ROCHESTER, N.Y. – It was an uphill challenge for the No. 11 Washington University in St. Louis volleyball team on Saturday in the UAA Tournament final against No. 6 Emory. At the end, it was the Eagles who got the sweep over the Bears to earn the UAA's automatic big into the NCAA Tournament next weekend with a 3-0 win.

The challenge will be where and when WashU will compete as an at-large entry into the tournament.

Throughout the match, it looked like the Bears could sneak away with a win over EU but the Eagles were able to secure the win, beginning with a 25-23 set one win. Neither team was able to take more than a two-point lead throughout the opening set, with the teams trading the lead several times.

WashU was able to take their last lead at 23-22 before Emory was able to score three-straight points to escape with the first set, 25-23.

The second set appeared to be much like the first with the teams trading leads and no more than two-point advantages until late with the Eagles going on a 7-1 run to jump ahead 20-16. The Bears closed within two points at 21-19, but once again EU was able to sneak away with the 25-21 set two win and take the 2-0 match lead.

Emory tried to take control early in the third set with a 10-7 lead and 13-10 lead, but a 6-0 run by WashU gave the Bears a 16-13 lead. The Eagles responded with their own 4-0 stretch and were able to maintain the lead until WashU tied the score at 21-21.

EU was able to score four of the final five points in the match for the 25-22 set three win to get the sweep, 3-0.

Both senior Jasmine Sells and sophomore Leah Oyewole led WashU in kills with 11 and 10, respectively.

Junior Sam Buckley finished the match with 34 assists on the 40 kills for the Bears.

It was a blockfest for WashU which closed the match with 21 total blocks, led by six from senior Zoe Foster.

WashU will wait to see its fate in the NCAA Tournament next weekend. The team will find out on Monday, Nov. 18 when the NCAA Selection Show airs at 12 p.m. on NCAA.com.