The Virginia Wesleyan University women's volleyball team (4-0) defeated Marymount in five sets winning 25-10, 25-10, 23-25, 22-25, and 15-9, and in the second game against Kean winning 25-18, 25-19, and 25-22.
Game One:
Emma Claytor led the team with 13 kills, a .357 hitting percentage, nine block assists, one solo block, two digs, and one service ace,
Hannah Smith had the most kills on the team with 16, a .178 hitting percentage, seven digs, three block assists, one solo block, and one service ace, and
Salena Jones had 25 assists, 11 digs, one service ace, one block assist, and one kill.
The Marlins started strong in the first set, jumping out to an 8-4 lead, but the Saints went on a 3-0 run to bring the score to 8-7. That sparked a massive run by the Marlins who outscored Marymount 16-3 the rest of the set to win 25-10.
Virginia Wesleyan built an early 7-2 lead, but the Saint countered with a 4-1 run to cut the lead to 8-6. VWU went on an 8-1 run to bring the score to 17-7 and continued their dominance the rest of the set to win 25-10.
In the third set, the Saints came out and took an early 6-3 lead, but the Marlins responded with a 4-1 run to tie the game at 9-9. Marymount countered with a 4-0 run to lead 13-9. The two teams traded points and then the Saints extended their lead further with a 4-1 run to lead 19-13. VWU responded with a 4-1 run to cut the lead to 20-17, but Marymount came back with a 4-1 run to give them set point at 24-18. VWU went on a late 5-0 surge, but the Saints went on to win the set 25-23.
The Saints kept the momentum and went up 3-0, but VWU tied the game and 3-3 minutes later. VWU strung together a run and led 8-6, and followed that with a 5-1 run to take a 13-8 lead. However, the Saints fought back with an 8-2 run to take a 16-15 lead. VWU responded with a 4-1 run lead 19-17, but the Saints closed out the set with an 8-3 run to win 25-22 and force a fifth set.
Virginia Wesleyan came out on fire in the fifth set building an 8-2 lead before the teams switched courts. VWU kept up the momentum and went on a 6-1 lead to lead 14-4. The Saints had a late 5-0 run but the Marlins got the 15th point and won the fifth set 15-9.
Game Two:
Hannah Smith led the Marlins attack with 16 kills a .583 hitting percentage, five digs, two block assists, and one service ace,
Emma Claytor had eight kills with a .428 hitting percentage, four block assists, one solo block, one dig, two assists, and one service ace, and
Madi Schmidt had six kills a .278 hitting percentage, eight digs, one assist, and one block assist.
The Marlins built a 4-2 lead, then went on to on a 7-2 run to take a 12-6 lead. Kean went on a 3-0 run to bring the score to 12-9. VWU went on a 5-0 run to take a 17-9 lead midway through the first set. The Cougars on a 5-2 run to cut the lead to 19-13. The Marlins outscored Kean 6-5 to go on and win set one 25-18.
A hard-fought second set, the Marlins led 4-3, but the Cougars countered with a 3-1 run to lead 6-5. VWU went on a 3-1 run to retake the lead at 8-7, then Kean retook the lead at 10-9. Virginia Wesleyan took control with an 8-1 run to lead 17-11. Kean chipped away at the Marlins six six-point lead and brought the score to 20-17 with a 4-1 run, but the Marlins responded with a 5-2 run to win set two 25-19.
In the third quarter, Virginia Wesleyan came out on a mission and held an early 10-3 lead. Kean scored back-to-back points, before VWU went on a 4-1 run. The Cougars responded with a 5-1 run to bring the score to 16-12. Kean went on a 4-1 run to cut the Marlins' lead to 19-16, VWU responded with a 3-0 run to lead 22-16. The Cougars had a late surge going on a 5-1 run to cut the lead to 23-21, but the Marlins went on a 2-1 run to win set three 25-22.
