ASHLAND, Va. – The Yellow Jackets dominated the Maroons on Senior Day, holding the visiting team to 17 points or fewer in each of the three sets played.
Score: Randolph-Macon 3, Roanoke 0 (25-17, 25-16, 25-17)
Venue: Crenshaw Gymnasium
Records: Randolph-Macon (13-9, 7-4 ODAC), Roanoke (14-8, 5-5 ODAC)
How it Happened
- Ella Courtney (Arlington, Va./Wakefield), Allison Lach (Fredericksburg, Va./Riverbend) and Mia Goode (Chesapeake, Va./Hickory) all tallied consecutive kills before a pair of aces between Lach and Sydney Wade (Powhatan, Va./Powhatan) fired RMC ahead, 7-4. The lead then extended to 15-11 at the media break, thanks to a kill from Kennedy McDowney (Odenton, Md./Arundel) and ace from Lach. Lach ripped an ace on the other side of the timeout and then pushed the cushion to 19-13 on a block between Tennessee Gooch (Lansing, N.Y./Lansing) and Olivia Roark (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Country Day School). Roark went on to join Lach and McDowney for blocks, giving the home squad a 25-17 set one win.
- Aiden Jolly (Fredericksburg, Va./Chancellor) posted an ace to start set two and both Lach and Gooch followed with kills to get ahead, 4-2. The Maroons fought back on a 7-2 run to establish a 10-7 lead, resulting in a timeout from the Lemon and Black. Olivia Leonard (Richmond, Va./The New Community School) checked in and earned a kill in her first rally, helping to bring the team to a 12-12 tie on a duo of Lach aces. Courtney followed with a rip and Wade provided an ace, driving the team back ahead, 15-14, at the media timeout. The run ballooned to a 6-1 stretch, forcing a RC timeout with the Maroons down 15-20. Lach, Roark, Leonard and Courtney all got kills to drop, resulting in a 25-16 set two win.
- While Roanoke took a 5-3 lead, RMC responded in the form of Roark and McDowney, who combined for a rejection to give the team a 6-5 edge. Ashley Grace Johnstone (Richmond, Va./Collegiate) added an ace down the line before an outstanding block between Roark and McDowney drove the home team ahead, 15-12 at the break. Lach caught fire and ripped five consecutive aces for RMC, surging it ahead 21-15. The pressure could not be stopped, as Gooch put her team in the victory column with a kill, securing a 25-17 set three win.
Inside the Numbers
- Randolph-Macon led Roanoke in kills (39-to-21), assists (31-to-19) and service aces (15-to-one).
- RMC paced .360-to-.091 in hitting percentage, including a .559 mark in the second set.
- The Yellow Jackets compiled 86 attacks in the match, while the Maroons only generated 66 chances.
- Lach led the match with a career-high 10 aces, while also pacing all players in kills (11).
- Roark recorded five blocks, good for the most in the match.
- Jolly's 19 assists was the most in the match, while Wade's seven digs also marks the most by any player in the three sets.
- McDowney finished in the match with a season-high three blocks.
Up Next
Women's Volleyball hosts Eastern Mennonite on Wednesday, October 28 at 7:00 p.m. in Crenshaw Gymnasium.
