BRIDGEWATER, Va. -- Virginia Wesleyan College's volleyball Marlins notched a tough Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) road win on Tuesday and tuned up for a weekend tournament in California in the process.

The Marlins outlast the host Eagles of Bridgewater College 27-25 in a fourth-set battle to put the finishing touches on a 3-1 victory that improved VWC's record to 5- 1 the league and to 15-5 overall. VWC opened with a solid 25-15 win in the first set, gave up a 25-17 decision to the Eagles (6-15, 2-4) in the second set, and answered with 25-14 and 27-25 wins to wrap up the match.

VWC, winner of 10 of its last 12 matches, will try to extend winning ways in La Verne, California, where the Marlins will compete in the seven-team Leo Invitational hosted by the University of La Verne.  Virginia Wesleyan opens its portion of the competition on Friday, Oct. 10, facing Pennsylvania's Widener University at 4:30 p.m. and Massachusetts' Endicott College at 7 p.m.

The Marlins enter the tournament as one of the top teams in the ODAC, holding its place among the top three leaders with the win at Bridgewater.  VWC produced its second highest kill total of the season, finishing with 55.  Three Marlins led that effort as senior Alex Lambert (Alexandria/Hayfield) put down 17 kills, followed by senior Michaela Holbrooks (Brookneal/William Campbell) with a season-high 13, and sophomore Tiffany Bennett (Stafford/North Stafford) with 10. 

Virginia Wesleyan enjoyed one of its best hitting nights of the season, highlighted by a .519 effort in the 25-14 third-set win. VWC used a 14-2 scoring run to break away from a 5-all tie. Rosalind Ludovici (Virginia Beach/First Colonial) produced three kills in the surge that included key points from rookie Ashley Bologna (Virginia Beach/Floyd E. Kellam), Barrett, and Lambert.

Set one saw the Marlins open up a 4-0 lead and never trail. VWC maintained a seven-point lead through most of the set and led 21-11 after a Holbrooks kills.  Bridgewater came back to take control in the second set, but led only 18-16 late in the competition.  VWC managed only one point thereafter however, as the Eagles picked up the points they needed to take the set.

Fourth set competition was tight from the start as the teams battled to four early ties, the last at 11-all. Lambert put down three straight kills to give VWC a 14-11 advantage and the Marlins stayed in front the rest of the way. Kills by Jessica Quinlan (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee), Lambert and Holbrooks helped VWC open up a 23-18 lead, before Bridgewater stormed back, pulling within a point twice down the stretch. An Eagle error and Barrett kill provided VWC with the winning points.

Junior Kirstin Sessoms (Virginia Beach/Bayside) aided the victory with 26 assists and rookie Emilee Pierson (Sterling/Park View) added 18. Junior Marin Crowder (Charlottesville/Crozet Western Albemarle)produced 23 digs for the Marlins, who also received 15 from Barrett and 11 from Sessoms.

Abby Mills (Fairfax/Oakton) led Bridgewater with 12 kills and 21 digs.  Chelsea Owensby (Columbia, Md./Mount de Sales Academy) also recorded 21 digs for the Eagles.

--AMDG--