the set 25-21. The Lions had their best set of the match with 14 kills and a .250 attack percentage while LMU only had eight kills and hit .036. Cory added six more kills.
 
Set four set remained back-and-forth as neither team could string together more than three consecutive points until late. With LMU leading 20-19, the Railsplitters took the next four points to play for set point at 24-19. Lincoln Memorial evened the game back at two sets apiece after winning the set 25-21. Cory pitched in five of the Railsplitters' 14 kills. Attack errors were even at seven, but LMU hit .250 to Emmanuel's .107.
 
LMU and Emmanuel played to a 7-7 tie before the Railsplitters took the next two points to head into the midway point tied. The teams found themselves tied again at 12, but a pair of Emmanuel miscues allowed the Railsplitters to play for match point. LMU made a couple mistakes of its own to allow the Lions to tie the set back up at 14, but a Cory kill and Emmanuel attack error clinched the match for the Railsplitters. The Lions led the set in kills 9-3 and attack percentage .222-.167 but committed five attack and service errors to LMU's one of each.
 
The Railsplitters next face Erskine Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. at Belk Arena.