ASHLAND, Va. – Randolph-Macon fought back from being down 3-9 in the final set to secure an exciting victory in conference play.
Score: Randolph-Macon 3, Guilford 2 (25-14, 19-25, 21-25, 25-19, 19-17)
Venue: Crenshaw Gymnasium
Records: Randolph-Macon (10-7, 4-2 ODAC), Guilford (6-15, 2-4 ODAC)
How it Happened
- The first set remained knotted 5-5 through the first 10 rallies, as RMC got kills from Ellie Rock (Chesapeake, Va./Grassfield), Allison Lach (Fredericksburg, Va./Riverbend) and Ella Courtney (Arlington, Va./Wakefield). The home team then used a 4-0 run to capture a 7-11 lead, thanks to a service ace from Mia Goode (Chesapeake, Va./Hickory) and kills from Olivia Roark (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Country Day School) and Avery Jastrzemski (Richmond, Va./Goochland). Once RMC led 15-10 at the break, Jastrzemski ripped a kill and Rock followed with back-to-back kills, forcing a GC timeout with the Lemon and Black ahead, 19-11. The timeout could not slow the Yellow Jackets down, as the squad used a joint block between Roark and Leonard, as well as kills from three separate Jackets to cap a 25-14 set one win.
- Guilford jumped out to a 6-2 lead in set two on a series of service errors but a kill from Leonard ended the run at 6-3. Chrisbel Alcantara dropped multiple kills in to extend the advantage to 9-5 for GC but a block between Roark and Lach, followed by an ace from Roark got the Yellow Jackets back within two, down 7-9. While Lach was able to get a kill courtesy of Caitlin Smith (Greensboro, N.C./Greensboro Day School), RMC was forced to call a timeout when it found itself down 8-12. Smith found Leonard for two kills out of the timeout and both Rock and Smith let kills fly on the next two points, tying the set 13-13. The Quakers fought for an 18-13 lead, which was quickly erased to one on a three-kill burst from Lach, Roark and Leonard. The road team was able to close the second set one a 6-1 run, reaching a 25-19 count.
- The Yellow Jackets got out to a 4-1 lead which then extended to 8-4, thanks to an ace from Leonard and kill from Jastrzemski. RMC maintained a three point lead until Guilford cut it to one on two errors and a kill. The Lemon and Black were able to pace the Quakers 15-14 at the break, thanks to kills form Smith, Leonard and Marie Hall (High Point, N.C./Southwest Guilford). GC found its footing and forced an RMC timeout as it captured a 16-19 lead on three kills in four rallies. The Quakers took the first two out of the break, however, RMC countered with three-straight to put the score at 19-21. Another kill from Roark came up short down the stretch, as Guilford took set three, 25-21.
- Lach ignited the offense with a kill on set four's first rally and Leonard, Goode and Roark followed suit to reach a 5-2 score. The lead extended to 10-6 on back-to-back rifles from Lach. Even though Guilford got back within one on back-to-back kills, the home squad used a 4-1 run on kills from Lach and Karlie Morris (King and Queen County, Va./Middlesex) to take a 15-11 edge. The Quakers got a long distance kill out of the timeout but was neutralized by kills form Roark and Goode. The home team defended its lead using a 5-2 run to reach a 21-16 cushion, with Lach serving as the engine. The junior used another ace to force a timeout from the visitors and a rejection from Morris sealed a 25-19 set four steal.
- GC used two kills and ace to take a quick 3-0 lead but a long rally led to a rip from Lach, cutting the momentum from the Quakers. Leonard continued with one of her own but the visiting team put RMC into a timeout once the score reached 5-2 GC. An ace from Guilford out of the break, coupled with a service ace saw the score reach 7-2. A service error put the Lemon and Black back on serve, however, the gap increased to six points on another ace. Leonard and Goode retaliated with three total kills before Smith placed one into the middle of the court, forcing a GC timeout with RMC only trailing 7-9. The 6-0 run saw the Yellow Jackets tie the set at nine, thanks to a block from Roark. Kills from Smith, Lach and Goode, followed by a block between Smith and Roark, pushed RMC ahead 13-11. Leonard, Lach, Morris and Roark all swung for kills down the stretch but it was a service ace from Leonard that iced a 19-17 set five win.
Inside the Numbers
- Randolph-Macon led 62-to-43 in total kills and .285-to-.205 in hitting percentage.
- RMC's total kill mark, as well as its 81 points, marks the most in any contest this season.
- The Yellow Jackets paced the Quakers 45-to-26 in assists and eight-to-one in blocks.
- Both programs knotted at 51 digs but the Lemon and Black held the edge in service aces (11-to-four).
- Lach and Leonard tied for a team-high 14 kills, while Lach finished second on the team in digs (10), aces (three), blocks (two) and assists (two).
- Roark had a career-high seven blocks, marking the most in the match.
- Rock tied her career-high with a match-high four aces.
- Goode led her team with 15 digs and Smith led all players with 39 assists.
For the Record
- Randolph-Macon has now won seven of its last eight matchups against Guilford.
Up Next
RMC has a quick turnaround, as it will continue into the weekend against Averett. The contest is set for 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 10 in Crenshaw Gymnasium.
