ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. -- A third-game decision by the host Bishops of North Carolina Wesleyan College denied Virginia Wesleyan College's volleyball team a sweep in Wednesday's non-conference match, but the Marlins dominated in the other three games to post a 3-1 match win overall.

Virginia Wesleyan posted back-to-back 25-14 wins before NCWC (0-2) averted the shutout with a 25-21 win.  The Marlins came back impressively however, knocking off the Bishops 25-8 in the fourth game to end the match.

VWC used several crucial runs to notch each game win, beginning with a 14-3 surge in the first game to break open an 8-8 tie. Junior Kirstin Sessoms (Virginia Beach/Bayside) served through eight of the points that pushed the Marlins into a 20-10 lead.

In the second gme, VWC generated a 12-2 run that started behind the serving of rookie Emilee Pierson (Sterling/Park View) for four points.  Another rookie, Allison Mackley (Chesapeake/Portsmouth Christian) served shortly after that en route to six straight points that helped the Marlins to open a 20-10 advantage.

Virginia Wesleyan dominated the fourth game, opening with a 6-0 lead. The Marlins led 17-7 and scored four of the team's final eight points on service aces.  Mackley recorded two of the aces and senior Michaela Holbrooks (Brookneal/Naruna William Campbell) capped the game and the match with two consecutive aces.

Senior Alex Lambert (Alexandria/Hayfeld) and sophomore Tiffany Barrett (Stafford/North Stafford) led the Marlins at the net, each finishing with 16 kills.  Barrett produced a .467 hitting percentate and tied with Mackley for team-high honors in digs with 12 each.  Sessoms finished with 11 digs and junior Marin Crowder (Charlotteville/Crozet Western Abermarle) added 10.

Sessoms helped lead the offense with a season-high 42 assists.

NCWC Samantha Morton (Chesterfield/Manchester) with seven kills and Chrstine Huber (Virginia Beach/Salem) with 18 digs.

VWC, riding a three-match winning streak, competes next on Friday, Sept. 5, and Saturday, Sept. 6, in the Salisbury University Sea Gull Invitational.  The Marlins take on host Salisbury at 4 p.m. on Friday and faces Eastern Mennonite University at 6 p.m.  Saturday's slate has VWC taking on Scranton University at 10 a.m. and William Peace University at 2 p.m.

--AMDG--