ROANOKE, Va. -- Nine Virginia Wesleyan College volleyball players recorded kills Saturday as a balanced Marlins attack produced a 3-0 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) victory over host Hollins University.

Senior Tempe Martens (Severna Park, Md./Severna Park) led the kills effort with 11, followed by junior Alex Lambert (Alexandria/Hayfield)with nine and rookie Tiffany Barrett (Stafford/North Stafford)with eight.  Their efforts helped the Marlins to 25-18, 25-12 and 25-22 decisions to sweep the match.

Hollins (1-12, 0-5 ODAC) tried to extend the match in the third game by pushing the Marlins (9-5, 3-1 ODAC) down the stretch.   VWC led 18-13 when Lauren Hays (Saginaw, Texas/Boswell) and Jessie Deese (Cary, N.C./Apex) produced kills that helped pull HU within a 19-18 score.  Kelsey Caviston (Lanexa/Warhill), Rosalind Ludovici (Virginia Beach/First Colonial)and Martens came through will kills however, helping the Marlins to post the 25-22 final.

Virginia Wesleyan led the first game 12-6, only to see Hollins close within a 16-15 score. But, a pair of kills and two service aces by Lambert helped push the Marlins into a 22-16 lead, forcing a Hollins timeout. VWC did not let up however, as they scored the points to pull away and ended the game on a Martens kill.

Virginia Wesleyan led all the way in the second game, extending a 3-0 start into a 12-6 lead.  Hollins pulled with a 15-11 score midway through the game, but Virginia Wesleyan dominated after that behind the serving of Kirstin Sessoms (Virginia Beach/Bayside)and Barrett.  VWC outscored HU 10-1 to close out the game, helped by key points from Madelyn McMurry (Springfield/West Springfield), Barrett, Martens, Caviston and Ludovici.

Sessoms produced a match-high 20 assists and Amber Daglian (Moorestown, N.J./Moorestown) added 15. Marin Crowder (Charlottesville/Crozet Western Albemarle)led the Marlins with three aces and 21 digs.  Barrett produced 12 digs.

Deese led Hollins with 10 kills, Lela Moore (Woodleaf, N.J./West Rowan) produced 17 assists and Haley Ortiz (Portsmouth/Chesapeake Western Branch) recorded 19 digs.

Virginia Wesleyan returns to competition on Saturday, Sept. 28, in non-conference action at Salisbury University (15-2) at 1 p.m.

--AMDG--