ATLANTA, Ga. – Despite a strong third set, Randolph-Macon dropped its road matchup against No. 15 Emory, 3-0 in sets.
The Basics
Score: No. 15 Emory 3, Randolph-Macon 0 (25-13, 25-13, 25-20)
Venue: Woodruff PE Center Arena at Emory University
Records: Randolph-Macon (12-11, 5-6 ODAC); No. 15 Emory (15-5, 5-2 UAA)
How it Happened
- Emory opened the match strong, generating a 6-1 run before Ella Courtney (Arlington, Va./Wakefield) got the Yellow Jackets' first kill of the afternoon. With the score at 6-2, the Eagles went on a 4-0 run, forcing a timeout from Randolph-Macon after it trailed, 10-2. RMC forced an attack error after the timeout and then went on to trade kills with the Eagles, as Delaney McDonald (Locust Grove, Va./Locust Grove), Marie Hall (High Point, N.C./Southwest Guilford) and Mia Goode (Chesapeake, Va./Hickory) all tallied kills. After a service ace from Trinity Makley (Morrisville, N.C./Panther Creek), RMC found itself down seven, at 9-16. Once the Lemon and Black called their second timeout of the set, the Eagles went on a 9-4 run to win the first set, 25-13.
- RMC was able to generate some offensive pressure early in the second set, tying the Eagles 2-2 after a kill from McDonald. Despite the better start, the Yellow Jackets were forced into a timeout down 4-12 after Emory assembled a 10-2 run. Randolph-Macon was able to string together a 3-1 run of its own after the timeout, with Goode and Caitlin Smith (Greensboro, N.C./Greensboro Day School) earning kills to keep the Yellow Jackets within six. Then, the home team won five of the set's next six points, forcing RMC into its second timeout of the set down 9-18. Even though McDonald tallied a kill for her squad after the timeout, the Eagles took set two, 25-13.
- The Lemon and Black won three consecutive points to open the third set, thanks to kills from Courtney and Goode, as well as a service ace from Smith. After the Eagles stormed back to take a 4-3 lead, Courtney posted a kill and her team forced three-straight attack errors, taking a 7-5 advantage. Emory then made some substitutions, leading to a 9-3 run that helped them earn a 14-10 lead. The Yellow Jackets went on to win five of the next six points, forcing four attack errors from Emory during the run. After the Eagles claimed two of the next four points, the Lemon and Black called a timeout while trailing 17-19. While RMC was able to tie the set 19-19, they were unable to capture the third set, as the Eagles won 25-20.
Inside the Numbers
- Randolph-Macon committed fewer attack errors than Emory (12-to-13) and posted more service aces (nine-to-seven).
- While the Eagles' 40 kills surpassed the 21 from the Yellow Jackets, RMC only trailed in total attacks, 76-71.
- Courtney led the team in points (10.5), kills (seven) and total blocks (five). Her 10.5 points are the most she has registered in her past seven matches and she has finished with seven kills in each of her last two matches.
- McDonald finished second on the team with a career-high seven points. After tallying 18 total attacks, the freshman has now recorded 15-or-more total attacks in four of her last five matches played.
Up Next
The Yellow Jackets continue play in Atlanta tomorrow, as they will take on No. 12 Ithaca at 11:00 a.m., followed by No. 18 Berry at 1:30 p.m.
