LANCASTER, Pa. – Randolph-Macon Women's Volleyball finished up their matches at Franklin & Marshall, winning the first match against Lancaster Bible in four sets and dropping the second match to Franklin & Marshall in straight sets.
Score: Randolph-Macon 3, Lancaster Bible 1 (25-22, 25-20, 23-25, 25-14) ; Franklin & Marshall 3, Randolph-Macon 0 (25-14, 25-23, 25-12)
Venue: Lancaster, Pa. / Mayser Center / Franklin & Marshall
Records: Randolph-Macon (2-1, 0-0 ODAC), Lancaster Bible (1-2, 0-0 United East), Franklin & Marshall (3-0, 0-0 Centennial)
How it Happened vs. Lancaster Bible
- The opening set saw both teams trade points through the early stages, with the score locked at 20-20. Ella Courtney (Arlington, Va./Wakefield) tallied a pair of late kills before Randolph-Macon closed the frame on a 8-3 run to secure the 25-22 victory.
- In the second set, the Yellow Jackets leaned on strong serving, including two service aces to grab momentum. Allison Lach (Fredericksburg, Va./Riverbend) fueled a 5-1 stretch midway through the set that gave RMC a 20-18 lead. The Chargers attempted to rally, but Lach capped the set with back-to-back kills as the Jackets edged out a 25-20 win.
- Lancaster Bible responded in the third set by a close score of 25-23. Randolph-Macon closed within one point at 22-21, the Chargers held off the late push and finished the set with a kill and block forcing a fourth frame.
- The Yellow Jackets dominated the final set, jumping out to a 11-2 lead behind the serving of Karen Kwiatek (McDonough, Ga. / Creekside Christian Academy) and the front-row play of Lach. Courtney, Lach, and Milly Mach (Chesapeake, Va. / Hickory) each recorded kills during a 9-6 surge that stretched the margin to 20-8. Randolph-Macon closed the match after capitalizing on key errors by Lancaster Bible in the final points, 25-14 and the match 3-1.
Inside the Numbers vs. Lancaster Bible
- Lach led the way with 17 kills, six service aces, and 24.5 overall points, while Courtney added nine kills and nine digs.
- Kwiatek dished out 35 assists, contributed 11 digs and two total blocks.
- Defensively, Kaitlyn Kaplan (Norfolk, Va. / Norfolk Collegiate) recorded a team-high 18 digs
How it Happened vs. Franklin & Marshall
- The Diplomats set the tone early in the opening frame, using a balanced attack to hit .256 and record 14 kills. Despite a pair of kills from Lach and Goode, the Yellow Jackets couldn't overcome a 10-2 F&M run midway through the set as the hosts took it 25-14.
- The second set was the tightest of the afternoon, featuring 8 ties and five lead changes. Randolph-Macon grabbed momentum behind strong play from Lach and Tennessee Gooch (Lansing, N.Y. / Lansing), while Goode and Karlie Morris (King and Queen County, Va. / Middlesex) added key kills to keep the Jackets within reach. Tied at 21-21, the Diplomats closed on a late push to edge out a 25-23 win.
- In the third, Franklin & Marshall surged ahead early with six service aces in the frame and never looked back. Randolph-Macon managed just four kills in the set, with Lach, Goode, and Courtney chipping in offensively, but the Diplomats secured the sweep with a 25-12 decision.
Inside the Numbers vs. Franklin & Marshall
- Lach paced the Yellow Jackets with 11 digs, seven kills and two aces
- Goode added seven kills and six digs for the Yellow Jackets
- Morris and Courtney tallied two kills apiece, and Caitlin Smith (Greensboro, N.C. / Greensboro Day School) dished out 19 assists to go with six digs.
- Kaplan anchored the defense with 12 digs
Up Next
Randolph-Macon will host Randolph College on Wednesday, September 10th at 6:00 PM in the Crenshaw Gym for their home opener.
