ASHLAND, Va. – After defeating both Virginia Wesleyan and Stevenson in straight sets, Randolph-Macon improved to 12-2 on the season, while earning a 7-0 record at home.
Score: (RV) Randolph-Macon 3, Virginia Wesleyan 0 (25-20, 25-19, 25-18); (RV) Randolph-Macon 3, Stevenson 0 (25-18, 25-22, 25-19)
Venue: Ashland, Va. // Crenshaw Gymnasium // Randolph-Macon College
Records: (RV) Randolph-Macon (12-2, 3-0 ODAC); Stevenson (6-6, 0-0 MAC); Virginia Wesleyan (12-3, 3-2 ODAC)
How it Happened vs. Virginia Wesleyan
- Randolph-Macon earned an early 6-4 lead in the first set, as Kody Rogan (Chesapeake, Va./Hickory), located Ian Wagenhauser (Glen Allen, Va./Deep Run) for five kills over the first 10 rallies. While the Marlins were able to even the set at nine a piece, RMC pushed itself back out to a 15-12 advantage, as a service ace from Rogan and kills from Nathan Karluk (Midlothian, Va./Midlothian), Landon Brinkley (Norfolk, Va./Norfolk Christian) and Phillip Van Essendelft (Chesapeake, Va./Hickory) gave the Yellow Jackets momentum. Again, VWU was able to recover, as the road team got back out to a 17-16 lead as a result of a few attack errors from the Lemon and Black. Down the stretch, a timeout from Marlins was not enough, as a service ace from Brinkley and blocks from Rogan and Van Essendelft pushed RMC to capture the set's final five points, taking it 25-20.
- Set two saw kills from four different Yellow Jackets, helping the Lemon and Black jump out to a 5-2 lead. In the heart of the set, Wagenhauser, Karluk, Brinkley and Bryce Matthews (Chesterfield, Va./Clover Hill) all tallied blocks, forcing the Marlins into a timeout, while trailing, 8-13. While the Marlins got the first two points out of the break, a service ace and block from Van Essendelft drove the Yellow Jackets out to a 18-12 cushion. Bryce Matthews ensured that his team could close the set, 25-19, as he posted a block and kill in the final three points.
- The Yellow Jackets earned an early 6-2 lead in the third, as Rogan set Van Essendelft up for two kills. Once RMC found itself up 8-5, it constructed a 4-1 run, forcing a timeout from VWU, as the Marlins were down, 6-11. Out of the break, the Lemon and Black ballooned their lead to 14-6, thanks to two kills and a block from Brinkley. A few errors from the road team, coupled with a kill from Davis Luck (Ashland, Va./Patrick Henry), pushed the home team out to a 17-10 cushion. With the lead, RMC did not let up, as Brinkley and Davis both rifled service aces and both Wagenhauser and Brinkley each had kills, giving RMC a comfortable 25-18 set three win.
Inside the Numbers vs. Virginia Wesleyan
- Randolph-Macon led Virginia Wesleyan in kills (37-to-32), assists (35-to-24) and hitting percentage (.347-to-.125).
- RMC finished with its second-highest mark of the season with 22 block assists, as it led VWU 12-to-four in total blocks.
- Wagenhauser finished play with a game-high 14 kills, while he also added three digs to his slate.
- Brinkley led the match with two aces and registered six kills, good for fourth in the contest.
- Van Essendelft tied his career-high with seven block assists, while also finishing second in the match with seven kills.
- Karluk completed play with four block assists, good for the third-highest in his career.
For the Record
- Prior to the match, junior libero Brady Plucker (Fredericksburg, Va./Riverbend) notched his 526th career dig, becoming the program leader in the category.
- Wagenhauser became the first player in program history to reach 1,000 career kills (1,041 kills and 1,262.5 points), as he now sits first in program history in points and kills.
How it Happened vs. Stevenson
- While Brinkley got the scoring started for his team, Rogan hit both Matthews and Wagenhauser for hills, en route to an early 7-6 lead. Stevenson remained within a point of Randolph-Macon until RMC took a 14-11 lead, as another trifecta of kills from Wagenhauser, Brinkley and Matthews had the home team leading at the media timeout. Up 15-12, RMC won four of the set's next six points, forcing a timeout from the Mustangs after Rogan and Van Essendeflt joined for a block. Shortly after, SU had to burn its second timeout while trailing 16-22, due to back-to-back kills form Karluk and Wagenhauser. The Yellow Jackets overcame both timeouts, as Rogan located Matthews, Brinkley and Karluk for the Lemon and Black's final three points of set one, winning 25-18.
- Stevenson had its best stretch of the match to begin set two, as it assembled a 7-1 run, including two kills and a service ace. Once RMC called its timeout, it rebounded very well, as the Yellow Jackets won six of the next eight points, thanks to two dominant kills from Matthews. Down 7-8 after the Mustang timeout, RMC went on a 7-4 run to take a 14-12 lead, as a service ace from Matteo DeLuca (Glen Allen, Va./Maggie Walker Governor's School) helped his team get the upper hand. While SU evened the set at 16 due to a service ace, it was forced to call yet another timeout after losing three consecutive points. Leading 19-16, Randolph-Macon was able to close out the set, 25-22, after kills from Wagenhauser and Brinkley and a service ace from Rogan.
- The Yellow Jackets established a 7-4 lead for themselves, with service aces from Rogan and Matthews being the quick hitters. Even though the Mustangs closed the deficit to just being down 9-10, back-to-back kills from Wagenhauser and a kill from Matthews vaulted the home team back out to a 19-14 lead. The Mustangs were able to get a kill to stop the run, but another 3-0 spurt from RMC created a 22-15 advantage late in the set, thanks to two SU attack errors. The Yellow Jackets remained consistent to close out the set, 25-19, as a kill from Luck served as the exclamation mark.
Inside the Numbers vs. Stevenson
- The Yellow Jackets led the Mustangs in kills (34-to-31), assists (29-to-29), digs (26-to-18), blocks (nine-to-five) and aces (four-to-three).
- RMC's match was highlighted by a .722 hitting percentage in the first set, which included 13 kills on 18 total attacks and no errors.
- The hosts continued to improve their offense throughout the match, as their total attacks in each set finished as 18, 21 and 26 respectively.
- Wagenhauser led his team with nine kills, as he also tacked on three blocks.
- Karluk finished with five total blocks in the match. The sophomore has now totaled four-or-more blocks in each of his last three matches.
- Matthews finished second on the team with eight kills and also contributed five digs and an ace.
- With Matthews' five digs, he also tied Plucker and Brinkley for the match-high mark.
- Rogan tied for match-highs in assists (28) and service aces (two).
Up Next
The Yellow Jackets travel to Salem, Va., to take on Roanoke at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 25.
