HARRISONBURG, Va. – The Yellow Jackets improved to 5-2 in conference play, after defeating the Royals, 3-1 on the road.
Score: Randolph-Macon 3, Eastern Mennonite 1 (25-17, 25-18, 20-25, 25-22)
Venue: Yoder Arena at Eastern Mennonite University
Records: Randolph-Macon (10-4, 5-2 ODAC); Eastern Mennonite (4-13, 1-3 ODAC)
How it Happened
- The match started tied through the first ten points, with the Yellow Jackets and Royals tied at five. Grace Ostvig (Fredericksburg, Va./Colonial Forge) then erupted for three consecutive points, forcing an Eastern Mennonite attack error and posting back-to-back service aces. She went on to assist Mia Goode (Chesapeake, Va./Hickory High School) and Caitlin Smith (Greensboro, N.C./Greensboro Day School) for a kill each, forcing a timeout from the Royals with the Yellow Jackets leading 11-6. Randolph-Macon was able to extend its lead to 20-13, forcing EMU's second timeout of the set. RMC kept the pressure on to close out the set, 25-17.
- The Royals opened the second set with the momentum, pulling out to a 7-3 advantage early. While the Yellow Jackets were able to bring the set to within one, the Royals opened their lead to 10-6, forcing a timeout from the Lemon and Black. The timeout resulted in four consecutive points for the Yellow Jackets which propelled them to a 13-11 advantage, forcing an EMU timeout. Despite the Royals evening the set at 16, Smith went on to fire three consecutive service aces and kill, helping the Yellow Jackets capture the second set, 25-18.
- Randolph-Macon opened the third set on a 7-2 run, capped off by a kill from Karlie Morris (King and Queen County, Va./Middlesex). The home team showed resilience, battling to even the score at 10-10. Even with the set close again, RMC did not relinquish its lead, pushing the score to 17-13 after some kills from Goode down the stretch. EMU was then able to force a timeout from RMC after evening the set at 17. Despite being down early in the set, the Royals went on an 8-3 run to win the set, 25-20.
- The two teams seemed to find their grooves for the first half of the fourth set, with neither team being able to take a lead greater than two points. The Royals then emerged with a 13-10 lead, before the Yellow Jackets fought back to a 15-14 advantage. EMU recaptured a 17-15 lead, forcing a timeout from the road team. Randolph-Macon came out firing, stringing together a 7-2 run, earning a 24-19 advantage. Even though the Royals were able to win three consecutive points, an Ella Courtney (Arlington, Va./Wakefield) kill ended the set, with RMC winning 25-22.
Inside the Numbers
- RMC totaled 43 kills in the match, as EMU finished with 28.
- The Yellow Jackets finished with a .131 hitting percentage, while holding the Royals to .014.
- Goode led the match and tied her career-highs in points (17) and kills (15). She has now recorded 11-or-more points in six consecutive matches.
- After recording a match-high 35 assists on the night, Smith has now racked up 20-or-more assists in each of her last six matches played.
- Ostvig's 11.5 points tied-her career high and marked the second-highest point total in the match.
Up Next
Randolph-Macon battles University of Mary Washington tomorrow, October 8, at 7:00 p.m., for its second home match of the season
