The Virginia Wesleyan University women's volleyball team (30-1, 11-0 ODAC) defeated Franklin & Marshall 3-0, winning 25-14, 25-17, 25-19. In game two, they defeated Swarthmore 3-1, winning 16-25, 30-28, 25-19, and 25-22.
Game One:
Hannah Smith led the offense with 15 kills, a .355 hitting percentage, two block assists, one service ace, and nine digs.
Alexis Shaw had eight kills, five block assists, and two digs and teammate
Brianna Clay had six kills, with a .455 hitting percentage, one service ace, one solo block, three block assists, and three digs.
Niya Nash led the team with 30 assists, had two kills, one service ace, one block assist, and four digs, and
Skylar Rivers led the team with 21 digs, two assists, and two service aces.
The first set was close with the Diplomats holding a 7-6 lead early, but the Marlins went on a 7-2 run to take a 13-8 lead. The two teams traded points to bring the score to 16-13. However, Virginia Wesleyan went on a 9-1 run to win the first set 25-14.
The Marlins started well jumping out to a 6-2, but Franklin & Marshall went on a 4-0 run to tie the set at 6-6. The two teams traded points, with the Marlins holding a 12-10 lead. However, Virginia Wesleyan rallied and went on a 5-1 run to lead 17-11. VWU kept up the pressure the rest of the set and went on to win 25-17.
Franklin & Marshall started well in set three holding a 6-3 lead early in the set, but the Marlins responded with a 10-1 run to hold a 13-7 lead. The two teams traded points, until the Diplomats went on a 6-2 run to cut the lead to 22-18. However, the Marlins went on to win the set 25-19.
Game Two:
Hannah Smith led the Marlins against Swarthmore with 16 kills, 13 digs, four service aces, and three blocks.
Brianna Clay had nine kills, with a .368 hitting percentage, two digs, two block assists, one solo block, and one service ace.
Breana Brooks had seven kills with a .333 hitting percentage, five block assists, and one dig.
Niya Nash led the team with 40 assists, recorded five kills, eight digs, and one service ace, and
Skylar Rivers led thet eam with 17 digs, had two assists, and two service aces.
Swarthmore started strong, holding a 5-1 lead early in the set, but the Marlins came back to tie the set at 5-5. VWU continued their good run of play to go on a 3-2 run to lead 8-7, but the Garnet went on a 4-0 run to take a 11-8. Swarthmore went on a 10-4 run to take a 21-12 lead and went on to win set one 25-16.
A highly contested second set, saw the host hold an early 12-9 lead. However, the Marlins went on a 5-1 run to lead 17-11. Virginia Wesleyan went on a 10-2 run to retake the lead at 21-19. The Garnet went on a 7-4 run to hold a 26-25 lead, but the Marlins responded with a 5-2 run to take set two 30-28.
Virginia Wesleyan went on a 5-2 lead to start the third set, but the Garnet went on a 5-3 run to cut the lead to 8-7. VWU went on a 3-0 run to lead 11-7, but Swarthmore responded with a 4-0 run to tie the set at 11-11. The Marlins responded with a 6-1 run to take a 17-12 lead, but Swarthmore countered with a 6-1 run to tie the set at 18-18. VWU rallied at the end of the set with a 7-1 run to win the set 25-19.
Swarthmore fought back in the fourth set and took a 6-3 lead, but Virginia Wesleyan went on a 6-0 run to take a 9-6 lead. The Marlins followed that one with an 8-2 run to extend their lead to 17-8. The Garnet countered with an 11-2 run to tie the set at 19-19, but the Marlins rallied with a 6-3 run to win the set 25-22.
