ASHLAND, Va. – Randolph-Macon paced (RV) Christopher Newport in total attacks and came within two points of stealing set three during a difficult contest against the Captains.
Score: (RV) Christopher Newport 3, Randolph-Macon 0 (20-25, 12-25, 23-25)
Venue: Crenshaw Gymnasium
Records: Randolph-Macon (6-7, 2-2 ODAC), (RV) Christopher Newport (11-4, 0-0 C2C)
How it Happened
- Randolph-Macon opened the first set with a 7-4 lead, with the offense being driven by Olivia Roark (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Country Day School) who had a service ace. While Olivia Leonard (Richmond, Va./The New Community School) and Avery Jastrzemski (Richmond, Va./Goochland) both followed with kills, the Captains posted three of their own to force an RMC timeout with it now trailing, 12-13. Ella Courtney (Arlington, Va./Wakefield) countered with a crafty kill, however, a 6-2 run from the visiting team resulted in another timeout from the Lemon and Black, with the score at 16-20. Leonard joined Roark for a block to stop the pressure before Mia Goode (Chesapeake, Va./Hickory) and Roark both ripped kills. The Lemon and Black were almost able to complete the comeback, with set one ending in a 20-25 count.
- Allison Lach (Fredericksburg, Va./Riverbend) tallied an ace for the first point of the second set and the Captains had the response, as they used a kill and service ace to pilot a 6-0 run, establishing a 7-2 lead. Once the Yellow Jackets called a timeout, kills from Roark and Leonard helped guide the squad back within three. CNU posted two kills as part of a 5-1 run, extending its lead to 15-8 before another timeout. Caitlin Smith (Greensboro, N.C./Greensboro Day School) and Lach continued with two long-distance kills to bring the score back within five at 11-16. The visitors proceeded to close out set two on a 9-1 run, which included six kills and a service ace, resulting in a 25-12 posting.
- The Lemon and Black jumped out to a fast 3-1 lead on kills from Jastrzemski, Roark and Leonard. CNU took the lead on three consecutive kills but another swing from Lach kept the home team up, 8-7. The Captains rebounded with a 5-1 run that featured four kills from three different players, forcing an RMC timeout with it trailing 9-12. Roark and Lach kept it within three as they traded kills and then an impressive dig from Josie Osborne (Wake Prep Academy/Wake Forest, N.C.) sparked three kills and a block from Lach, forcing CNU into its first timeout of the game as the Captains lead was only 19-18. Jastrzemski dropped another kill in before Roark enforced a block to put the team back on serve but CNU was able to take set three, 25-21.
Inside the Numbers
- The Yellow Jackets led 97-to-69 in total attacks.
- CNU led RMC in kills (36-to-17) and hitting percentage (.406-to-.134).
- RMC posted its most kills (14) attacks (38) and highest hitting percentage (.237) in the final set.
- Roark and Jastrzemski led RMC with seven kills each, while Lach followed with six.
- Roark also was the only Yellow Jacket with multiple blocks (two), while also adding a service ace.
- Goode led the team with five digs and posted two assists.
- Smith paced the match with 21 assists, giving her 20 in 12 of the team's 13 matches played.
Up Next
Women's Volleyball travels to Washington, D.C., to face Susquehanna and Catholic for a tri-match on Saturday, October 3. The Yellow Jackets battle the River Hawks at 2:00 p.m., followed by a 4:00 p.m. game against the Cardinals.
