ASHLAND, Va. –Â
Ian Wagenhauser powered his way to 18 kills to help guide Randolph-Macon Men's Volleyball to a five-set win over Virginia Wesleyan on Wednesday night.
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The Basics
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Score: Randolph-Macon 3, Virginia Wesleyan 2 (26-24, 25-21, 23-25, 25-27, 15-12)
Venue: Crenshaw Gym
Records: Randolph-Macon (20-8, 12-0 ODAC), Virginia Wesleyan (16-9, 7-4 ODAC)
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How it Happened
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- After the two sides split the first four points, RMC pulled ahead with a 3-0 run. The Yellow Jackets continued to roll, pushing the lead out to 10-4. The Marlins rallied back to cut it to three at 12-9, but RMC scored three of the next four points to extend the lead back to five at 15-10. A 5-0 run ensued for the Marlins, knotting the score at 15. The Jackets answered with a stretch of four straight points to build a 19-15 lead, but VWU rallied once again to tie the score at 20. Both sides split the next eight points to tie the score at 24, but RMC won two straight, capped off by an ace by Kody Rogan (Chesapeake, Va./Hickory) to give RMC a 26-24 set one win.
- RMC started hot in the second frame, holding a 6-2 edge early in the set. They continued to hold off the Marlins, building a 14-8 lead. VWU cut the deficit in half after a quick 3-0 run made the score 20-17. RMC won two straight, but VWU went on another spurt of three straight points to make the score 22-20. Ian Wagenhauser (Glen Allen, Va./Deep Run) finished off a 3-1 run to end the set, giving RMC a 25-21 win.
- The Yellow Jackets took the first three points of the third stanza but were matched by three straight from the Marlins. VWU took the lead and slowly built it out to 11-7. RMC came back to cut the deficit to two at 15-13, but the Marlins extended their lead back to six with a 4-0 run. RMC stormed back with a 5-1 run to make the score 20-18 and then eventually cut it to one at 24-23. The Marlins closed the set with a kill to fend off the sweep, taking set three 25-23.
- The fourth set was deadlocked at nine before the Marlins took three of the next four, but RMC took the next two points to tie it back at 12. Neither side could pull away until a kill from Wagenhauser gave RMC a 23-21 lead. The Yellow Jackets had set point at 24-23 before VWU took four of the next five points to once again avoid the sweep with a 27-25 set four win.
- RMC grabbed the first point of fifth frame before a 4-0 run gave VWU a three-point lead. The Yellow Jackets proceeded to earn six of the ensuing seven points to flip momentum into their favor. VWU had two separate 2-0 runs to knot the score at nine. RMC won the next three points, followed by two straight by the Marlins to make the score 12-11. The next two points went in favor of the Jackets, and they finished off the match with a kill by Phillip Van Essendelft (Chesapeake, Va./Hickory) to win 15-13.
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Inside the Numbers
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- Wagenhauser totaled 18 kills along with three aces, five digs, one solo block, and one block assist.
- Rogan finished with 39 assists, six aces, and 11 digs. He also had five block assists.
- Van Essendelft registered nine kills without an error. He hit .563 and matched Rogan with five block assists.
- Brady Plucker (Fredericksburg, Va./Riverbend) finished with 11 digs.
- Bryce Matthews (Chesterfield, Va./Clover Hill) notched 10 kills, eight digs, a solo block, and two block assists.
- Nick Futrell (Fredericksburg, Va./Stafford) was strong at the net, finishing with two solo blocks and three block assists.
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Up Next
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- The Yellow Jackets will be back in action on Saturday for the regular season finale and senior day against #3 Southern Virginia at 2:00 p.m. in Crenshaw Gym.
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