LYNCHBURG, Va. – Despite holding leads in all four sets, Randolph-Macon Women's Volleyball was unable to defeat Lynchburg, as the Yellow Jackets' season concludes after a 3-1 loss in sets.
Score: (4) Lynchburg 3, (5) Randolph-Macon 1 (25-21, 18-25, 25-22, 25-21)
Venue: Turner Gymnasium at the University of Lynchburg
Records: (5) Randolph-Macon (14-13, 7-5 ODAC), (4) Lynchburg (25-4, 10-2 ODAC)
How it Happened
- Randolph-Macon generated a 7-4 lead through the first 11 rallies with some stifling defense, as Olivia Leonard (Richmond, Va./The New Community School), Ella Courtney (Arlington, Va./Wakefield), Avery Jastrzemski (Richmond, Va./Goochland) and Olivia Roark (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Country Day School) all combined for blocks. Caitlin Smith (Greensboro, N.C./Greensboro Day School) found Allison Lach (Fredericksburg, Va./Riverbend) for a kill before Roark fired an ace, extending the lead to 10-6. While Smith went on to find Lach and Courtney for kills before Leonard and Courtney registered a rejection, the Hornets strung together a 5-2 run to put RMC in a timeout, with it still leading 16-14. Ashley Grace Johnston (Richmond, Va./Collegiate) used a kill before two other Yellow Jackets joined for a block but the team was forced to use another timeout once a 4-0 spurt put the score to 18-19. Smith assisted Lach on a kill down the stretch but the LYN late momentum gave it a 25-21 set one win.
- The Yellow Jackets again provided the pressure to begin the set, as two aces and a kill from Leonard put them ahead, 8-3. Once Lynchburg called a timeout, RMC responded with a 4-2 run to reach a 12-5 score, thanks to a kill and block from Roark. Two kills from the Hornets during a 5-1 run put the Lemon and Black into their first timeout of the set with a 13-9 lead and they were able to preserve a 15-11 lead at the media timeout after a pair of Smith-to-Lach connections. Leonard assisted Courtney on a kill and Lach fired her ODAC-leading 71st ace of the season, fueling a 3-0 series that provided an 18-11 lead. Jastrzemski converted on a kill from Smith, however, the Lemon and Black used their second timeout after three-straight kills from the Hornets put them within four. Roark tallied a block before Mia Goode (Chesapeake, Va./Hickory) nailed an ace, giving her squad a 25-18 set two win.
- Randolph-Macon began the third set, scoring the first three points and would be capped by a kill by Leonard. The Hornets took six out of the next nine points, using errors by the Lemon and Black and tied up the set at 6-6. Both teams swapped points until Lynchburg took the lead 10-9 and forced RMC into an early timeout. The set would continue to be a battle, as Leonard kept Randolph-Macon in it with two kills and LYN held a slim 15-13 lead at the media timeout. Jastrzemski and Roark came out of the timeout with back-to-back kills for the Yellow Jackets, tying up the set at 15-15. The momentum carried into more points for RMC, a ball handling error forced a Hornet timeout and Randolph-Macon took back the lead 18-16. The Yellow Jackets allowed LYN to stay close with errors, as RMC took a timeout with the pivotal set knotted up at 20-20. The set was tied at 22-22, as the Hornets rattled off three straight points with key kills and took the set and control of the match leading 2-1.
- The fourth set had the Lemon and Black coming out hot, scoring seven of the first 10 points and took the early lead 7-3. Randolph-Macon kept with the Hornets until the media timeout, led by Courtney and Jastrzemski. RMC still holding onto a slim lead at 15-13. Lynchburg would not go away following the timeout and a kill forced a Yellow Jacket timeout. The kill gave LYN the lead late at 20-19. Randolph-Macon held off two straight match points to show a Hornet lead of 24-21. Lynchburg tallied one final kill to win the set and take the match 3-1.
Inside the Numbers
- The Yellow Jackets finished within single digits of the Hornets in kills (42-to-50) and assists (40-to-49).
- Randolph-Macon had more blocks (13-to-5) and digs (78-to-77)
- The Hornets led in overall hitting percentage (.156-to-.150) in the match.
- Lach led the team in kills (12), aces (5) and points (18).
- Smith led both teams in assists in the match with 35.
- Roark was the leader in blocks with three solo and five assists.
- Ellie Rock (Chesapeake, Va./Grassfield) led the team in digs with 23 overall.
- Jastrzemski ended the match with double-digit kills at 11.
Up Next
Women's Volleyball has completed its 2026 season under first-year Head Coach Jack Wilson. The Yellow Jackets will be back in action during the fall of 2027.
