ASHLAND, Va. – Randolph-Macon men's volleyball dominated in a tri-match with Roanoke and North Park, sweeping the competition at Crenshaw Gym on Saturday afternoon.
Score: Randolph-Macon 3, Roanoke 0 (25-19, 25-13, 25-23) Randolph-Macon 3, North Park 1 (22-25, 25-16, 25-13, 25-22)
Venue: Crenshaw Gym
Records: Randolph-Macon (13-8, 3-2 CVC), Roanoke (11-11, 0-4 CVC), North Park (7-16)
How it Happened vs. Roanoke:
- RMC would find themselves in a hole early on, losing six of the first nine points. The Yellow Jackets would find their footing over the next eight points to bring the set level at 8 points each. The Yellow Jackets started to pull away from the Maroons down the stretch of the first set, making it 20-14. Mitchell Wyatt (Prince George, Va./Prince George) and Bryce Matthews (Chesterfield, Va./Clover Hill) each had two kills in the final six points to help RMC win the first set.
- In the second set, the Yellow Jackets came out hot. They jumped out to an 11-3 lead, forcing the Maroons into a timeout. The stoppage in play, however, couldn't halt the momentum of the Lemon and Black, as they continued to extend their lead. The advantage grew as large as 12 points, going on to win the set 25-13.
- RMC came out in the third set looking for the sweep, but Roanoke wouldn't make it easy as the two teams would trade points early on. The Yellow Jackets would make a run and grow their advantage to 13-8, but the Maroons would continue to fight back to keep the set alive. RMC would look to secure the win as they found themselves up three at the match point. Roanoke tried to stay alive by making it 24-23, but a kill by Phillip Van Essendelft (Chesapeake, Va./Hickory) would finish off the sweep.
Inside the Numbers vs. Roanoke:
- Van Essendelft and Matthews each recorded a game-high eight kills.
- Kody Rogan (Chesapeake, Va./Hickory) had a game-high 18 assists, also adding six kills.
- Through the three sets, RMC as a team hit .300, and .471 in the second.
- The Yellow Jackets had 38 kills in the three sets.
- Van Essendelft recorded 13.5 points while hitting .727.
How it Happened vs. North Park:
- Early in the first set, the teams found themselves trading points. After it was tied 4-4, North Park started to build their advantage in the set. The lead ballooned to six points and RMC found themselves in a hole. The Yellow Jackets fought back to make it close but dropped the first set 25-22.
- The momentum would shift to the Yellow Jackets at the start of the second frame of play. After winning nine of the first 12 points, they forced a North Park timeout. RMC wouldn't look back from that point on and continued to dominate by winning the set 25-16.
- The Yellow Jackets wouldn't let off the gas going into the third set. After winning six of the first seven points, North Park was forced into another early timeout. From that point on, the set was never close as RMC continued to play with confidence and would cruise to win the third set 25-13.
- After 12 points being played in the fourth set, it was all tied up at 6-6, but an 8-2 surge by North Park put RMC behind by five and forced a timeout. The Yellow Jackets would respond with a 6-2 run of their own to bring themselves within striking distance of the set lead. The set fell in the balance at 21-21, as North Park looked to keep the match alive, but sophomore Ian Wagenhauser (Glen Allen, Va./Deep Run) had three kills to help the Lemon and Black close out the set and win the match.
Inside the Numbers vs. North Park:
- Wagenhauser recorded a game high in kills and points, with 13 and 15 respectively.
- Rogan and Van Essendelft each added 11 kills.
- Rogan also added 24 assists, one off his season-high.
- Cade Terrell (Glen Allen, Va. Deep Run) contributed 16 assists and 5 digs.
- Through the four sets, RMC as a team hit .343, and .571 in the final set.
- The Yellow Jackets recorded a total of 51 kills and 45 assists.
Up Next:
The Yellow Jackets will travel to Danville, Va. to take on Averett on Wednesday, March 20 at 6:00 p.m.
