BUENA VISTA, Va. – After four competitive sets, men's volleyball earned a win in the third set before ultimately falling to #4 Southern Virginia, 3-1.
Score: #4 Southern Virginia 3, (RV) Randolph-Macon 1 (25-17, 25-21, 23-25, 25-18)
Venues: Knight Arena at Southern Virginia University
Records: (RV) Randolph-Macon (2-1, 0-0 ODAC); #4 Southern Virginia (3-0, 0-0 CVC)
How it Happened
- While a service error from the Knights got Randolph-Macon the first point of the match, Southern Virginia constructed a 6-1 run to establish a 6-2 lead. Kody Rogan (Chesapeake, Va./Hickory) found Bryce Matthews (Chesterfield, Va./Clover Hill) and Ian Wagenhauser (Glen Allen, Va./Deep Run) for their first kills of the match, but two more kills and a service ace from SVU forced an RMC timeout, down 4-10. Despite Matthews tallying another kill out of the break, the Yellow Jackets called their second timeout of the set down, 5-14, after the Knights posted three consecutive points. Matthews responded with his third kill of the set, coupled with two well-placed kills from Landon Brinkley (Norfolk, Va./Norfolk Christian), which saw the Lemon and Black close the deficit to 9-16. Even though a service error put SVU back on serve, RMC forced a timeout from the home team, still trailing 12-17, after the Knights registered three-straight attack errors. While the Yellow Jackets forced some additional errors down the stretch, they dropped set one, 25-17.
- The second set opened level, as a decisive block from Brinkley sparked a 3-3 tie after six points. The home team began to string together some rallies, extending their lead to 11-6 after a kill from Nathan Mitchell. Despite Rogan finding Matthews for yet another kill, RMC was forced to call a timeout, down 7-13, after back-to-back kills from the Knights. The Yellow Jackets gained momentum out of the timeout, earning four of the set's next six points, closing the gap to 11-15 after kills from Brinkley and Matthews. Southern Virginia then applied quick pressure, forcing the Lemon and Black's second timeout of the set after committing two consecutive errors, still down 11-18. Then, Randolph-Macon had its best groove of the match, as clutch blocks from Matthews and Nathan Karluk (Midlothian, Va./Midlothian) got them within three, down 16-19, forcing a timeout from the Knights. While SVU earned the set's next two points, two service aces form Wagenhauser helped push the Yellow Jackets to within one, down 20-21. The effort fell just short as SVU's Gehrig Tolman accounted for three-straight kills to close the set, 25-21.
- After remaining within a point of each other through the first nine rallies, the Yellow Jackets earned the momentum, opening a 7-4 lead in the third set thanks to back-to-back kills from Wagenhauser. While SVU got back within one, kills from Rogan, Karluk and Matthews pushed RMC back out to a 12-8 advantage. Just when the Knights were able to get back within one, down 11-12, a kill from Phillip Van Essendelft (Chesapeake, Va./Hickory) highlighted a 6-3 run for Randolph-Macon, leading to a timeout from Southern Virginia, who trailed 14-18. The two teams went point-for-point after the timeout, until three consecutive SVU kills put them down, 21-22, drawing a timeout from RMC. Brinkley and Matthews were ready after the timeout, with both players earning kills in the set's next three points to force an SVU timeout, with RMC up 24-22. With the set on the line, Matthews came up with a clutch kill, giving his team a set three victory, 25-23.
- Southern Virginia presented a strong start to the fourth, as the Knights assembled a 6-2 run to start the set, including five kills from four different players. RMC responded with wins in six of the set's next 10 points, closing the gap to 8-10 led by two consecutive Rogan-to-Van Essendelft connections. The Knights continued to generate kills of their own, but three blocks from Brinkley kept his team only down 15-17. SVU responded to RMC's impressive defense with three kills and a service ace, forcing a timeout from the Yellow Jackets, as they trailed 16-21. Despite an incredible effort throughout the heart of the set, four consecutive points from the Knights helped them take the final set, 25-18.
Inside the Numbers
- Randolph-Macon led Southern Virginia in total blocks (13) and solo blocks (two).
- SVU paced RMC in hitting percentage (.271-to-.144), assists (44-to-36) and service aces (nine-to-three).
- The two programs tied at 22 in attack errors and 16 in service errors.
- Matthews finished with match-highs in kills (16) and digs (10), while tying for second on the team in blocks (four).
- Rogan led the team with 30 assists and tied Matthews with four blocks. Extending back to last season, the senior has now tallied 30-or-more assists in each of his last nine matches played.
- Wagenhauser contributed with a team-high two service aces and also provided eight kills for the Yellow Jackets.
Up Next
The Lemon and Black have their first home match on Friday, January 23 at 7:30 p.m. against Carolina University in Crenshaw Gymnasium.
