LYNCHBURG, Va. - The Virginia Wesleyan University women's volleyball team claimed a three-set victory over the Randolph College WildCats on Wednesday evening in the ODAC opener in Lynchburg, VA. 

GAME INFORMATION
Score: Virginia Wesleyan 3 - Randolph 0 (25-22, 25-15, 25-12)
Records: Virginia Wesleyan 7-2, 1-0 | Randolph 5-4, 0-1
Location: Lynchburg, VA

MATCH RECAP
The two teams were neck and neck through the first dozen serves of the match as the score sat even at six all. The Marlins jumped ahead 13-6 following seven consecutive points, with VWU recording four kills, two Abbey Clayton service aces, and a WildCat error. RC pulled within three points, 13-10, and later 16-13 after a pair of kills. Virginia Wesleyan opened a 21-17 lead after a Randolph attack error, but the WildCats scored three consecutive points to climb within one, 21-20. The Marlins closed out the opening set scoring four of the last six points to win 25-22.

VWU opened set two on a 6-1 run with four kills and two Haley Sutton services aces contributing to the point total. RC came back to even the score at eight all following a 7-2 run. The Marlins reclaimed a four-point lead, 14-10 and 16-12, which was the closest the WildCats came the remainder of the second set. VWU closed out the set on a 9-3 run, including five straight, to win 25-15 and take a 2-0 lead. 

Virginia Wesleyan started the third set with five consecutive points. Randolph scored a point of a kill before the Marlins took off on a 10-0 rally to lead 15-1 midway through the set. The WildCats went on a 7-2 run that put the score at 17-8 before the Marlins scored four in a row to lead 21-8. Both teams scored four points each to close out the set with VWU winning set three 25-12 to take the match in three sets. 

KEY STATS

• Abbey Clayton led the team with 12 kills while Morgan Ludovici tallied seven of her own.
• Haley Sutton recorded 13 assists while Salena Jones added nine.
• Sutton collected five service aces to lead the team in the match. Clayton and Ludovici both contributed a trio of aces. 
• The back line was bolstered by Becca Hallingstad with 15 digs.

UP NEXT
Virginia Wesleyan returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 17, when they travel up the Eastern Shore to Salisbury, Maryland for a tri-match against the Sea Gulls of Salisbury University and Mules of Muhlenberg College. The Marlins will face the Mules at 2 PM and follow at 4 PM with a match against the Sea Gulls.