ASHLAND, Va. – After defeating Bridgewater 3-0, Randolph-Macon has finished the season with a 14-2 record at home, marking its best finish at home in program history.
Score: #18 Randolph-Macon 3, Bridgewater 0 (25-17, 25-17, 25-12)
Venue: Ashland, Va. // Crenshaw Gymnasium // Randolph-Macon College
Records: #18 Randolph-Macon (27-4, 15-0 ODAC); Bridgewater (5-25, 2-13 ODAC)
How it Happened
- Once Bridgewater used a kill and a block to get the quick 3-1 lead, the visitors were able to extend the advantage to 10-7, as they earned five consecutive points without kills or aces. Down three, Bryce Matthews (Chesterfield, Va./Clover Hill) found Ian Wagenhauser (Glen Allen, Va./Deep Run) for a kill to put the home team on track, before Matthews and Nathan Karluk (Midlothian, Va./Midlothian) got kills of their own, resulting in a 5-0 run for RMC. While it was the Eagles who got a service ace to drop to earn the 15-14 lead, Kody Rogan (Chesapeake, Va./Hickory) hit Landon Brinkley (Norfolk, Va./Norfolk Christian) for a kill to ignite a 6-0 run, which also included a service ace from Matteo DeLuca (Glen Allen, Va./Maggie Walker Governor's School). Back-to-back service aces from Matthews and two kills from Phillip Van Essendelft (Chesapeake, Va./Hickory) was too much for BC, as RMC closed the first set on a 5-0 run, to win 25-17.
- This time it was Randolph-Macon getting the early 5-3 lead, as a kill and service ace from Rogan gave the team momentum. Shortly after, a joint block between Karluk and Matthews started a 4-0 run and two service aces and a kill from Wagenhauser finished it, creating a 9-5 lead. Davis Luck (Ashland, Va./Patrick Henry) checked in and instantly got a kill to push his team ahead 14-9, but a 5-2 run from Bridgewater put them down 14-16. The Lemon and Black erupted for a 9-3 run to close the set out with another 25-17 win. During the spurt, it was Van Essendelft who had the hot hand first, providing back-to-back kills and a service ace, before Karluk caught fire for three consecutive kills.
- The Yellow Jackets applied heavy pressure from the start in set three, as Rogan located five different Yellow Jackets for kills to establish a 10-3 lead. While an Eagle block stopped the momentum, Matthews ripped three kills in four points to solidify a 15-6 lead for his team. Once the two programs traded rallies for four points, two kills from Wagenhauser and a service ace each from him and Rogan extended the lead to 21-9. Bridgewater's late three points were not enough to mount the comeback, as a block and kill from Van Essendelft led to a match-winning service ace from DeLuca, capturing their final set 25-12.
Inside the Numbers
- Randolph-Macon led Bridgewater in kills (48-to-16), assists (41-to-14) and digs (25-to-16).
- RMC held a clear advantage in hitting percentage (.384-to-.073), including a blistering .500 in set three. Additionally, the Lemon and Black ripped .340 or higher in each of their three sets.
- Van Essendelft led the match with a tied season-high six digs. The senior also added 10 kills, good for third in the match, as well as a block.
- With his 10 kills, Van Essendelft has 194 in 2026, tying his season total from 2025.
- Karluk tied for a match-high 11 kills, giving the sophomore a new career-high.
- Matthews tied Karluk with the 11 kills, as the junior also finished play with a team-high three blocks.
- Rogan led the match with 40 assists, giving him 821 this season. The senior has now surpassed 800 in three of his four career seasons (2023, 2025-26).
- Wagenhauser paced the match with three service aces and added 12 points on nine kills.
For the Record
- Randolph-Macon Men's Volleyball posted a franchise record this season, posting a 27-1 tallying in sets when facing ODAC opponents at home.
Up Next
#18 Randolph-Macon has its last match of the regular season on Saturday, April 4 at 1:00 p.m., when it takes on Lynchburg in Lynchburg, Va.
