SWEET BRIAR, Va. – The Yellow Jackets posted a season-high 23 service aces to propel them to a road ODAC sweep against the Vixens.
Score: Randoph-Macon 3, Sweet Briar 0 (25-7, 25-11, 25-10)
Venue: Williams Gymnasium
Records: Randolph-Macon (9-7, 3-2 ODAC), Sweet Briar (0-14, 0-4 ODAC)
How it Happened
- The first set saw Randolph-Macon rip off a 6-0 run, which included kills from three different Yellow Jackets, but was highlighted by Caitlin Smith (Greensboro, N.C./Greensboro Day School), who had three aces in a four-point span. The Vixens used a kill to stop the run which did not last long, as Olivia Leonard (Richmond, Va./The New Community School) started a 4-0 run with a kill and it was finished by Allison Lach (Fredericksburg, Va./Riverbend), who posted three consecutive aces. Leading 10-2, the lead ballooned to 19-6 on two kills and an ace from Olivia Roark (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Country Day School) coupled with two kills from Leonard. RMC went on to close set one, 25-7, on a 6-0 run which was capped by Smith who again posted three outstanding aces.
- While the Vixens kept themselves within one down 2-3 to begin set two, the Lemon and Black used a kill and block from Karlie Morris (King and Queen County, Va./Middlesex), as well as a service ace from Emery Caylor (Baxley, Ga./Appling County) to secure a 10-2 lead. An attack error and service ace gave SBC its next two points which were then countered by Aiden Jolly (Fredericksburg, Va./Chancellor), who assisted Morris for a kill and fired an ace. With RMC leading 14-4, the Vixens closed the gap to 9-17 as a result of three kills in-a-row. The Yellow Jackets rebounded quickly and shut set two down on an 8-2 run. The streak featured three-straight aces from Morris, as well as two kills from Lach.
- The Yellow Jackets saw Caylor find Ashley Grace Johnstone (Richmond, Va./Collegiate), Marie Hall (High Point, N.C./Southwest Guilford) and Mia Goode (Chesapeake, Va./Hickory) all for kills to push the team ahead, 5-2. The visitors extended the lead to 10-3 on a 5-0 run, as it was Jolly who assisted Morris, Goode and Delaney McDonald (Locust Grove, Va./Locust Grove) all for kills. The Vixens stopped the pressure with one kill but two service aces from Johnstone and a pair of rips from Sarah Temple (Raleigh, N.C./Millbrook Magnet) furthered the gap to 18-8. The Yellow Jackets cruised on to take set three 25-10. Goode had a trifecta of kills and Jolly had her own trio of aces.
Inside the Numbers
- The Yellow Jackets led the Vixens in kills (38-to-10) and assists (33-to-nine).
- RMC also led 23-to-zero in service aces, marking a new season-high.
- Randolph-Macon swung a .508 hitting percentage, marking the most in any match this year.
- The Lemon and Black also posted double-digit kills in each of their three sets played, while holding SBC to five-or-fewer.
- Smith led the match in assists (19) and aces (seven). She also added two digs.
- Morris tied Lach for the second-most aces in the match (four). Morris also tallied four kills for 8.5 points, with all categories marking season-highs.
- Goode led the team in digs (six) and digs (five).
- With her 10 assists, Jolly now has double digits in two of her past three matches. Furthermore, her four service aces marks the most in any contest of her career.
Up Next
The Yellow Jackets host Guilford on Friday, October 9 at 7:00 p.m. to kick off their alumni weekend in Ashland, Va.
