ASHLAND, Va. -- Andrea Hoover now knows her young volleyball team has the ability to bounce back ... impressively.

The Virginia Wesleyan College head coach saw the Marlins knock off the top two ranked teams in the USA South Athetic Conference in back-to-back thrillers on the second day of the Randolph-Macon College Invitational.  VWC won both matches by 3-2 counts to take down Tennessee's Maryville College and Virginia's Averett University.

Maryville, tagged to finish first in the South Division of the USA South, took a 2-1 set lead on the Marlins (6-3), who dug in to post 25-23 and 16-14 victories for the overall decision.  Against Averett, the team picked to place first in the North Division of the USA South, Virginia Wesleyan rolled out to a 2-0 set led, before the Cougars came back to tie the match.  But, the Marlins found the points when they needed them in the decider to win the overall contest, 15-12.

Virginia Wesleyan displayed the ability to respond to pressure-packed situations against both Maryville and Averett.  In the fifth game against Maryville, the Marlins led 11-9, only to see the Scots rally back to tie the score at 13.  Two Maryville errors helped VWC to the win.

In the fifth game against Averett, Virginia Wesleyan saw a 12-5 lead dwindle to a 14-12 advantage.  But, rookie Tiffany Barrett (Stafford/North Stafford) put down the kill that helped Virginia Wesleyan to its second win of the day.

Virginia Wesleyan finished 2-2 overall in the tournament, dropping a 3-0 decision (25-16, 25-17, 25-16) to Texas powerhouse Trinity University and a 3-1 decision to Old Dominion Athletic Conference foe Randolph-Macon College (25-17, 21-25, 25-18,  25-16).

Junior Alex Lambert (Alexandria/Hayfield) turned in a standout effort near the net for the Marlins, putting down 41 kills and recording seven total blocks.  She also led VWC with 14 aces, including seven in the win over Averett.

Five Marlins finished in double-digit kills, including junior Kelsey Caviston (Lanexa/Warhill) with 33, senior Tempe Martens (Severna Park, Md./Severna Park) with 28, Barrett with 24 and rookie Madelyn McMurry (Sprinfield/West Springfield) with 22.  McMurray led the team with nine block assists.

Sophomore Marin Crowder (Charlottesville/Crozet Western Albemarle) emerged with a team-leading 76 digs and junior Amberyln Daglian (Moorestown, N.J./Moorestown) and sophomore Kristen Sessoms (Virginia Beach/Bayside) led the Marlins in assists with 60 and 58, respectively.

Virginia Wesleyan competes again on Friday, Sept. 13 at Shenandoah University in ODAC action beginning at 6:30 p.m.

--AMDG--