Hoover Wins 200th Career as Marlins Defeat Roanoke College

SALEM, Va. -- The Virginia Wesleyan College volleyball team concluded the regular season on Sunday afternoon with a split, defeating Roanoke College in three sets, before falling to Averett University in four.

The win over Roanoke was head coach Andrea Hoover's 200th career victory in just her 10th year with the Marlins. She is now 200-116 for her career. The win, the Marlins' 23rd of the season, is one off the school record set in 2014.

Marlins vs. Roanoke - Won (26-24, 26-24, 25-19)

Virginia Wesleyan won the first match of the day behind two late set rallies. The Marlins trailed 24-23 in the first set when Tiffany Barrett and Doneisha Hall posted kills to go up 25-24. Barrett stepped back to the line and served an ace for the first game victory.

The second set was tied at 24 when Hannah Weber posted a kill of a Marin Crowder assist. Kylah Blackmore attempted an attack for the Maroons on the next point, but Dare Wright and Hall turned it away for the 2-0 set advantage.

Virginia Wesleyan led throughout the third set, holding advantages of 14-8 and 17-10. Roanoke never managed to get closer than five the rest of the way.

Barrett posted 21 kills on a .312 hitting percentage, while Emilee Pierson added 14 assists and Crowder contributed 15 digs.

Marlins vs. Averett - Loss (25-19, 31-29, 17-25, 25-20)

The Marlins faced one of the hottest teams in the USA South in the afternoon battle as Averett came away with a four-set victory.

Virginia Wesleyan kept the second set close as Barrett contributed kill after kill, but Hannah Shields of the Cougars matched her point for point. Shields contributed kills on the last two points to win the set.

The Marlins took an early 6-1 lead in the third set as Barrett served from the back line. The junior served six-straight points in the process while contributing a service ace.

Barrett had 17 kills and 10 digs while Kirstin Sessoms posted 25 assists. Crowder contributed 24 digs as Sessoms added 17.

Virginia Wesleyan (23-9) will begin Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) tournament play Wednesday night at 7 p.m. as the No. 2 seeded Marlins host No. 7 Randolph College.