ASHLAND, Va. – #17 Randolph-Macon dominated the fifth-seeded Virginia Wesleyan Marlins in the ODAC Semifinals in just three sets, punching its ticket to the ODAC Finals contest.
Score: #17 Randolph-Macon 3, Virginia Wesleyan 0 (25-20, 25-14, 25-17)
Venue: Ashland, Va. // Crenshaw Gymnasium // Randolph-Macon College
Records: #17 Randolph-Macon (29-4, 16-0 ODAC); Virginia Wesleyan (22-10, 9-7 ODAC)
How it Happened
- The Lemon and Black saw Kody Rogan (Chesapeake, Va./Hickory) find Ian Wagenhauser (Glen Allen, Va./Deep Run), Nathan Karluk (Midlothian, Va./Midlothian) and Landon Brinkley (Norfolk, Va./Norfolk Christian) all for kills, earning the quick 8-5 lead. While a blocking and service error brought the Marlins back within one, a joint block between Karluk and Brinkley re-established a 13-10 edge. Once Randolph-Macon won four of the next five points, capped off with a service ace from Matthews, the home team was able to maintain its pressure before and after the media timeout. Once Rogan and Van Essendelft split a block at 19-14, a kill from Wagenhasuer and block from Brinkley resulted in a 25-20 set one win.
- Randolph-Macon earned an early 5-3 lead in set two, thanks to kills from Van Essendelft, Rogan and Wagenhauser. While the Marlins defense appeared to be holding its own, another kill each from Wagenhauser and Rogan forced a VWU timeout, as they trailed 7-12. Even though the visitors brought it back in to within four points, a mid-air Rogan to Van Essendelft connection and service ace from Matthews put the home team up, 18-11. Once two kills stopped the RMC run, the Yellow Jackets returned to turning defense into offense, as a block from Rogan forced another VWU timeout, as the home team led 21-13. Rogan located Wagenhauser flying in to earn the first point out of the break, before Randolph-Macon took set two in dominant 25-14 fashion. To reach 25, Rogan ripped two forceful serves that the Marlins floated back over, allowing Wagenhauser to lace back-to-back kills.
- While the Marlins held a 5-4 advantage through the first nine points, an emphatic kill from Karluk evened the set at five a piece. Randolph-Macon found some momentum on an incredible kill from Matthews, as he was sliding across the floor to boost his team to a 13-11 advantage. It was then Matthews and Brinkley who took over, as Rogan found the juniors for back-to-back kills, keeping RMC ahead 15-13 at the media timeout. While VWU got two kills right out of the break, Van Essendelft denied the Marlins for a solo bock, maintaining a one point advantage. Leading 16-15, the home team went on a 6-2 run to force a Marlin timeout, as a result of kills from Van Essendelft and Brinkley. The Yellow Jackets went on to take the next three points to ice a 25-17 set three win, on a walk-off service ace from Van Essendelft.
Inside the Numbers
- Randolph-Macon led Virginia Wesleyan .372-to-.067 in hitting percentage.
- RMC paced VWU 43-to-24 in kills, which included 13-or-more in each of the three sets.
- The home team also led 24-to-16 in digs, 40-to-23 in assists and three-to-none in aces.
- Wagenhauser led the match in kills (13) and digs (eight), while also adding two assists. He also led all players with an impeccable .550 hitting percentage.
- The senior now has 256 kills this season, giving him 250-or-more in each of his four seasons played (2023-26).
- Van Essendelft registered a .313 hitting percentage on his seven kills, as he added three assists, two blocks and a dig.
- Rogan led the match in assists (31) and blocks (three). He also ripped a .429 hitting percentage on his four kills.
- Matthews led the way in the match with two service aces.
- Karluk swung a .300 hitting percentage, tallying six kills. He now has posted five-straight matches with a hitting percentage of .300-or-greater.
For the Record
- With two blocks against the Marlins, Van Essendelft now has 246 in his career. With the mark, the senior now has the most in Randolph-Macon program history.
Up Next
The first-seeded Yellow Jackets will host the winner between (2) Roanoke and (6) Eastern Mennonite in the ODAC Finals on Saturday, April 11 at 2:00 p.m.
