HARRISONBURG, Va. -- It took a little bit of time for Virginia Wesleyan College's women's volleyball team to shake off the cobwebs after an 11-day break from competition.

But, once the Marlins had their timing down they pulled everything together Wednesday to make it a quick finale en route to a 3-1 victory over the host Royals of Eastern Mennonite University in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference opener for both teams.

Playing for the first time since a split with the University of Scranton and William Peace University on Sept. 6, the Marlins followed the four-hour ride to the EMU campus and pinned a 25-20 loss on the host team in the opening game.  The Royals bounced back for a 25-22 second-game decision, before VWC took the win with a 25-20 win and decisive 25-9 fourth game to end the match.

VWC (7-3, 1-0) trailed 17-14 in the third game before turning things around with timely kills by rookie Ashley Bologna (Virginia Beach/Floyd E. Kellam) and sophomores Madelyn McMurry (Springfield/West Springfield) and Tiffany Barrett (Stafford/North Stafford). VWC led 20-19 and started to pull away with Barrett serving.  She delivered an ace and senior Alex Lambert (Alexandria/Hayfield) knocked down two kills to help give the Marlins a 23-19 lead.

EMU (5-9, 0-1) made it a 23-20 score before the Marlins picked up the game-ending points on a Royals error and a kill by sophomore Jessica Quinlan (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee). 

Virginia Wesleyan never trailed in the fourth game, jumping out to a 3-0 lead with the help of two aces from junior Marin Crowder (Charlottesville/Crozet Western Albemarle). The Royals pulled within a point twice thereafter, before VWC pulled away for good on a 7-0 run behind the serving of senior Michaela Holbrooks (Brookneal/Naruna William Campbell). 

VWC extended a 14-6 lead to 18-8 and closed the game and match by scoring the final seven points for the 25-9 score.

Barrett led the Marlins with 10 kills, followed by Holbrooks and Lambert with eight kills each.  Junior Kirstin Sessoms (Virginia Beach/Bayside) contributed to the win with 34 assists and 18 digs.  Crowder led the Marlins with 19 digs, sophomore Elizabeth Bailey (Chesapeake/Greenbrier Christian) added 12, Barrett followed with 11, and Emilee Pierson (Sterling/Park View) added 10.

Virginia Wesleyan recorded 24 block assists overall, led by McMurry with nine and Barrett with six. 

Becca Hardy (Port Republic/Eastern Mennonite) led EMU with 10 kills.  Jasmine Johnson (Staunton/Robert E. Lee) recorded 28 assists and Katie Miller (San Antonio, Texas/Brandeis) finished with 29 digs.

VWC competes again on Saturday, Sept. 20, at Emory & Henry College in an ODAC doubleheader.  The Marlins face the host Wasps at 11 a.m. and face the Quakers of Guilford College at 2 p.m.

--AMDG--