LEXINGTON, Va. – In their second consecutive match against an opponent that was receiving votes, the Yellow Jackets came within three points of capturing multiple sets.
Score: (RV) Washington and Lee 3, Randolph-Macon 0 (25-12, 25-23, 25-22)
Venue: Holekamp Gymnasium
Records: Randolph-Macon (6-6, 2-2 ODAC), Washington and Lee (10-1, 1-0 ODAC)
How it Happened
- The Generals posted back-to-back kills to open up the first set but Allison Lach (Fredericksburg, Va./Riverbend) countered with a kill, with the assist coming from Caitlin Smith (Greensboro, N.C./Greensboro Day School). WLU then cook control, as it put together a 9-0 run, forcing a timeout from the Lemon and Black. Out of the break, Smith located Avery Jastrzemski (Richmond, Va./Goochland) and Olivia Leonard (Richmond, Va./The New Community School) for two kills each, followed by a service ace from Mia Goode (Chesapeake, Va./Hickory) to cut the score to 7-13. After the media timeout, Lach and Ella Courtney (Arlington, Va./Wakefield) both tallied kills but WLU established a 20-9 lead on a service ace and a kill. The home team went on to capture a 25-12 set one win on a pair of errors.
- RMC took an early 3-1 lead in set two on kills from Smith and Leonard and a service ace from Lach. Olivia Roark (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Country Day School) and Jastrzemski continued to trade kills with the Generals until a rip from Josie Osborne (Wake Forest, N.C./Wake Prep Academy) created an 8-6 advantage. While Courtney added two more kills in the heart of the set, WLU took three points on four rallies to recapture a 14-12 lead. RMC responded with its best stretch of the match, as a block and kill from Osborne piloted a 5-0 run for the Yellow Jackets, earning a 17-14 lead. Once a service error put the Generals back on serve, they used a 5-0 run of their own to create a lead and ultimately steal set two, 25-23. Down the stretch, Lach had a service ace and a kill and three other Yellow Jackets tallied kills.
- Set three saw Washington and Lee go on a 9-3 run, with the RMC points coming on kills from Smith and Leonard. Aiden Jolly (Fredericksburg, Va./Chancellor) found Jastrzemski and Lach for kills, which allowed another kill from Osborne to close the lead to 7-11. The pressure did not stop there, as two joint blocks among Courtney, Lach and Leonard fueled a 5-1 run, pulling back within one at 12-13. WLU had the response, as it generated a 19-14 lead as part of its own 5-1 run which included three kills. Even though two kills each from Osborne and Leonard paced a 4-1 run, the Generals took set three, 25-22, on two kills and a service ace.
Inside the Numbers
- RMC tied with WLU in blocks (four-to-four) as well as in assists (37-to-37).
- The Generals only led by one kill (41-to-40) and five digs (58-to-53).
- The home team held the edge in hitting percentage (.279-to-.193) but RMC led .295-to-.267 in set three.
- Leonard was the only Yellow Jacket to finish with double-digit kills (11), while she also added a block.
- Courtney tied Jastrzemski with six kills, while the junior also led the team in blocks (two).
- Jolly set career-highs in assists (10) and digs (seven), with both marks ranking second on the team.
- Smith led the team with 21 assists, giving her 20-or-more in 11 of her 12 matches played this year.
Up Next
Randolph-Macon returns home to host for the second time this season. The Yellow Jackets take on Christopher Newport on Tuesday, September 29 at 7:00 p.m.
