Randolph-Macon Sweeps St. Mary’s
St. Mary's City, Md. - The Randolph-Macon College volleyball team notched its second consecutive win with a 3-0 (25-19, 25-23, 25-17) shutout of St. Mary's College of Maryland Wednesday night, spoiling the Seahawks' home- and season-opener.
The Yellow Jackets' offense was paced by 13.5 points on 10 kills, three service aces and one block assist from freshman outside hitter Mallory Carter (Moseley, Va./Cosby) and defensively, Carter tallied a game-high 11 digs. Sophomore right side Mallory James (Chesapeake, Va./Western Branch) aided the offensive effort with eight kills and four block assists.
Randolph-Macon (2-0) posted a 25-19 win in the first set, separating themselves from the Seahawks with an 11-6 run to break a 6-6 tie. Carter notched four kills in the win.
St. Mary's (0-1) rallied from a 16-9 deficit in the second set to come within 17-16 before the Yellow Jackets pulled away again with a 6-2 run to lead 23-18. The Seahawks made it interesting with a 5-1 run but a kill by senior middle hitter April Hines (Suffolk, Va./Nansemond River) cut their rally short as R-MC picked up a 25-23 victory.
A balanced attack in the final set propelled the Yellow Jackets to a 25-17 win as Hines, James, and freshman outside hitter Jessica Sears (Newport News, Va./Menchville) each had three kills.
Senior outside hitter Sarah Gregorini (Ellicott City, Md./Centennial) led the offense for the Seahawks with a game-best 11 kills, while also contributing defensively with a game-high 11 digs. Junior outside hitter Claire Kodan (Olney, Md./Sherwood) and sophomore middle blocker Gena Hlavinka (Gaithersburg, Md./T.S. Wootton) each notched 10 kills.
Kodan denied 10 Yellow Jacket attack attempts, while serving a game-high three aces as well. Junior Katie Obal (Olney, Md./Sherwood) dished out a game-high 35 assist and chipped in seven digs.
The Seahawks will be back in action this Friday and Saturday (September 4-5), traveling to Haverford, Pa. for the Haverford College Invitational. On Friday, St. Mary's will take on No. 24 Haverford at 4:00 before facing Susquehanna University at 6:00. The following day, the Seahawks will square off against Widener University at 11:00 am and Stevens Institute of Technology at 1:00.
Randolph-Macon will travel to Gettysburg, Pa. this weekend for Gettysburg College's Battlefield Classic, facing Richard Stockton College at 3:00 and Penn State Harrisburg at 5:00 on Friday.
