ASHLAND, Va. – In Randolph-Macon's first home match of the 2026 season, the Yellow Jackets came back from a fifth set four-point deficit to lock up a 3-2 win.
Score: Randolph-Macon 3, Shenandoah 2 (19-25, 25-17, 25-23, 21-25, 15-12)
Venue: Crenshaw Gymnasium
Records: Randolph-Macon (6-4, 2-0 ODAC), Shenandoah (4-5, 0-2 ODAC)
How it Happened
- The Hornets and Yellow Jackets were back-and-forth through the first 10 points, until two service aces and a kill from SU forced an RMC timeout, with the home team trailing 5-8. While the Hornets got the next two points out of the break, two kills from Allison Lach (Fredericksburg, Va./Riverbend) in three points helped the Yellow Jackets stay within four, down 7-11. Once Caitlin Smith (Greensboro, N.C./Greensboro Day School) located Lach for another kill, the Lemon and Black used a quick 3-0 spurt to get back to a 12-15 score. On the offense, Mia Goode (Chesapeake, Va./Hickory) found Lach for yet another kill, coupled with two Hornet attack errors. Avery Jastrzemski (Richmond, Va./Goochland) checked in and immediately ripped two kills but SU extended its lead to 22-15 on a bad set. Late pressure in the form of two kills from Lach was not enough to help RMC take set one, with a score of 25-19 SU.
- The Yellow Jackets presented pressure to start the second, generating a 6-1 advantage thanks to two kills from Olivia Leonard (Richmond, Va./The New Community School). The lead then ballooned to 12-4 as a result of a kill and service ace from Leonard, couples with a kill each from Lach and Jastrzemski. Once a service ace put the visitors back on serve, they constructed a 5-1 run, getting back to a 9-13 count. RMC responded with force, as it got back-to-back joint blocks between Lach and Ella Courtney (Arlington, Va./Wakefield) to hold a 15-9 lead at the media timeout. Smith was able to rip a service ace out of the timeout, which continued an 8-3 run for the home squad, reaching a 22-12 score. The barrage included a kill each from Jastrzemski and Leonard, with a service ace from Emery Caylor (Baxley, Ga./Appling County) in the middle. Shenandoah was able to earn five more points in the second set, however, a slam from Lach helped the Yellow Jackets close set two with a 25-17 win.
- Smith found Jastrzemski twice early in set three, prior to a block between Olivia Roark (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Country Day School) and Jastrzemski that would give the home team a 6-5 edge. A service ace from Roark ignited two kills from Lach and one from Courtney, pushing the cushion to 12-9. The Lemon and Black stole momentum in the back half of the set, as three different Yellow Jackets unloaded kills and Lach capped a 6-2 run with an ace to force a Hornet timeout, with the visitors down 16-22. Shenandoah had an answer which forced a Randolph-Macon timeout, with the lead only at 23-20 after three quick points. Jastrzemski stopped the skid with a kill that had Crenshaw erupting, vaulting the home team to a 25-23 set three win.
- Set four saw RMC drop five of the first six points but a rejection between Courtney and Leonard with a handful of Hornet errors evened the set at 6-6. The Hornets found their footing and used two blocks in five points to lead by two, however, some good serving from Leonard and Goode put RMC in the lead, 12-11 after taking five points in six rallies. Once the Lemon and Black recaptured a 15-14 lead at the media timeout on a block between Courtney and Lach, the lead increased to 17-14 thanks to a Smith-to-Leonard connection. Shenandoah used a 5-1 run to force an RMC timeout, which was followed by three more Shenandoah kills after the break. With SU now ahead 22-18, three more points from the Lemon and Black was almost enough to hold of the Hornets, as they came back to take the set 25-21.
- Leonard tallied a kill early in the fifth set but her team was forced to call a timeout trailing 2-4 due to a pair of kills from Shenandoah. She went on to provide a service ace and kill for RMC to keep the offense alive but the squad called its second timeout down 5-9 on two kills in three points from SU. Roark got the Yellow Jackets back on track with a kill and a block between Lach and Courtney brought them back within one. Smith sent SU into a timeout with a service ace a few points later, knotting the set 11-11. Courtney and Leonard earned the next point with a rejection, which led to a kill from Courtney and walk-off service ace from Lach, clinching the match on a 15-12 set five win.
Inside the Numbers
- Randolph-Macon led 54-to-34 in kills, 45-to-28 in assists, 40-to-32 in digs and 10-to-nine in aces.
- RMC's 12 blocks sets a new season-high and its 54 kills ties a season-high mark.
- The Yellow Jackets held the advantage in hitting percentage (.187-to-.045).
- Courtney provided a career-high 10 blocks to lead all players in the contest.
- Lach poured in 18 kills, six blocks and two aces for 23.5 points. Her six blocks marks a new career-high, while her kill and point totals are both new season-bests.
- Leonard totaled 12 kills, five blocks and a team-high three service aces for 17.5 points. Her point, kill, block and aces total all mark new personal bests.
- Jastrzemski finished second on the team with 13 kills and also added an assist and a block.
- Smith registered a match-high 38 assists, giving her 35-or-more in two of her last three matches.
For the Record
- With the win, RMC is now 18-1 all-time against SU, with an 11-0 record in Ashland.
Up Next
The Yellow Jackets travel to Bridgewater, Va., to take on the Eagles at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, September 25.
