Marlins Conclude Season in Four Set Loss to Generals

LEXINGTON, Va. -- The No. 7-seeded Virginia Wesleyan College volleyball team forced No. 2 Washington and Lee to four sets on Wednesday before ultimately falling 25-22, 13-25, 25-12, 25-19, in the ODAC quarterfinals.

The Marlins fought through the first set, tying the game at 21-all before ultimately fall 25-22. That momentum carried over to the second set as the Marlins hit .357 in the set as W&L hit in the negative percentage.

Virginia Wesleyan led 6-5 when a 5-0 run pushed the Marlins out in front. A pair of General errors, combined with a kill from Doneisha Hall and two by Colleen Smith highlighted the spurt.

Washington and Lee called a timeout in hopes of stopping the run, and earned the first point out of the timeout, but VWC continued on a 10-2 run to go up 21-7.

The Generals started to cut away at the Marlin lead, but VWC tied up the match as the set was capped off by a Tiffany Barrett kill.

Washington and Lee held a large lead in the third set, fully intent on going up 2-1 with a fourth-set home victory in its sites. The fourth set was a challenge though as the Marlins trailed by just one, 20-19, on a Amber Matalus kill.

Washington and Lee reeled off the final five points to finish off the match.

Barrett led all players with 18 kills for the Marlins while Emilee Pierson and Meghan Wood finished with 13 assists each.

Ashleigh Meade posted 17 kills for Washington and Lee (23-9) as Mollie Ray contributed 36 assists.

Virginia Wesleyan concludes its season with a 16-15 overall record and 6-5 mark in ODAC play.