VIRGINIA BEACH -- Homecoming and Parents Weekend started with a winning performance in athletics for Virginia Wesleyan College as the Marlins' volleyball squad posted a 3-0 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) victory over Hollins University at the Jane P. Batten Student Center.

It was a solid showing by the Marlins, who improved to 14-5 overall and to 4-1 in the ODAC with 25-17, 25-16, 25-19 set decisions.

Hollins (4-15, 0-5) kept the Marlins working throughout the match however, remaining within striking range until late in each game.  Hollins led 6-5 in the opening set, before VWC seniors Alex Lambert (Alexandria/Hayfield) and Michaela Holbrooks (Brookneal/William Campbell) and rookie Emilee Pierson (Sterling/Park View) all came through with scoring plays to help the Marlins open some breathing room.  Junior Kirstin Sessoms (Virginia Beach/Bayside) and sophomores Rosalind Ludovici (Virginia Beach/First Colonial) and Tiffany Barrett (Stafford/North Stafford) helped expand the lead to 20-13 as the Marlins closed in for the first set win.

Hollins stayed within a 14-12 score in the second set, aided by the play of Jordan Persinger (New Castle/Craig County), but could not move in front. Sophomore Jessica Quinlan (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee), Holbrooks, and Barrett helped push VWC into a 20-13 advantage. The Marlins led 22-16 and closed out the set win with three straight kills, two from Ludovici and the other from Lambert.

Set three produced a back-and-forth battle that favored Hollins several times with two point leads, the last at 17-15. Scoring plays from Barrett and Lambert tied the set at 17 and a Barrett kill and ace scored by Sessoms gave VWC a 19-17 edge and a lead it never lost en route to the set and match win.

Lambert finished with 13 kills to lead VWC at the net, followed by Barrett with eight and rookie Ashley Bologna (Virginia Beach/Floyd E. Kellam) with six.  Sessoms contributed with 19 assists and nine digs, andMarin Crowder (Charlottesville/Crozet Western Albemarle) led both teams with 11 digs.

Lauren Hays (Saginaw, Texas/Boswell) topped Hollins hitting with seven kills, while Jessie Deese (Cary, N.C./Apex) put down six. Lela Moore (Woodleaf, N.C./West Rowan) finished with 17 assists and Deese led in digs with nine.

Virginia Wesleyan competes again on Tuesday, Oct. 7, facing Bridgewater College on the Eagles' court beginning at 6:30 p.m.

--AMDG--