The Virginia Wesleyan men's volleyball team (9-5, 2-3 ODAC) emerged 3-1 over Randolph College in conference play.
Landon Brinkley led the offense with 18.5 points, 16 kills and a .542 hitting percentage; he also tallied two service aces, one block assist and two digs.
Matthew Sheppard contributed 11 kills, 5 block assists, and 11 digs for 13.5 total points.
Christian Harris registered 12.5 points as he executed 12 kills, one block assist, and five digs.
The Marlins jumped to an early 6-3 lead in the first set, but Randolph's offense stepped up and outscored VWU as they won nine of the next 12 points to lead 12-9. The Marlins won the next point to get two points away from the visiting team, but the WildCats managed to create a 5-1 run, stretching their lead to 17-11. The Marlins responded by winning five of the next six points to once again bring themselves right behind Randolph at 18-16, but the WildCats fought back with a 3-0 run to lead 21-16. VWU harnessed momentum, outscoring Randolph 7-2 to tie the game at 23-23; but the WildCats claimed the next two points to win the first set 25-23.
The second set was closely matched from the start, with 10 ties through the 11-11 mark. The Marlins claimed the next three points to lead 14-11, but the WildCats went 4-0 to gain a 15-14 lead over the home team. Throughout the remainder of the set, neither team won more than two points in a row; and they found themselves neck in neck at 23-23 yet again; but this time it was the Marlins who sealed the set 25-23 leveling the match at 1-1.
Third set play began with a commanding 4-1 lead by the Marlins, but Randolph won five of the next seven points to tie the score at 6-6. Then, VWU went on a 7-3 run, which put them ahead 13-9; but Randolph won three of the next four points to minimize the lead to two for the Marlins at 14-12. From that point on, the Marlins controlled the set, winning it 25-19, to put themselves one set away from victory.
Randolph bounced back in the fourth set as they sped to a 6-2 lead, but the Marlins outscored them 6-2 to level the score at 8-8. The WildCats managed to win three of the next four points and lead 11-9, but the Marlins went on a 4-0 run to claim their first lead of the set. Both teams exchanged leads four times until they were tied at 20-20, but the Marlins crushed Randolph's hopes for a fifth set, dominating the next five points to win 25-20.
Next, the Marlins will host Averett University on Friday, March 14 at 6 p.m. for another ODAC contest.
