WASHINGTON, D.C. – Randolph-Macon bounced back in dominant form, as the Yellow Jackets swept Susquehanna and Catholic in Washington D.C.
Scores: Randolph-Macon 3, Susquehanna 0 (25-14, 25-19, 25-23); Randolph-Macon 3, Catholic 0 (25-20, 25-12, 25-22)
Venue: Franny Murray Court at Catholic University
Records: Randolph-Macon (8-7, 2-2 ODAC); Catholic (5-10, 0-0 Landmark), Susquehanna (2-9, 0-0 Landmark)
How it Happened vs. Susquehanna:
- Susquehanna took three of the first four points but Caitlin Smith (Greensboro, N.C./Greensboro Day School) found Ella Courtney (Arlington, Va./Wakefield) and Avery Jastrzemski (Richmond, Va./Goochland) for kills before an ace and kill from Olivia Leonard (Richmond, Va./The New Community School) gave the squad a 7-5 lead. While an attack error ended the run, RMC put together a 7-0 run to establish a 12-6 cushion, thanks to a kill from Olivia Roark (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Day School) and ace from Mia Goode (Chesapeake, Va./Hickory) to force a River Hawk timeout. Leading 14-6 after the break Allison Lach (Fredericksburg, Va/Riverbend) found Goode for a kill, leading to kills from Lach and Leonard for an 18-7 score. RMC closed set one, 25-14, on an ace from Lach and strikes from Leonard and Roark.
- Set two saw the two programs reach a 5-5 tie, led by Lach and Courtney who joined for a block at the start of the set. Once Susquehanna took an 8-7 edge forcing an RMC timeout, the Lemon and Black constructed a 6-1 run to establish a 13-9 lead, with the offense coming from Goode who tallied two aces and a kill. The River Hawks battled back on their own 6-3 stretch, putting the Yellow Jackets back in another timeout, trailing 14-15. The squad came out firing in the form of Lach, who dropped four consecutive aces in to pilot a 7-1 run, earning a 22-17 lead. Randolph-Macon proceeded to take set two, 25-19, with Leonard and Jastrzemski both posting kills.
- Randolph-Macon exploded on a 7-0 run to begin set three, as it was Smith who had three service aces and assisted Leonard for a kill. While an attack error broke it up, the Yellow Jackets assembled a quick 4-1 spurt to reach an 11-2 lead, with Lach adding a kill and an ace. Kennedy McDowney (Odenton, Md./Arundel) fired two kills and Roark followed with a kill and an ace to extend the lead to 16-6. RMC showed no signs of slowing down, as kill from Ellie Rock (Chesapeake, VA./Grassfield) sparked an 8-4 run which would ultimately close the set. Rock had a service ace and both Goode and McDowney benefited from Smith passes, resulting in a 25-13 set three score.
Inside the Numbers vs. Susquehanna
- Randolph-Macon led Susquehanna .205-to-.060 in hitting percentage.
- RMC paced SU in in kills (32-to-19), digs (44-to-33) and assists (29-to-17).
- The Yellow Jackets posted 17 aces compared to four from the River Hawks, marking the second-highest total in any match this season.
- Leonard and Jastrzemski tied for a team-high six kills, while Leonard added a block.
- Lach finished first on the team with seven service aces and added five kills, good for third on the squad. She also added a block and an assist.
- Rock led the team with 15 digs, which marks a new career-high.
- Smith led all players in the contest with 28 assists.
How it Happened vs. Catholic
- Randolph-Macon earned a 7-4 advantage in set one, as Lach, Leonard and Jastrzemski fired kills before Lach posted a service ace. The Cardinals forced three consecutive errors to knot the set 7-7 and RMC responded with its own 3-0 run, thanks to a kill from Roark. The two programs again traded three-point runs to reach a 14-11 RMC advantage, with Smith providing an ace. Despite two kills from Jastrzemski, Catholic tied the set 20-20 on back-to-back kills. The Yellow Jackets found their stride and closed set one on a 5-0 burst, as three different RMC players registered kills.
- While Catholic used a service ace to grab a 3-2 edge, RMC commanded a 7-3 lead in set two on two kills from Jastrzemski and one from Leonard. Randolph-Macon's offense continued to click, as the team put together a 10-1 run driving it to an 18-7 lead through the heart of the set. Lach had three kills and Smith, Courtney and Leonard each had one. The Cardinals were able to put up a block to stop the pressure and closed the gap to 11-20 on a kill. The Yellow Jackets did not let it get close, as it earned a 25-12 set two in on a 5-1 run. Jastrzemski had two kills and a block, with both assists coming from the sophomore setter.
- The home team had its best start to a set in the third, as it took a 5-3 lead on a kill and an ace. Leonard responded with a kill, followed by rips from Smith and Lach to get back within one, trailing 8-9. The Cardinals forced an RMC attack error and added a block of their own to pilot a 4-0 run, extending the lead back out to 13-8. Lach was able to lead the charge, as she tallied an ace and two kills as part of a 6-2 run, which also had an ace from Smith and block from Leonard. Now only down one at 14-15, the Lemon and Black were able to take the lead, 18-17, as a 4-0 run that featured two kills from Jastrzemski got them there. The momentum carried and helped the team close set three with a 25-22 score. The ending included five consecutive points scored by the Yellow Jackets, as it was Goode assisting Lach for two kills and Smith for one.
Inside the Numbers vs. Catholic
- Randolph-Macon led 47-to-23 in kills, while leading .288-to-.102 in hitting percentage.
- RMC posted 14-or-more kills in each of its three sets played, while holding Catholic to two kills in the third and first sets.
- The Yellow Jackets held a 57-to-36 lead in digs, thanks to Rock, who tied her career-high with 15.
- Lach led the match with 14 kills and tied Smith for a team-high two aces.
- Goode finished second on the team with 10 digs, giving her five-or-more in each of her last four matches.
- Jastrzemski and Leonard each had a pair of blocks and Leonard also provided nine digs, tying her career-high.
- Smith led all players with 34 assists. Rock followed with four assists and Lach had three.
Up Next
Women's Volleyball remains on the road to take on Sweet Briar. The Yellow Jackets face the Vixens in Sweet Briar, Va., on Tuesday, October 6 at 6:00 p.m.
