SALEM, Va. – Despite rallying from being down two sets to one, Randolph-Macon was unable to capture the victory at Roanoke, with the Maroons winning 3-2.
Score: Roanoke 3, Randolph-Macon 2 (27-29, 25-19, 25-15, 22-25, 15-10)
Venue: Cregger Center at Roanoke College
Records: Randolph-Macon (9-4 4-2 ODAC); Roanoke (9-8, 4-3 ODAC)
How it Happened
- Randolph-Macon opened the set with a 5-3 advantage, with Caitlin Smith (Greensboro, N.C./Greensboro Day School) posting two service aces. Roanoke constructed a 6-1 run of its own, pulling out to a 9-6 lead. Once RMC then fought to even the set up at nine, the two teams remained within two points of each other for the rest of the set. Grace Ostvig (Fredericksburg, Va./Colonial Forge) registered her third kill of the set, putting her squad up 23-21, forcing a timeout from the Maroons. Roanoke came out of the timeout strong, fighting to tie the set 27-27. Smith was then able to help her team capture the first set, 29-27, after constructing back-to-back service aces.
- Ostvig opened the second set strong for the Yellow Jackets, with two kills en route to a 4-2 lead. The Maroons were then able to force a few attack errors toward the middle of the set, earning a 15-12 advantage. Roanoke kept its pressure on, forcing RMC's first timeout of the set after preserving a 19-17 lead. The Lemon and Black were then forced to use their second timeout of the set after the Maroons posted five consecutive points. Despite capturing two points after the timeout, RMC was not able to win the set, with Roanoke winning set two 25-19.
- The third set began with some balanced attack from both teams, with the score knotted at six. The home team then went on a 5-1 run, escaping out to an 11-7 lead. Despite some consistent kills from Mia Goode (Chesapeake, Va./Hickory), the Yellow Jackets were forced to use their second timeout while down 11-18. They emerged from the timeout strong, with three different players recording kills, forcing a Roanoke timeout while still down 14-18. Unfortunately, the spurt was not enough, as the Maroons surged ahead to win the set, 25-15.
- Roanoke opened the fourth set with a 9-3 advantage, despite Ostivg posting two kills. Karlie Morris (King and Queen County, Va./Middlesex) then registered two kills of her own, helping her squad get within a point, forcing a timeout from the Maroons as they still held a 9-8 lead. The game remained within two points until the Yellow Jackets took a 21-17 lead, thanks to a kill from Delaney McDonald (Locust Grove, Va./Locust Grove). RMC was then able to force a pair of errors, winning the set 25-22.
- The Lemon and Black opened the fifth set with a 3-1 advantage, capped off by a kill from Ostvig. The Maroons then pulled out to a 9-7 advantage, forcing a timeout from RMC. Despite Ostvig posting yet another kill, Roanoke went on to win the set, 15-10 in a very even match.
Inside the Numbers
- Randolph-Macon tallied 14 blocks in the match, while limiting Roanoke to four.
- Three Yellow Jackets finished with double digit kills, including Morris (12), Goode (11) and Ostvig (10)
- Ella Courtney (Arlington, Va./Wakefield) finished with a match high seven blocks, the second-most in a game in her career.
- Smith's 13 digs ties her career high and has recorded 13 digs in three of her last four matches.
- Milly Mach (Chesapeake, Va./Hickory) finished the match with a season-high 17 assists.
Up Next
Randolph-Macon heads to Harrisonburg, Virginia to take on Eastern Mennonite at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 7.
