ASHLAND, Va. – Freshman Kolby Gibson (Bumpass, Va. / Louisa) landed four aces, including two in a row in the third set, but Men's Volleyball was overpowered by Southern Virginia in a non-conference match Thursday night. Gibson and sophomore Scotty Carter (Virginia Beach, Va. / Frank W. Cox) each registered five kills in the match to tie for the team-high.

The Basics

Score: Southern Va. 3, Randolph-Macon 0 (25-19, 25-15, 25-23)

Location/Venue: Ashland, Va./Alumni Gym

Records: Southern Va. 5-3 (2-0 CVC), Randolph Macon 3-11 (1-3 CVC),

How it Happened:

• The first set was close throughout, as neither team managed more than three consecutive points for the entire set. Southern Virginia got off to a 2-0 start before the Yellow Jackets pulled ahead with  the next three points. The teams then traded scores until the Yellow Jackets pulled it even at 11-11. From there, the Knights were able to score five of the next six to take a 16-12 lead. After an R-MC timeout, the Knights continued to push forward and grabbed a 20-14 advantage. The Yellow Jackets made a resurgence after a second timeout with four of the next six points out of the break, but the Knights took the first frame 25-19.
• The second set began with the Yellow Jackets collecting four of the first six points. But it didn't last long as the Knights scored six of the next seven to take an 8-5 lead. Despite three points by the Yellow Jackets, the Knights continued the run, taking a 15-8 lead. Randolph-Macon scored another three in-a-row before SVU go two of its own, forcing an R-MC timeout. After the break, the Knights took the next four points, eventually winning 25-15.
• R-MC grabbed a small advantage early in the set, before the Knights got on a 8-1 run. The Knights expanded their lead to 14-5 before R-MC was able to score consecutively again. That was where the Yellow Jackets were able to halt the streak by SVU and began to fight back. R-MC made a 6-0 run spearheaded by sophomore Arjay Harris (Chesapeake, Va. / Hickory) in service to get within four of the Knights at 15-11. The run included an ace by Harris and kills by sophomores Connor Logan (Montpelier, Va. / Patrick Henry) and Dayne Iverson (Pasco, Wash. / Chiawana). R-MC continued to push closer, forcing a Southern Virginia timeout and eventually got within one at 16-17. The Yellow Jackets continued to threaten and tied the set at 19-19, but SVU pulled away almost immediately, getting three straight scores. The Yellow Jackets continued to stay close behind, including threatening at 23-24, but with set and match point, the Knights closed the victory following an R-MC attack error to win the set 25-23 and take the match.

Inside the Numbers:

• Freshman James Manning (Glen Allen, Va./Glen Allen) led the team with 17 assists.
• There were eight lead changes in the first set, one in the second, and two in third.
• Outside of the team-high kills for Carter and Gibson, sophomore Kyle Alberici (Cicero, N.Y. / Cicero North Syracuse) recorded three kills.
• The Yellow Jackets had seven kills in the first set, four in the second and nine in the third.
• Iverson had a solo block while Manning, Alberici and freshman Sean Cunningham (Virginia Beach, Va.) had one block assist each.
• Carrano and freshman Patrick Lyons (Henrico, Va. / Mills E. Godwin) tied for a team-high three digs each.
• Tonight's match was a non-conference meeting between Southern Virginia and Randolph-Macon. The two teams will meet again in this year's Continental Volleyball Conference match on Tuesday, March 24 in Buena Vista.

Up Next

Tomorrow's match against Mount Olive has been canceled because of weather concerns. A potential makeup decision is still to be decided. R-MC next takes on Liberty University's club team at home on Friday, February 28 at 7:00 PM.