ASHLAND, Va. – The Randolph-Macon men's volleyball team hosted the first of two days of the Macon Invitational, playing two matches tonight against Cal Lutheran and Eastern. RMC dropped the first match to the Kingsmen in five sets, while breezing through a three-set match against Eastern.

The Basics:

Scores: Cal Lutheran 3, Randolph-Macon 2 (25-23, 25-22, 19-25, 22-25, 15-13)

            Randolph-Macon 3, Eastern 0 (25-10, 25-19, 25-22)

Location/Venue: Ashland, Va./Randolph-Macon College/Crenshaw Gym

Records: Randolph-Macon (4-3, 0-0 ODAC), Cal Lutheran (5-4), Eastern (3-6, 0-0 MAC)

How it Happened (Match 1):

• The Kingsmen took an 8-4 lead early in the first set before RMC rallied back to tie it up at 10 each and took the lead, 15-14 after three straight points capped off by an ace by Ian Wagenhauser (Glen Allen, Va./Deep Run). RMC took the lead 20-18 but CLU ended the set on a 7-3 run to take the first set.
• The Yellow Jackets had the lead early in the second set after a couple kills by Daniel Nguyen (Glen Allen, Va./Glen Allen) but the Kingsmen sparked a 10-3 run to quickly take the advantage away. RMC closed the lead to 16-14 but CLU held off the Yellow Jackets to take the second set, 25-22.
• Similarly to the second set, RMC grabbed the lead early, opening a 9-5 lead, but CLU once again went on a 5-0 run to take the lead right back. The score was back and forth before a kill by Kody Rogan (Chesapeake, Va./Hickory) ignited a 4-0 run to break open a big lead for RMC and ultimately win the set 25-19.
• The fourth set was high intensity, going back-and-forth for much of the set until RMC built the largest lead of the set at 22-18 after a kill by Gio DeLuca (Glen Allen, Va./Glen Allen) and RMC held the lead for the remainder, finishing off a 25-22 set win.
• In the rubber match, it was tightly contested, but CLU gained the lead at 3-2 and never wavered despite a valiant comeback effort by RMC.

By the Numbers (Match 1):

• RMC was led by Wagenhauser and Kolby Gibson (Bumpass, Va./Louisa) with 19 and 15 kills, respectively. Gibson shined with a .440 hitting percentage with only four errors.
• RMC's assist leader Kody Rogan piled up 40 helpers in the first match and had 12 digs as well.
• Gio DeLuca was strong at the net with four total blocks including one solo block. He also amassed eight kills with just one error.
• The Yellow Jackets' third set was one of the best of the year, with a .458 hitting percentage on 15 kills.

How it Happened (Match 2):

• RMC started quickly, as Ian Wagenhauser opened the game with a kill to begin a 12-4 RMC run to begin the match. The Yellow Jackets kept cruising to handily win the first set 25-10.
• The second set was a bit closer, as RMC built an 8-4 lead after an ace by Owen Hahn (Henrico, Va./Tucker) capped off the run. Eastern brought it back to a one-point deficit, but instantly, RMC re-opened the lead to five. The lead grew to nine late in the set as RMC closed out the second set, 25-19.
• Eastern showed fight in the third set, leading through a 14-13 advantage before RMC took over and opened a narrow lead. The Yellow Jackets held off the Eagles for the remainder of the set, finished off by a kill by Jarrett Carrano (Beaverdam, Va./Patrick Henry) to sweep the nightcap.

By the Numbers (Match 2):

• Jarrett Carrano led the way with eight kills in the match with a .667 hitting percentage. He was trailed by Hank Foglia (Remsenburg, N.Y./ESM) who had six kills and a .556 hitting percentage.
• Cade Terrell (Glen Allen, Va./Deep Run) led all Yellow Jackets with 18 assists.
• Foglia also had four block assists, providing a wall at the net.
• RMC's .373 team hitting percentage for the game is the highest of the season so far and over .1 better than the next best performance.

Up Next:

Randolph-Macon will be back in action tomorrow for another double header in the Macon Invitational with a match against Neumann at 11:00 a.m. and against CVC foe and nationally-ranked Southern Virginia at 3:00 p.m.