VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - The Virginia Wesleyan University women's volleyball team defeated the Hornets of Shenandoah University in four sets on Tuesday evening in ODAC action on Senior Night at TowneBank Arena in Virginia Beach, VA. Seniors Taylor Paquette and Jessica Garvie were recognized prior to the start of the match for their contributions to the Marlin volleyball program.
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Virginia Wesleyan 3 - Shenandoah 1 (25-19, 21-25, 25-15, 25-22)
Records: Virginia Wesleyan 16-5, 7-1 | Shenandoah 7-9, 3-4
Location: Virginia Beach, VA | TowneBank Arena
MATCH RECAP
The first set started with a series of mini runs from both teams with VWU going 3-1, only to have SU score three in a row taking a 4-3 lead. The Marlins went on a 3-0 run going up 6-4 but the Hornets went 3-1 to even the score up at seven all. An 8-1 run by Virginia Wesleyan put the home team ahead 15-8, but Shenandoah pulled within three, 18-15, following a 7-3 rally of their own. The Marlins managed to put some room between themselves and the Hornets going up 22-16 and held on to win set one 25-19.
SU opened set two 3-0 before VWU scored seven in a row led by Haley Sutton's service to take a 7-3 lead. The Hornets chipped away at the Marlins lead evening the score at 10 all. From here the teams knotted the score five more times, last at 21 all, before Shenandoah closed out the set with the final four points winning 25-21.
Fueled with fire from dropping set two, the Marlins came out in set three taking a 9-5 lead early on capped by back to back Morgan Ludovici aces. VWU extended its lead to eight points, 16-8, after a 5-0 run that saw four kills and a block fall in favor of the Marlins. Virginia Wesleyan held Shenandoah to just seven points the rest of the set while scoring nine of their own winning set three 25-15.
The two squads went point for point through the opening serves of the fourth set. An 8-2 run by the Marlins put VWU ahead 11-6 with a pair of kills falling from the hands of Abigail Mahoney and Kyleigh Castengera to cap the run. Shenandoah fought back to even the score at 17 all after an 11-6 run of their own and took the lead from VWU 20-18 following three points from Marlin errors. After a timeout to regroup, Virginia Wesleyan went on a six-point rally taking a 24-20 lead with Sutton capping the run with her fourth ace of the night. SU scored twice more before VWU claimed the final point to win set four 25-22 and the match 3-1.
KEY STATS
UP NEXT
Virginia Wesleyan is back in action on Friday evening Oct. 14, when they travel to Bridgewater, VA, to face the Eagles of Bridgewater College. First serve between VWU and BC is set for 6 PM.
