ASHLAND, Va. – Randolph-Macon Men's Volleyball captured the first conference title in program history after sweeping second-seeded Roanoke in three sets on Saturday.
Â
The Basics
Â
Score: #1 Randolph-Macon 3, #2 Roanoke 0 (25-16, 25-23, 25-17)
Venue: Crenshaw Gym
Records: Randolph-Macon (22-9), Roanoke (22-12)
Â
How it Happened
Â
- The two sides split the first eight points of the opening set before RMC won two straight to take a 6-4 lead. Roanoke returned the favor with two of their own, but RMC began to take control from there. The Yellow Jackets went on to win eight of the next 10 points to take a commanding 14-8 edge. Three of the next four went in favor of the Maroons, but once again, the Jackets got on a roll, earning four straight points to lead 19-11. Roanoke brought the deficit back to six, but RMC grabbed four of the final five points to take set one, 25-16.
- The Jackets took two of the first three points of the second set, but the first 19 points were nearly even as Roanoke led 10-9. The Maroons tilted momentum in their favor, winning four of the next five points to hold a 14-10 lead. They held their lead at 16-13 before the tables turned towards RMC's favor. The Yellow Jackets took the lead with a 4-0 run and then extended their lead to 22-18. Roanoke won the next three points to cut the deficit to one. RMC earned the next two to get to set point at 24-21, but Roanoke, once again, won two straight to bring it within one. Bryce Matthews (Chesterfield, Va./Clover Hill) got a kill to end the set, giving RMC a 25-23 win in the second set.
- Roanoke led 4-3 in the early stages of the third set, but a 6-1 run gave RMC a 9-5 edge. Seven of the next nine points went to the visitors to flip the lead to the Maroons, 12-11. The Yellow Jackets rallied again with a 5-0 run to take control of the set at 16-12. Roanoke grabbed the next two points, but only earned three more points the rest of the way, as RMC cruised to the finish line of a three-set sweep to win the conference title.
Â
Inside the Numbers
Â
- Ian Wagenhauser (Glen Allen, Va./Deep Run) registered 15 kills and hit .393 to lead the way for RMC. He was named to the All-Tournament team following the match.
- Kody Rogan (Chesapeake, Va./Hickory) totaled 38 assists along with three aces and six digs. He was also named to the All-Tournament Team following the match.
- Bryce Matthews finished with 12 kills and eight digs to earn a spot on the All-Tournament team as well.
- Phillip Van Essendelft (Chesapeake, Va./Hickory) tallied eight kills, hitting .333, as well as two block assists.
- RMC had 10 blocks to just five for Roanoke.
- The Yellow Jackets had five aces, while the Maroons had just one.
For the Record
Â
- RMC captures their first conference title in program history and becomes the first team to ever claim the ODAC Men's Volleyball title.
- Kody Rogan surpassed his own single-season assists record with 877 assists this season.
Â
Up Next
Â
- The Yellow Jackets will earn the automatic bid from the ODAC into the 2025 NCAA Tournament and will await the NCAA Selection Show on Monday at 10:00 a.m.
