HARRISONBURG, Va. – The Randolph-Macon men's volleyball team hit the road to Eastern Mennonite for a tri-match with seventh-ranked Messiah and CVC foe Eastern Mennonite. The Yellow Jackets fell to Messiah in five sets in the first match. In the ensuing match, EMU knocked off RMC in four sets.

The Basics:

Scores: No. 7 Messiah 3, Randolph-Macon 2 (25-23, 22-25, 25-15, 25-27, 16-14)       Eastern Mennonite 3, Randolph-Macon 1 (29-27, 25-22, 22-25, 25-23)

Location/Venue: Harrisonburg, Va./Eastern Mennonite University/Yoder Arena

Records: Messiah (15-2, 1-0 MAC), Eastern Mennonite (8-7, 0-0 CVC), Randolph-Macon (8-7, 2-0 CVC)

How it Happened (Match 1):

• The set was tied at six before Messiah ignited a 4-0 run that pushed them into the lead. RMC answered with a 6-2 run of their own to tie it once again. However, Messiah proceeded to go on another 4-0 run directly after, regaining the lead. The Yellow Jackets had to battle back, bringing it within one. Phillip Van Essendelft (Chesapeake, Va./Hickory) picked up a kill to make it 23-22 in favor of Messiah, but the Falcons held off RMC to take the first set, 25-23.
• RMC began the second set on fire, as a kill by Kody Rogan (Chesapeake, Va./Hickory) finished a 7-1 run to open the set. A 7-0 run by the Falcons then gave them the lead, before the rest of the set went back-and-forth. The set was tied at 20 until RMC won five of the final seven points, capped off by an ace by Ian Wagenhauser (Glen Allen, Va./Deep Run) to take the second set, 25-22.
• The third set began in the favor of the Falcons, as they jumped out to a 6-1 lead, and then extended it out to 23-11. RMC showed life, going on a 3-0 run but Messiah finished out the set to take a pivotal set three, 25-15.
• The first 20 points of set four were deadlocked, but Messiah was able to jump out to a lead 20-16 late in the set. A kill by Ian Wagenhauser ignited a 5-1 run that gave the lead back to RMC. Messiah stormed back with a 3-0 to bring it to match point but RMC never wavered, marching back, beginning with a Jarrett Carrano (Beaverdam, Va./Patrick Henry) kill, to win the set and force the deciding fifth set.
• Once again, the set began close, knotted at five before a 5-1 run by Messiah put them in ahead. RMC wasn't done, coming back to tie it at 14, but the Falcons stopped the comeback by winning the next two points and taking the match.

By the Numbers (Match 1):

• A season-high in kills for Jarrett Carrano, as he had 20 on the day, hitting .317 as well.
• Ian Wagenhauser also had 15 kills to add to his team-leading total for the season.
• Kody Rogan had a 42-assist performance. He now has three matches this season with more than 40 assists to his credit.
• Hank Foglia (Remsenburg, N.Y./ESM) had four kills and three blocks on the day. He tallied one solo block and two block assists.
• Brooks Cowart (Glen Allen, Va./Glen Allen) led the way with eight digs.

How it Happened (Match 2)

• RMC and EMU went back-and-forth to open the match, until five straight Royals points opened a 12-8 lead. RMC found its way back into it, cutting the lead to one after a Jarrett Carrano kill. RMC was down to set point before they scored two straight to pin EMU, but the Royals battled back and took set one, 29-27.
• The second set was about as close as it could get, as a lead never grew greater than four. RMC took the lead 18-17 thanks to a service ace by Daniel Nguyen (Glen Allen, Va./Glen Allen) but once again, the Royals battled and pulled ahead to take the second set, 25-22.
• Set three was deadlocked until a kill by Kolby Gibson (Bumpass, Va./Louisa) sparked a 5-0 run that gave the Yellow Jackets a healthy lead. EMU tied the set at 22, but RMC held off the Royals to grab the final three points and earn a set back.
• Like the previous three, the beginning of set four was close. RMC opened a 15-12 lead midway through the set, but EMU went on a 5-1 run that put them in the driver's seat. Jarrett Carrano had a big kill to give RMC the lead 20-19, but once again, EMU answered, going on a 6-3 run to close out the set and the match.

By the Numbers (Match 2):

• Sean Cunningham (Virginia Beach, Va./Kempsville) had a solid match, tallying seven kills and a .368 hitting percentage. He also had four blocks to his credit, two solo and two assisted.
• Kody Rogan added to his team-leading assists total with 47 in four sets.
• Kolby Gibson totaled 13 kills and 10 digs in the match.
• Ian Wagenhauser had 14 kills to lead RMC. He also had two assisted blocks.

Up Next:

Randolph-Macon will be back in action on Wednesday for a road matchup at Stevenson at 7:00 p.m.