WINTER PARK, Fla. – The Tars fell in a tightly contested battle against Embry-Riddle at home on Saturday, dropping the match in four sets (22-25, 25-23, 25-27, 20-25).

Rylee Yarborough led the Rollins attack with 14 kills, while Cameron Grange and Kayla Goodloe added 12 apiece. Jenna Garza and Molly Morris split time directing the offense, dishing out 22 and 17 assists, respectively. Garza also made an impact from the service line, joining Lelolai Paulino-Dinzey with two aces each.

Paulino-Dinzey turned in a standout performance in the back row, collecting a match-high 27 digs. At the net, Robinson Repass led the Tars with four total blocks.

Garza opened the match with an ace as the sides traded points early. Goodloe delivered the first Rollins kill, but Embry-Riddle quickly found its rhythm, rattling off five straight points to create some early separation.  Goodloe answered with another kill to halt the run before the Eagles made another push. This time, Scuteri found the floor to slow the surge. A service error and another Goodloe kill finally allowed the Tars to string together consecutive points, and Rollins began to chip away.

Repass and Yarborough added kills before Paulino-Dinzey delivered an ace to bring the Tars back within striking distance. Remington Doggett continued the push with a kill and answered with another moments later to keep Rollins close.

A pair of Embry-Riddle miscues and a Yarborough kill pulled the Tars within one late in the frame. Goodloe found the floor shortly after to keep the deficit there, but the Eagles worked their way to set point. Yarborough delivered one final kill to keep Rollins alive before ERAU found the deciding point to take the opener, 25-22.

Rollins came out firing in the second, with Repass and Grange teaming up for a block on the opening point. Repass and Goodloe followed with consecutive kills to give the Tars an early advantage. Yarborough answered a pair of Eagle points with a kill before Morris delivered an ace to maintain the lead. Grange found the floor a few points later, and Goodloe helped push Rollins back in front as the set remained tight.

Repass eventually sparked a short Rollins run, with Grange adding a kill and Paulino-Dinzey delivering another ace to make it 12-9. The Eagles trimmed the deficit to one before Yarborough restored some breathing room with a kill.

Tawnee Shaw came off the bench and made an immediate impact with an ace to stretch the advantage to three. Grange later restored that margin with a kill before Garza added an ace of her own.

Repass, Grange and Addilyn Kegerreis all contributed down the stretch before another Goodloe finish put Rollins ahead, 23-18. Embry-Riddle made a late push to tighten the score, but Scuteri put an end to the comeback, finding the floor to secure the 25-23 set and even the match at one.

Embry-Riddle grabbed the early advantage in the third despite kills from Scuteri and Yarborough. A pair of Eagle miscues and a Grange finish kept Rollins close before more ERAU errors pulled the Tars within one. Yarborough kept the deficit there with another kill before an Eagle error opened the door for a three-point Rollins run. Yarborough and Grange capped the stretch with consecutive kills to push the Tars back in front.

The Eagles responded with five straight points to regain control, but Yarborough halted the run with a kill. Grange and Yarborough continued to provide answers as Rollins stayed within reach.

The Tars finally broke through late, using kills from Scuteri and Yarborough along with a Grange ace to pull even at 20. From there, neither side was willing to give an inch. Goodloe tied the frame at 22, Yarborough answered at 23, and Grange delivered kills to keep things even at both 24 and 25.

Embry-Riddle finally broke the stalemate, claiming consecutive points to escape with the third set, 27-25, and take a 2-1 advantage in the match.

Repass and Goodloe opened the fourth with kills before Grange added one of her own as the sides once again traded blows. Three Embry-Riddle errors helped keep the score even before Goodloe delivered a kill to push Rollins ahead.

The Eagles responded to reclaim the advantage, but a hustle play from Garza resulted in a kill to keep the Tars within one. Grange and Yarborough then combined for a block to pull Rollins even at 14. ERAU answered with consecutive points before Yarborough found the floor to keep the Tars close. An Eagle error and a Grange kill eventually brought Rollins level again at 17, but Embry-Riddle found the separation it needed down the stretch.

A pair of Eagle miscues and another Goodloe kill gave Rollins a chance to hang around late, but ERAU held off the Tars to close out the fourth, 25-20, and secure the match.

Embry-Riddle improves to 8-3 overall and 1-1 in SSC play, while Rollins moves to 7-6 and 0-2 in conference action.

The Tars return to action on Friday, September 25, traveling to Tampa to take on the Spartans at 7 p.m.