ASHLAND, Va. – Randolph-Macon Men's Volleyball used a dominant performance from Bryce Matthews (Chesterfield, Va./Clover Hill) to defeat Randolph, 3-0, before dropping the evening matchup to Division I Tusculum, 0-3.
Score: #20 Randolph-Macon 3, Randolph 0 (25-20, 25-18, 25-20); Tusculum 3, Randolph-Macon 0 (25-19, 25-17, 25-12)
Venue: Ashland, Va. // Crenshaw Gymnasium // Randolph-Macon College
Records: #20 Randolph-Macon (21-4, 9-0 ODAC); Randolph (14-9, 6-5 ODAC), Tusculum (11-6, 0-2 SAC)
How it Happened vs. Randolph
- The Yellow Jackets jumped out to an early 7-2 lead as Landon Brinkley (Norfolk, Va./Norfolk Christian) served up two-straight aces. Matthews and Nathan Karluk (Midlothian, Va./Midlothian) tallied back-to-back kills to keep the Jackets ahead, 9-4. RMC rattled off three-straight kills, with one coming from Matthews, followed by two from Tyler DeMeritt (Rota, Spain/David G. Farragut) to go ahead 12-5. The two squads traded short scoring runs and Randolph pulled within three points, 20-17. The Lemon and Black strung together a three-point run to grow their lead to 23-17, capped off by a kill from Matthews. The WildCats had no answer as Matthews notched another kill and a service error handed RMC the first set, 25-20.
- RMC stayed hot in the second set, taking an early 4-1 advantage, highlighted by a big block by Kody Rogan (Chesapeake, Va/Hickory). Randolph pulled within a point, 7-8, but RMC won five of the next seven to claim a 13-9 lead. In response to a three-point run by the WildCats, the Jackets rallied for six-straight points to take a seven-point lead, 19-12. The trend continued as both teams recorded three-point runs of their own. RMC claimed three of the last six points of the set, as a kill from Karluk set up the Jackets to claim the second set, 25-18.
- Matthews started hot with two early kills in set three. Randolph kept it close, staying within a point as the Jackets held a 6-5 lead. The Yellow Jackets created some breathing room with a seven-point run, highlighted by three kills from Matthews and one from Brinkley. Randolph claimed six of the next eight, to make the score 15-11. The WildCats' scoring run was put to rest by a kill from Matteo Deluca (Glen Allen, Va./Maggie Walker Governor's School). RC would continue to push for a comeback, stretching the match to 24-20, but Matthews capped the sweep with a kill to take the third set, 25-20, and the match, 3-0.
Inside the Numbers vs. Randolph
- On offense, RMC tallied seven service aces to Randolph's two, and the Yellow Jackets led the WildCats in total attacks (111-to-106).
- The Yellow Jackets held a .225 attack percentage, while holding the WildCats to .104.
- Matthews dominated the contest with a match-high 19 kills. The junior also tallied 14 digs and three blocks.
- Rogan led the team with 35 assists, tacking on 11 digs and two kills.
- Karluk paced with a match-leading five blocks. He added five kills on 11 attacks (.273 hitting percentage).
How it Happened vs. Tusculum
- The Jackets and Pioneers started neck and neck, knotting early at five. The squads continued to trade points as a block by Thomas Eubank (Henrico, Va./Mills Godwin) and JB Brizendine (Moseley, Va./Cosby) tied the set at 10. Two kills from Davis Luck (Ashland, Va./Patrick Henry) kept the Yellow Jackets' deficit at one. Tusculum rallied for four consecutive points, forcing a Yellow Jacket timeout. Out of the timeout, Luck and Wesley Graves (Chester, Va./Thomas Dale) notched back-to-back kills to pull within three, 16-19. The Yellow Jackets were not able to close the gap any further, as the Pioneers took set one, 25-19.
- The Pioneers gained a 5-4 advantage early in the first set. Tusculum took control and rallied off three-straight points to take an 8-4 lead. The teams split the next seven points as a Luck kill made the score 8-11. The Pioneers won four of the next five. The Jackets claimed a three-point run capped by a kill from Graves, as they trailed 19-15. A kill from DeLuca made the score 24-17 late, but the Pioneers went ahead 2-0, taking set two, 25-17.
- The Pioneers used a five-point spree to take a 9-3 lead early in the third set. Luck had a kill to end the run, but the Pioneers would pick up where they left off with a three-point run. DeLuca and Graves had kills to make the score, 12-6. The Jackets earned three of the next six, capped by a Eubank service ace. The Pioneers used another five-point run to go ahead, 20-9. The Jackets won three of the last eight points but fell in the third set, 25-12.
Inside the Numbers vs. Tusculum
- Offensively, RMC trailed Tusculum in kills (34-to-45), but led 99-45 in attacks.
- The Pioneers held the advantage over the Jackets, committing only seven errors to RMC's 17.
- Luck led the Yellow Jackets with 16 kills, while tallying two digs.
- Graves and DeLuca paced the squad with five digs.
- Graves added eight kills, and DeLuca notched six more for the Lemon and Black.
- Eubank served up a team-high 18 assists and contributed four digs.
Up Next
Randolph-Macon travels to Virginia Beach, Va., to take on Virginia Wesleyan at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 18.
